Released on = July 10, 2006, 5:06 pm

Press Release Author = Alba Spectrum Group

Industry = Computers

Press Release Summary = Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0, former Microsoft Great Plains, MS
Dexterity customization options - overview for programmer, software developer, IT
director and ERP consultant

Press Release Body = Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0, former Microsoft Great Plains, MS
Dexterity customization options - overview for programmer, software developer, IT
director and ERP consultant

Since its introduction as C-Shell computer platform (MAC & Windows) and DB
independent programming language and development environment, Great Plains Dexterity
covered very long and probably bumpy way together with the whole ERP and IT
industry. When C programming language was a believed panacea to provide application
cross-platform expansion, nobody could envision such future toys as web thin client
(HTML and JavaScript programming with Java EJB and .NET database connectors), XML
(providing simple cross-platform interoperability) and especially XML web services
(enabling remote users to get info from virtually any server). When Great Plains
Software was acquired by Microsoft - the new owner as we guess had no plans to
play-up such Dexterity old-good "strong points" as C Shell and cross-platform
potential, and as many expected Microsoft Business Solutions "froze" new "Source
Code Partner" re-enrollment. In 2005 Microsoft BS re-opened the program (however
the price of the new enrollment and annual fee is king of high for small and
mid-size VAR). The unofficial opinions were - Microsoft Project Green or currently
Microsoft Dynamics project is a technological challenge and it will not happen
overnight, so Dexterity is still out there and partners, who help MBS develop
verticals for Microsoft Dynamics GP are still welcomed.
. Sanscript. Microsoft Dexterity scripting language is so-called Sanscript, cursor
driven DB access language, plus it has script and triggers. With version 7.0
Dexterity support such nice things as COM objects, web services, etc.
. DYNAMICS.DIC. This dictionary has all the logic of GP core modules. When you
install MS Dynamics GP 9.0, 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0 and older versions DYNAMICS.DIC comes
with scripts stripped out. If you are enrolled into Dex source code program you
have access to DYNAMICS.DIC with all the scripts in place. This enables you to look
up procedures and functions calls examples, the sequence of events, etc - very good
help in your custom programming, which is based on the imitation.
. Dexterity Programmers Pool. Well, good point - when Microsoft purchased GPS,
Navision, Axapta, etc. - it launched the plan to unify its MRP applications on the
.Net and MS SQL Server base. This decision resulted in new Dex programmers training
slow down. This slow down was even worth, considering the economic conditions of
early XXI century, when a lot of IT and programmer positions were eliminated and
programmers were laid off. However, opposite process of programming outsourcing and
offshore development leaded to the Dexterity source code programming centers
renaissance in Philippines and India. Manila was a real stronghold, where such new
programming dragons as Alba Spectrum and Enterlogics.com.br opened their development
offices
. Future. When Microsoft Dynamics (AX, GP, SL, NAV, CRM) will be unified product,
Dexterity will probably be replaced with eConnect and Web Services interfaces -
Microsoft Visual Studio programmers will be probably positioned to develop
industrial-strength third party modules for Microsoft Dynamics. At this moment some
experts expect Axapta/Microsoft Dynamics AX will play more role in final Dynamics,
especially on the international arena - Brazil, Europe, China, India, Latin America.
Dexterity really doesn't support Unicode and Microsoft had to probe first Navision
and later on Axapta to become its international ERP
. Some Nice Dex Source Code Programming Features. Automatic Posting. You can use
Source code to enable batch posting without operator intervention. This will
require one additional user license - this computer will play the role of posting
server. Chinese language support - bypassing Unicode lacking - you can write
Chinese in special popup and force it into Dex screens - special utility is required
. Microsoft Dexterity Customization upgrade. When MBS decided to concentrate on
.Net and Project Green - the Dex custom code upgrade became more straight forward
and simple, however it is still good idea to deploy professional Dexterity developer
on MBS Dexterity customization partner
. Dexterity Nation-wide support. Considering the fact of market diminishing and
programmers concentration in the centralized programming hubs (Chicago, Houston)
with connections to outsourcing centralized call centers (Brazil, Philippines) - it
is good idea to deploy phone and skype support technicians plus outsourcing the
customization upgrade. As in the case of Axapta - it is very easy to outsource Dex
upgrade - you need to provide remote desktop connection or even zip and upload
DYNAMICS and company databases together with your Dexterity customization dictionary
to your Dexterity upgrade partner

Please do not hesitate to call or email us: USA/Canada: 1-866-528-0577,
1-630-961-5918, Europe: +44 20 8123 2580, +45 36 96 55 20, Mexico: 52-55-535-04027
help@albaspectrum.com
Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at Alba Spectrum Technologies (
http://www.albaspectrum.com http://www.ronix-systems.de http://www.enterlogix.com.br
) - Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, MS CRM, Oracle
Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the
following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution &
Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas,
Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical,
Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having
locations in multiple states and internationally.


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