Released on: September 29, 2007, 1:36 pm

Press Release Author: Alba Spectrum Group

Industry: Computers

Press Release Summary: Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP version upgrade should be planned,
it is not recommended to do it impulsively. In order to facilitate your homework we
would like to give you highlights in technical and functional compatibility areas

Press Release Body: Alba Spectrum Group: http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918

Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP version upgrade should be planned, it is not recommended
to do it impulsively. In order to facilitate your homework we would like to give
you highlights in technical and functional compatibility areas
1. Microsoft Dexterity core. Great Plains is Dexterity application, which has new
technologies, incorporated in Dexterity and serving as additions (and in some cases
as replacements) to Dex: eConnect, Sharepoint (with approval cycles), Microsoft
Office stack integration, plus integrations with Microsoft CRM, RMS and other MS
business applications. The message here is to check if you have custom Dexterity
logic - this is first step to analyze and address in version upgrade
2. Great Plains Dex modifications upgrade scenarios. Dexterity was designed as GP
Dynamics IDE and programming language, and one of its fundamental features is
upgradeability. However this should be given to the hands of professional Dexterity
programmers. In the best case scenario, you should have DYNAMICS.DIC dictionary
with your customization source code (in the case of Dex it is sanscript codes).
Dexterity modification upgrade has further specifics, required to be taken to
consideration in upgrade, this is outside of the scope here.
3. Third Party modules. Great Plains is the platform, open to Microsoft Business
Solutions ISV, who extends GP business logic. Typically these extensions are
written in Dexterity and distributed as Dexterity chink. The examples of popular
ISV names for Great Plains: Mekorma, Avalara, Intellisol (late 1990th),
Albaspectrum, and others. If you deploy third party GP extension module, you should
check if third party tool is available for the new version, where you plan to
upgrade
4. Reporting. Well, you may have various blends of reporting tools: Crystal
Reports, SRS, MS Access, but in our opinion GP ReportWriter reports should be
analyzed in the most careful manner in GP version update. Report Writer in turn is
Dexterity-written module and it comes back to one of the first GP versions: 3.2 and
4.0, so this is not a surprise that you may encounter multiple surprises and
restrictions
5. FRx. This is financial reporting tool, which has connection to GP General Ledger
and GL account summaries. FRx upgrade is typically straightforward, in some cases
you have to know "known issues", you should be familiar with sysdata folder, FRX
date and time table in Dynamics database. If you got FRx upgrade deadlock, please
try to relax and search Microsoft Business Solutions technical knowledge database at
partner or customer source
6. Upgrade Paths. How upgrade works behind the scenes? Dexterity utilities looks
in Dynamics database which legacy version you are on and then if it has upgrade
algorithm from your version it launches the update process. You should know
probably all historical GP versions: 3.2, 4.0, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0 and
current 10.0 (October 2007). FRx versions: 4.0, 5.0, 6.5
7. GPA upgrade and migration. If you are on old Great Plains Accounting for DOS or
MS Windows, you need to undergo migration to Microsoft Dynamics GP path. Migration
tool is available if you contact your MBS partner
8. Pervasive SQL 2000/Btrieve and Ctree/Faircom Great Plains Dynamics upgrade. If
you are on Pervasive or Ctree, then it is version 7.5 or earlier. Microsoft
terminated these legacy platforms support in December 2004. MRP software industry
deploys annual support fee mechanism to finance accounting software development
expenses. In order to get new version registration key, you should be enrolled and
current in GP annual enhancement program. If you are current, then you should
contact your GP VAR of record to arrange migration from Great Plains Dynamics on
Pervasive or Ctree to Microsoft Dynamics GP on MS SQL Server 2000 or 2005
9. No answer. If your topic is not covered in this publication, please feel free to
contact us

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group: http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving Microsoft Dynamics GP
Great Plains customers in USA/Canada nationwide. Local service is available in
Houston, TX: Richmond, Sugar Land, Katy, Rosenberg, Missouri City, Pearland,
Friendswood, Meadows, Mission Bend, Jersey Village; Chicago, IL: Naperville, Aurora,
Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Joliet, Wheaton, Lisle, Downers Grove, Schaumburg, Elk
Grove, Lombard, Woodridge, Darien, Westmont, Batavia, St. Charles, Elgin, Crystal
Lake. Service is also available in Houston and Dallas metros, plus internationally
in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Oceania and UK. USA nationwide we
serve all the states via remote support: CA, NY, WA, PA, FL, IN, MI, MA, MN, GA, AZ,
WI, AL, HA, CO, NV, NM, NC, SC, LA



Web Site: http://www.albaspectrum.com

Contact Details: Alba Spectrum Group: http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918