Dexterity: Microsoft Dynamics GP Development

By Andrew Karasev

Microsoft Great Plains Dexterity customization, software development, modifications, reporting, legacy customizations upgrade

Great Plains Dexterity or current name Microsoft Dexterity was designed as programming language and software development environment for Great Plains Software Dynamics – one of the pioneering graphical ERP/Accounting applications back in earlier 1990th. Since then Dexterity customizations were very popular through 90th and even nowadays. Currently Microsoft Dynamics GP provides more options to developers: eConnect with XML Web Services, Xtender and others. However Dexterity and Microsoft Dynamics GP source code programming is still crucial for so-called fat client Microsoft Dynamics GP user workstation modifications

• Alternate Dexterity Forms. You can customize original Great Plains forms, such as Sales Order Processing Entry – this is very powerful customization technique, however alternate forms were always the customization upgrade major “budget eaters”. Probably better approach is Dexterity triggers and popup or extra menu controlled forms

• Dexterity Cursors. Current version 9.0 of Microsoft Dynamics GP supports only one DB platform – Microsoft SQL Server, but if we look at the history – one of the Dexterity paradigms was database independence, this is why Dexterity has its own cursors. Dexterity cursors were very helpful for Btrieve/Pervasive SQL and Ctree/Fairomm databases. For the reason of optimization, it is probably better to avoid Dexterity cursor technique and use SQL Stored Procs with aggregation technique (SELECT statement)

• Customization Upgrade. Dexterity Customizations upgrade has several key points to check: Alternate forms, changes in DYNAMICS and company database tables, introduced in the new version, custom reports re-import and reapplying custom logic

• Dexterity Developers. These folks were mostly trained in 1990th and feasibility to train new developers in Dexterity is questionable, so probably Dexterity customization or its upgrade should be trusted to consultants

If you want us to do the job, please call us: 1-866-528-0577, help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Dexterity programmer in Alba Spectrum Group ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) Microsoft Dynamics GP consulting company, based in Chicago, IL and Houston, TX. We serve 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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