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    Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications
    Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications
    Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications
    Ebook1,224 pages6 hours

    Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications

    By Leslie Vail

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    About this ebook

    Written in a hands-on and friendly manner, Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications takes a practical approach to teaching you how to develop and customize ERP applications. If you are a Microsoft Dynamics GP developer, consultant, or power user who wants to create and customize applications, then this book is for you. A working knowledge of Microsoft Dynamics GP is required. A basic understanding of business management systems and reporting applications, such as Microsoft Excel and SQL Reporting Services, is highly recommended.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPackt Publishing
    Release dateDec 26, 2012
    ISBN9781849680271
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      Book preview

      Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications - Leslie Vail

      Table of Contents

      Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications

      Credits

      About the Author

      Acknowledgement

      About the Reviewers

      www.PacktPub.com

      Support files, eBooks, discount offers and more

      Why Subscribe?

      Free Access for Packt account holders

      Instant Updates on New Packt Books

      Preface

      What this book covers

      What you need for this book

      Who this book is for

      Conventions

      Reader feedback

      Customer support

      Downloading the example code

      Downloading the color images of this book

      Errata

      Piracy

      Questions

      1. Microsoft Dynamics GP Architecture

      The native user interface

      Horizontal

      Vertical

      Dexterity overview

      Resource Explorer

      sanScript scripting language

      Extensive function library

      Structured exception handling

      Integrated source code control

      Built-in Report Writer

      COM support

      Graphical forms designer

      Debugging tools

      Dexterity design

      Components of the Dynamics GP application

      Start your engines!

      The launch file (Dynamics.set)

      The preferences file (Dex.ini)

      SQLLogSQLStmt

      SQLLogODBCMessages

      SQLLogAllODBCMessages

      Synchronize

      Workstation=WINDOWS

      Workstation2

      OLEPath

      RememberUser

      ShowAdvancedMacroMenu

      ExportOneLineBody

      The Dexterity Runtime Engine (Dynamics.exe)

      SQL table and procedure names

      Original table-naming convention

      00000 – Master tables

      40000 – Setup tables

      50000 – Temp tables

      60000 – Relation or Cross Reference tables

      70000 – Report Options tables

      80000 – Posting Journal Reprint tables

      90000 – Miscellaneous tables

      10000, 20000, and 30000 - Work, Open, and History Transaction tables

      Stored procedures

      Current table-naming convention

      What you see – the user interface (UI)

      Push buttons

      Note button (record level)

      Printer icon

      Zoom fields

      Lookup button

      Browse buttons

      Sort-by List

      Note button (window level)

      Additional window elements

      E-mail Link

      Map Link

      Quantity alert button

      Multicurrency button

      Show Details

      Information button

      Expansion arrow

      Help button

      Summary

      2. Integrating Application Fundamentals

      Defining the project

      Changing a window's look or behavior

      Changing current functionality

      Creating new functionality

      Exchanging data between systems

      Storing additional data

      Types of integrations

      Overview of available tools

      Dexterity

      Capabilities of Dexterity

      Limitations

      Developer skills required

      End-user prerequisites

      Visual Studio Tools for Dynamics GP (VS Tools)

      Capabilities of VS Tools

      Developer skills required

      End-user prerequisites

      Modifier with VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)

      Capabilities of Modifier with VBA

      Developer skills required

      End-user prerequisites

      Continuum

      Capabilities of Continuum

      Developer skills required

      End-user prerequisites

      Extender / eXtender Enterprise

      Capabilities of Extender and eXtender Enterprise

      Developer skills required

      End-user prerequisites

      DDE \ ODBC \ ADO \ OLE Automation

      DDE

      ODBC

      ADO

      OLE Automation

      Capabilities of DDE \ ODBC \ ADO \ OLE Automation

      End-user prerequisites

      Integration Manager

      Capabilities of Integration Manager

      Developer skills required

      End-user prerequisites

      Table Import

      Capabilities of Table Import

      Developer skills required

      End-user prerequisites

      eConnect

      Capabilities of eConnect

      Developer skills required

      End-user prerequisites

      Web services

      Capabilities of web services

      Developer skills required

      End user prerequisites

      Modifying the user interface

      Dexterity

      VS Tools

      WinForm properties

      WinForm control properties

      Buttons

      TextBoxes

      Labels

      ComboBoxes

      ListBoxes

      Modifier with VBA

      Extender / eXtender Enterprise

      Forms

      Detail forms

      Windows

      Detail windows

      Notes

      Changing or adding functionality

      Dexterity

      Form events

      Window events

      Field events

      Scrolling window events

      Triggers

      Five triggers in Dexterity

      VS Tools

      Form events

      Window events

      Scrolling window events

      Field events

      Procedure events

      Function events

      Modifier with VBA

      Window events

      Modal dialog events

      Field events

      Scrolling window events

      Report events

      Band events

      Continuum

      eXtender Enterprise

      Adding information not previously collected

      DUOS

      Summary

      3. Getting Started with Dexterity

      Overview of the development process

      Installing the software

      Preparing your development environment

      Developing the application

      Creating the chunk file

      Delivering the final product

      Preparing the development environment

      Installing Dexterity and the SDK

      Modifying the Dex.ini file

      Creating the development dictionary

      Moving to test mode

      Dynamics GP desktop

      Modifying user security

      Installing DexSense

      Installing the Support Debugging Tool (SDT)

      Blast off!

      Overview of Dexterity

      Components of Dexterity

      Resources and their relationships

      DataType

      Format

      Field

      Field properties

      Object properties

      Visual properties

      Linking prompts

      Linking lookup buttons

      Composite

      Table

      Form and window

      Window properties

      Object properties

      Visual properties

      Scrolling window

      Creating a scrolling window

      Scrolling window properties

      Object properties

      Visual properties

      Adding fields to a scrolling window

      Navigating the Resource Explorer

      Worksets

      Summary

      4. Building the User Interface

      Overview

      Workset

      Base resources

      Data types

      Format

      Fields

      Creating tables and keys

      Tables

      Customer Contact Master

      Table keys

      Contact Phone Master

      Table keys

      Table naming conventions

      Table options

      Types of tables

      Creating forms and windows

      Maintenance form and window creation

      Attaching tables

      Setting window properties

      Removing window fields

      Adding fields to the window

      Global fields

      Window text properties

      Global field properties

      Local fields

      New scrolling window

      Lookup form and window creation

      Window fields

      Scrolling windows

      Working with window fields

      Adding static text

      Column headings

      Summary

      5. sanScript – Making It Work

      Introduction to sanScript

      Scripts

      Syntax rules

      Script flow

      Script naming conventions

      Table operations

      get

      change

      remove

      save table

      release table

      copy to table

      copy from table

      Creating a record

      Retrieving a record

      Customer

      Script analysis

      Customer zoom

      Browse buttons

      Updating a record

      Deleting a record

      Ranges

      Setting a range

      Creating a virtual key

      range where

      Scrolling windows

      Big and Small Line item

      BrowseOnly windows

      Lookup windows

      Calling the lookup form

      Defaulting the double-click

      Editable windows

      Line events

      LineFill

      LinePre

      LineChange

      LinePost

      LineInsert

      LineDelete

      AddsAllowed windows

      Triggers

      Form trigger

      Form trigger registration

      Form trigger considerations

      Cross-dictionary considerations

      Focus trigger

      Focus trigger registration

      Focus trigger considerations

      Cross-dictionary considerations

      Database trigger

      Database trigger registration

      Database trigger considerations

      Cross-dictionary considerations

      Procedure trigger

      Procedure trigger registration

      Procedure trigger considerations

      Cross-dictionary considerations

      Function trigger

      Function trigger registration

      Function trigger considerations

      Cross-dictionary considerations

      Create your form trigger!

      Processing procedure

      Summary

      6. Deploying a Dexterity Solution

      System requirements

      General requirements

      Feature-specific requirements

      Minding versions and builds

      Table creation routines

      Using the SQL Maintenance window

      Building a utilities window

      Automatically creating the tables upon launch

      Completing the application

      Forms and windows

      Linking your prompts

      Linking your lookups

      Adding tool tips

      Hyperspacing your lookup buttons

      Linking your formats

      Setting your tab order

      Complying with user interface standards

      Tables

      Reports

      Referential diagnostics

      Linked prompts

      Table relationships validation

      Creating the chunk file

      Extracting resources

      Transfer dictionary module

      Testing in a multi-dictionary environment

      Chunk doesn't unchunk

      Testing tools and techniques

      Additional resources available

      Distributing the completed application

      Sending the chunk

      Windows Installer services

      Summary

      7. Creating Customizations with Modifier

      Overview of Modifier

      Two tools in one!

      Modifying windows and window fields

      Launching the Modifier

      The window properties

      Size

      Opening position

      The tab sequence

      The window layout

      Modifying the General Entry window

      Adding and modifying window fields

      Adding fields to the scrolling window

      Modifying static text

      Change the window title

      Change the text prompt

      Change the static text of a checkbox

      Add a dividing line

      Adding a tool tip

      Adding or changing graphic elements

      Adding a new picture

      Changing the Picture

      Changing global resources

      Pictures and native pictures

      Strings

      Formats

      Data types

      Messages

      Summary

      8. Creating Customizationswith VBA

      VBA overview

      Components

      Objects

      Properties

      Methods

      Events

      UserForms

      Modules

      Debugging

      Setting options

      Windows and window fields

      Creating the Summary button

      Creating the Go To button

      Adding objects to the project

      Adding the Vendor Maintenance window

      Adding additional windows and window fields

      Using methods and properties

      Setting field values

      Cross-dictionary access

      Referencing the Collections module

      Scrolling windows

      Adding a scrolling window to the project

      Grid events

      Line got focus

      Line lost focus

      Line change

      Filtering records

      BeforeLinePopulate

      Fun with dialogs

      BeforeModalDialog

      AfterModalDialog

      The Dynamic User Object Store

      Architecture

      Declaring the objects

      Retrieving data

      Saving data

      Deleting data

      Deploying a Modifier/VBA customization

      Creating package files

      Limitations of packages

      Editing packages

      Known issues with Windows 7

      Summary

      9. Code-free Customization

      Overview of tools

      SmartList Builder

      Excel Report Builder

      Drill-Down Builder

      Extender

      SmartList Builder

      Getting Started with SmartList Builder

      Importing the templates

      Creating a SmartList object

      Adding tables

      Fields

      Field options

      Currency fields

      Date fields

      Integer and long integer fields

      String fields

      Calculated fields

      Calculated field 1: QTY Available for Sale

      Calculated field 2: List of On Hand QTY

      Calculated field 3: CONSTANT 2

      Calculated field 4: CONSTANT 4

      Restrictions

      Go Tos

      Go To: Item maintenance

      Task: Item Number field

      Go To: Item transaction inquiry

      Task 1: Item Number field

      Task 2: (L) Display Options field

      Task 3: (L) Display By field

      Task 4: (L) Start Location field

      Task 5: (L) End Location field

      Granting security to a SmartList Builder object

      Excel Report Builder

      Drill Down Builder

      Extender

      Overview

      Extender editions

      Extender Standard

      eXtender Enterprise

      Working with Extender

      Event form project

      Field 1: Event Type field

      Field 2: Catering Company field

      Field 3: Rental Company field

      Field 4: Rental Location field

      Field 9: Customer field

      Field 10: City field

      Field 1, Column 2: Event Location field

      Creating the City Lookup object

      Extra windows

      Extender menu

      Customer window group

      Customer contacts

      Line item note

      Summary

      10. Creating Customizations with VS Tools

      Architecture

      Dexterity Shell

      Dexterity Bridge

      Application assemblies

      Add-ins folder

      Installing VS Tools

      Download it

      Run the installation

      Vendor Quick Entry project

      Creating the new project

      Adding the new window

      Window controls

      Button

      ButtonType on dexButtonProvider

      AutoSetDexColors

      TextBox

      AutoSetDexColors

      Label

      LinkField on dexLabelProvider

      RadioButton and GroupBox

      ComboBox

      Style

      AutoSetDexColors

      Adding window controls

      TextBox controls and properties

      Label controls and properties

      Button controls and properties

      RadioButton and GroupBox

      ComboBox

      Accessing dictionary resources

      Referencing the application assembly

      Referencing the namespace

      Building dictionary assemblies

      Dictionary Assembly Generator (DAG)

      Using the DAG

      Creating the AddIn assembly

      Opening your window

      Code the action

      Building and testing your assembly

      Table operations

      Creating a record

      Retrieving a record

      Updating a record

      Deleting a record

      Clearing the window

      Working with ranges

      Building and deploying the application

      Dynamics GP 2013 consideration

      Summary

      11. Upgrading Customizations

      Using the SDK

      Script changes

      Data model changes

      New tables

      Deleted tables

      New columns

      Deleted columns

      New indexes

      Deleted indexes

      Different data types

      Different segments

      Different index columns

      New RW relations

      Deleted RW relations

      Table changes

      Table changes – summary

      Table changes – detail

      Form changes

      Dexterity

      Setting up generic source code control

      Installing Dexterity Source Code Control Server (DSCCS)

      Configuring the DSCCS

      Resolving validation errors

      Checking in the old dictionary

      Checking in the old dictionary to start the new project

      Creating the new development dictionary

      Making changes to your code

      Data type changes

      Field changes

      Procedure or function changes

      Table changes

      Functionality changes

      Completing the update

      Converting the data

      Recreating alternate forms and reports

      Updating forms and report dictionaries

      GP 2013 considerations

      Testing your application and building the update chunk

      Modifier with VBA

      Modifier

      VBA

      Environment changes

      Window changes

      Report changes

      GP 2013 considerations

      Extender and Builder(s)

      Extender

      SmartList Builder and Excel Report Builder

      Visual Studio Tools (VS Tools)

      Downloading the application

      Opening the solution

      Rebuilding application assemblies

      Updating references to the assemblies

      Fixing the code

      Building the new solution

      GP 2013 considerations

      Summary

      Index

      Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications

      Developing Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Applications

      Copyright © 2012 Packt Publishing

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embedded in critical articles or reviews.

      Every effort has been made in the preparation of this book to ensure the accuracy of the information presented. However, the information contained in this book is sold without warranty, either express or implied. Neither the author, nor Packt Publishing, and its dealers and distributors will be held liable for any damages caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by this book.

      Packt Publishing has endeavored to provide trademark information about all of the companies and products mentioned in this book by the appropriate use of capitals. However, Packt Publishing cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.

      First published: December 2012

      Production Reference: 1191212

      Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.

      Livery Place

      35 Livery Street

      Birmingham B3 2PB, UK.

      ISBN 978-1-84968-026-4

      www.packtpub.com

      Cover Image by Artie Ng (<[email protected]>)

      Credits

      Author

      Leslie Vail

      Reviewers

      Mohammad R. Daoud

      Frank Hamelly

      Vaidhyanathan Mohan

      Jivtesh Singh

      Acquisition Editor

      Rashmi Phadnis

      Lead Technical Editors

      Susmita Panda

      Dayan Hyames

      Technical Editors

      Arun Nadar

      Jalasha D'costa

      Prashant Salvi

      Copy Editors

      Insiya Morbiwala

      Aditya Nair

      Alfida Paiva

      Project Coordinator

      Arshad Sopariwala

      Proofreaders

      Maria Gould

      Sandra Hopper

      Indexer

      Hemangini Bari

      Graphics

      Valentina D'silva

      Aditi Gajjar

      Production Coordinators

      Conidon Miranda

      Pooja Chiplunkar

      Cover Work

      Conidon Miranda

      About the Author

      Leslie Vail is a CPA and has been working as a Microsoft Dynamics GP Consultant for nearly 20 years. She began with Version 1.0 in 1993. During this period she completed numerous implementations, conversions, and custom-development projects. She has been a Session Leader at many partner and customer-technical conferences, and conducts training classes throughout Northern and Central America.

      Leslie has been a Microsoft Dynamics GP Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 2007. She is recognized throughout the industry for her product expertise and contributions to the Dynamics community. She is the Principal of ASCI, Inc., a consulting firm located in Dallas, TX.

      As a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), she serves as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Microsoft Assessments and Certification Exams (ACE) team. She is a member of the US MCT Advisory Council, and has been listed as one of the Microsoft Dynamics Top 100 most influential people by DynamicsWorld. She is one of the top contributors to the Microsoft Dynamics GP Newsgroup and the Dynamics Community forum. Leslie maintains the popular Dynamics Confessor Blogspot blog (http://dynamicsconfessions.blogspot.com/).

      Leslie has reviewed and developed Microsoft Courseware, coauthored the book Confessions of a Dynamics GP Consultant published by Accolade Publications, Inc., and has been the Technical Editor of several books dedicated to Microsoft Dynamics GP.

      Leslie provides implementation and consulting services for companies ranging from a family office to a multinational manufacturing firm. She is a Microsoft Certified IT Professional in Microsoft Dynamics GP Applications and Microsoft Dynamics GP Installation & Configuration, as well as a Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (DBA).

      She holds a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certification in Dexterity, Modifier with VBA, Integration Manager, Report Writer, HR/Payroll, Financials, Inventory and Order Processing, FRx Report Designer, SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2008, and Microsoft XP Professional.

      A skilled developer, Leslie uses Dexterity, Modifier with VBA, Integration Manager, and eConnect to provide custom solutions to her clients. She is a Certified Integration Developer (CID), a Dexterity CID, a Dynamics Tools CID, and a Dexterity Certified Systems Engineer.

      Her training proficiency spans the entire Microsoft Dynamics GP product line. She is an experienced trainer and gives classes for Dexterity, Financials, Inventory & Order Processing, HR/Payroll, Integration Manager, Modifier with VBA, FRx Report Designer, SQL Server Reporting Services, Report Writer, Crystal Reports, SmartList Builder, Excel Report Builder, Integrated Excel Reports, Extender, and System Manager.

      Prior to working with Microsoft Dynamics GP, Leslie was the Tax Director for a large financial institution; before that, she worked for one of the original Big Eight accounting firms as a Senior Tax Accountant.

      Acknowledgement

      First and foremost, I would like to thank Kerry George for asking me to write this book in the first place. Your unwavering encouragement kept me pressing on one page at a time. I thank the army of kind people at Packt Publishing for your tireless help and support. You were unbelievably patient and calming throughout the process. I couldn't have done it without you.

      I would especially like to thank my editors, Jalasha D'costa and Prashant Salvi, for making the book actually flow smoothly. You corrected so many little things and gave me such superb suggestions. People reading this book will think I have excellent grammar and punctuation skills because of you. They are of course wrong, but they won't be reading this acknowledgement, so it won't be found out.

      To my reviewers Mohammad R. Daoud, Jivtesh Singh, Vaidhyanathan Mohan, and Frank Hamelly, I thank you for your valuable time, ideas, and insights. You are this author's secret weapon. You helped me close up the holes in my content and kept me honest when I skipped over things. This is a much better, more complete book because of you and your willingness to help and advise me. I was truly blessed the day you said yes when Packt asked you to review this book.

      I thank David Musgrave, the worldwide wizard of Dexterity, and his trusty sidekick, Mariano Gomez, for their unending motivation and friendship. I have learned so much from you two guys over the years. The development community relies on your expertise and your willingness to share your knowledge, to move forward. I hope that outpouring of knowledge never stops, because when I use it it makes me look smart.

      A special shout goes out to Diane Bilyeu for putting up with me when I spent all night at her kitchen table writing Chapter One. Diane has taken the gesture of a nod and a smile to a whole new level, and I appreciate it immensely.

      To my friends, family, colleagues, and clients, can you believe it's finally over? At last you will not have to listen to my unending chatter about this book. Of course, the unending chatter will continue, but the topic will be different.

      Last but not least, I thank everyone on the Dynamics community forum. Anyone who has ever asked a question, or suggested an answer, and even those who lurk without posting, I thank you. While researching content for this book, I found so many answers from community postings. Keep up the good work! I'll see you online.

      About the Reviewers

      Mohammad R. Daoud has been working as a Microsoft Dynamics GP Consultant since 2004. His began his career by working with Dynamics GP Version 7.5; he studied every single detail of the application's technicalities and did a lot of successful implementations that included functional consultations, analysis, and custom development projects. He holds a graduate degree in Computer Science and is currently pursuing an MBA degree in Accounting.

      In January 2007 he was nominated to receive the MVP certificate, and was certified in April 2008 for his online contributions to the Dynamics community (Dynamics GP newsgroups, forums, user groups, and his blog http://mohdaoud.com). He was listed as one of Microsoft Dynamics's Top 100 most influential people in 2009 by DynamicsWorld (http://dynamicsworld.co.uk/Top-100-List.php)

      Mohammad's certificates include:

      Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP)

      Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)

      Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)

      Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP)

      Microsoft Certified IT Professional – Dynamics (MCITP)

      Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)

      Mohammad has successfully completed the following Microsoft Certification Exams:

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 Installation & Configuration

      Managing Microsoft Dynamics Implementations

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 Inventory & Order Processing

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 Financials

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 10.0 Installation & Configuration

      Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 Financials

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 Inventory & Order Processing

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 Modifier with VBA

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 Report Writer

      Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 Installation & Configuration

      Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000

      Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000

      Frank Hamelly is a business and technology professional with over 25 years of experience in implementing and supporting various ERP systems and business process reengineering initiatives across all organizational areas and across various industries, for small, mid-sized, and even Fortune 500 companies. He has held numerous positions in accounting, finance, customer service, and information systems. His application experience includes SAP R/3, Baan, Fourth Shift, Peachtree, MAS 90/200, Quickbooks, and Microsoft Dynamics ERP. His industry experience includes manufacturing, telecom, aerospace, life sciences, utilities, and media.

      Frank holds a degree in Business Administration with an Accounting major from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), and has been named an MVP every year since 2008. He writes articles for Dynamics-related websites and is a regular speaker at Microsoft Dynamics Convergence, MSDynamicsWorld's Decisions virtual conference. He is also a trainer and presenter for Great Plains Users Group (GPUG), and has reviewed a number of books written by fellow MVPs.

      Frank is the author of the GP2themax blog, with 5,000 visits per month.

      Frank is also the owner at NOVA Solutions, LLC, located in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. He is also the reviewer of the book Dynamics GP Cookbook, Mark Polino, Packt Publishing.

      Vaidhyanathan Mohan is a Microsoft Dynamics GP consultant and an enthusiast of all related technologies. He started his career as a Microsoft Dynamics GP developer, gained invaluable experience with that, and became a consultant who now handles implementation, analysis, development, and administration of Microsoft Dynamics GP.

      Vaidhyanathan possesses a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics and a Master's degree in Computer Applications. He is an active blogger who blogs about Microsoft Dynamics GP and related technologies. His blog, Dynamics GP – Learn & Discuss, has been recognized and added to Microsoft's Community Blog List. His active presence on many Dynamics GP forums is felt as he answers users' queries and shares his knowledge.

      I sincerely thank my parents, Mohan and Vijaya, for their unconditional love and sacrifices in molding me. I thank my brother, Karthikeyan Mohan, from my heart. Without his care and inspiration, I would be nothing.

      I thank all my peers, who were instrumental in building my career and experience. To name a few, Rajesh Hari, Geeth, Subhash, Suresha, Ravindranath, Sajeesh KA, David Musgrave, Mariano Gomez, Mark Polino, and the entire GP community.

      I thank Jimmy Grewal and Prem Nair, for their tremendous guidance and support.

      Finally, I thank my wife Rajeswari and my daughter Sreenidhi. They are the meaning to my life. Their love and understanding will forever drive me to learn and achieve more.

      Jivtesh Singh is a Dynamics GP consultant, Systems Implementer, and has been associated with Microsoft technologies since the launch of the Microsoft .NET framework. Jivtesh has over 10 years of experience in the development and maintenance of enterprise software using best practices of coding, refactoring and usage of design patterns, and test-driven development.

      Jivtesh recently built a Kinect interface to control Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 R2 Business Analyzer with gestures. Later, he built a part of the GP Future demo for the Convergence GP Keynote event.

      Jivtesh has set up a custom search engine directory for the Dynamics GP blog at www.gpwindow.com to help with easier access of Dynamics GP resources for the GP community. With MVP Mark Polino, he has also set up a Dynamics GP product directory at www.dynamicsgpproducts.com.

      Jivtesh's accomplishments include:

      His blog on Dynamics GP – www.jivtesh.com

      Jivtesh's custom search engine for GP blogs – www.gpwindow.com

      Dynamics GP products website – www.dynamicsgpproducts.com

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      Preface

      Microsoft Dynamics GP (Dynamics GP) is an exceptional Enterprise Resource Planning system used throughout the world. Released in 1993, it was the first in its class to deliver a solution that was completely re-written to capitalize on the Windows operating system. Dynamics GP was designed and built so that outside developers could easily enhance its functionality by writing add-ons, or so called third-party applications.

      In the beginning, you had only one development tool, Dexterity. Today there are so many tools available making it difficult to choose which one is right for you and your project. This book can help you decide by giving you the chance to work with seven of the most popular tools available today.

      What this book covers

      Chapter 1, Microsoft Dynamics GP Architecture, includes a description of the components making up Dynamics GP and how they interact. This chapter also provides a description of the Dynamics GP table naming conventions, data flow, and elements of the user interface.

      Chapter 2, Integrating Application Fundamentals, includes a short description of how an integrating application works and a brief overview of various tools you can use to build an integration. You will learn which tools can modify the user interface or change the functionality of Dynamics GP.

      The tools discussed include:

      Dexterity

      Visual Studio Tools for Dynamics GP (VS Tools)

      Modifier with Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)

      Continuum

      Extender and eXtender Enterprise

      Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE)

      Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

      ActiveX Data Objects (ADO)

      Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) Automation

      Integration Manager

      Table Import

      Web Services

      Chapter 3, Getting Started with Dexterity, will teach you how to prepare your development environment for creating an integrating application with Dexterity. You will learn about the various components making up Dexterity and how they work together.

      Chapter 4, Building the User Interface, introduces you to your first hands-on exercise in which you will build the user interface for your project. Additionally you will create the tables, forms, windows, and base resources you need for your sample integration.

      Chapter 5, sanScript – Making It Work, will teach you the basics of the sanScript language and will continue your integration project. You will bring life to the window you created in Chapter 4 by adding code to object events.

      Chapter 6, Deploying a Dexterity Solution, will help you finalize your Dexterity integration project by creating deployment scripts and building your chunk file. You will then install this chunk file and see your program run in the multi-dictionary environment of Dynamics GP.

      Chapter 7, Creating Customizations with Modifier, will help you start a new project using the Modifier. In this project you will modify the user interface you created in Chapter 4, as well as numerous alterations to native Dynamics GP windows.

      Chapter 8, Creating Customizations with VBA, covers how VBA is used in Dynamics GP. The Dynamics GP object model, VBA object properties, and object events are covered in this chapter. Several projects are included in this chapter that will put code behind the modifications that you created in Chapter 7 using the Modifier tool.

      Chapter 9, Code-free Customizations, shows you how you can create some very functional customizations using no code at all! You will create a customization using each of the tools listed as follows:

      SmartList Builder

      Excel Report Builder

      Drill Down Builder

      Extender

      Chapter 10, Creating Customizations with VS Tools, will help you use Visual Studio along with the Software Development Kit for Visual Studio Tools for Dynamics GP (VS Tools). This chapter starts with how to install VS Tools, and ends with your having created a VS Tools add-in for Dynamics GP. The various VS Tools components are described as you work through your project.

      Chapter 11, Upgrading Customizations, shows that once you complete your customization you need to know how to keep it up-to-date so that it will work with future releases of Dynamics GP. This chapter guides you through what to do, and how to do it. Included in this chapter are projects in which you will take a Dexterity project and a VS Tools project through an actual upgrade. The following customization types are covered:

      Dexterity

      Modifier with VBA

      Extender

      SmartList Builder

      Report Builder

      VS Tools

      Chapter 12, The Wrap Up, asks you the question – so where do you go from here? In addition, it provides a run down on what we covered as well as information on books, blogs, websites, and training that can help you further your skills as a Dynamics GP developer.

      Chapter 12, The Wrap Up, is not present in the book but is available as a free download from the following link: http://www.packtpub.com/sites/default/files/ downloads/0264EN_12_The_Wrap_Up.pdf.

      Appendix A, Dexterity Control Types, provides more complete information about the control types supported by Dexterity. Here you'll find images of the control types as well as a brief description of their characteristics and usage. Appendix A is not present in the book but is available as a free download from the following link: http://www.packtpub.com/sites/default/files/downloads/0264EN_AppA_Dexterity_Control_Types.pdf.

      Appendix B, Event Matrix, provides a matrix of the window events across Dexterity, VS Tools, and VBA. Use this matrix to compare how the events of each tool aligns with the others. Appendix B, is not present in the book but is available as a free download from the following link: http://www.packtpub.com/sites/default/files/downloads/0264EN_AppB_Event_Matrix.pdf

      What you need for this book

      To complete all of the projects in this book you need to have a basic understanding of the functionality of Dynamics GP. You also need to have had a little experience with some (any) computer programming language to help you understand the concepts of scripting.

      In addition, you need the following software:

      Dynamics GP 2010 with the following modules installed, registered, and working:

      Modifier (installs automatically with Dynamics GP system files)

      SmartList Builder

      Extender

      Fixed Assets

      The current build of the Support Debugging Tool for Dynamics GP 2010.

      Dynamics GP 2010 installation media. You will need this to install Dexterity 2010 and the Dynamics GP Software Development Kit.

      The current build of DexSense for Dexterity 2010.

      Microsoft Visual Studio version 2005 or later installed and working.

      Software Development Kit for Visual Studio Tools for Dynamics GP 2010.

      Information on how to obtain the Support Debugging Tool, DexSense, and the Software Development Kit for Visual Studio Tools is provided within the chapter that the tool is discussed.

      Who this book is for

      This book is for a developer who is just starting to work with Dynamics GP and is looking for a good introduction to what's going on under the covers of the application as well as the customization tools available to enhance it.

      This book will introduce you to several of the tools available and give you a chance to work with each one of them. You will get a feel for what it's like to use the tool, and perhaps learn which of the tools you may like to explore further.

      This book includes step-by-step instructions for completing small integration projects using each of the tools listed as follows:

      Dexterity

      Modifier with VBA

      Extender

      SmartList Builder

      Excel Report Builder

      Drill Down Builder

      Visual Studio Tools for Dynamics GP

      The intent of these projects is not to create complete working applications, nor to make you an expert on any of these applications, but rather to provide insight into how the tool works. Think of it as a plate of appetizers for tasting each of the tools included.

      Conventions

      In this book, you will find a number of styles of text that distinguish between different kinds of information. Here are some examples of these styles, and an explanation of their meaning.

      Code words in text are shown as follows: You can register a function trigger against any dictionary in the application using the function Trigger_RegisterFunctionByName().

      A block of code is set as follows:

      range clear table RM_Customer_MSTR;

       

      range table RM_Customer_MSTR where

      physicalname('State' of table RM_Customer_MSTR) + '= IL';

      fill window Customer_Lookup_Scroll;

       

      range clear table RM_Customer_MSTR;

      New terms and important words are shown in bold. Words that you see on the screen, in menus or dialog boxes for example, appear in the text like this: Your new Additional menu will be on the Customer Maintenance window.

      Note

      Warnings or important notes appear in a box like this.

      Tip

      Tips and tricks appear like this.

      Reader feedback

      Feedback from our readers is always welcome. Let us know what you think about this book—what you liked or may have disliked. Reader feedback is important for us to develop titles that you really get the most out of.

      To send us general feedback, simply send an e-mail to <[email protected]>, and mention the book title through the subject of your message.

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      Downloading the example code

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      Downloading the color images of this book

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      Errata

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      Questions

      You can contact us at <[email protected]> if you are having a problem with any aspect of the book, and we will do our best to address it.

      Chapter 1. Microsoft Dynamics GP Architecture

      You can develop applications that seamlessly integrate with Microsoft Dynamics GP, so that the user will not be able to tell when your code is running versus the original Dynamics GP code. Creating such integrating applications first requires that you have an intimate knowledge of Dynamics GP's architecture. By architecture, we mean the design that allows the product to evolve with technological advancements and embrace the increasing demands for performance and capacity. This lasting design is a framework of interdependent components that weave together to create the application we know today. Understanding the components of Dynamics GP and how they work together will prepare you to design a solution that will evolve alongside Dynamics GP as it meets the demands of this ever-changing market.

      This chapter is a 10,000 foot view of Dynamics GP, how it was built, why it was built that way, and how this affects your application. Upon completion of this chapter, you will understand the components that make up Dynamics GP and how your application fits into that architecture. This chapter will provide an overview of the following topics:

      The native user interface

      Dexterity overview

      Components of the Dynamics GP application

      SQL table and procedure names

      What you see – the user interface (UI)

      The native user interface

      In developing an application exposed to the user, you must give careful consideration to the user's experience. By using objects that mimic the native user interface, the user will see your windows as if they were the native windows of the core application, and in many ways they will be. When Dynamics GP was released back in 1993, it was platform and database independent. It would run on both Macintosh and Windows clients. It would run on a Faircom Server as handily as it would run on an NT Server. In the beginning, Dynamics GP supported three database management systems: Btrieve (later named PSQL 2000), FairCom's c-tree Plus, and Microsoft SQL Server (starting with Dynamics GP release 3.15).

      While today Dynamics GP only supports Microsoft SQL Server (SQL), be mindful that Dexterity continues to support the legacy databases. In building your own solution, these other databases are available for you to exploit. For instance, many developers use the c-tree database to create local temp tables. They are faster to access than SQL tables and easier to create. As

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