| We realized that there are many customers, who are | | | | techknowledge Database (we have it so you can try |
| still deploying old versions of Great Plains Dynamics: | | | | and see if we are able to help you). If you would |
| 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, 5.0, 4.0 (including GP on | | | | like to export GPA for Mac important data; |
| Pervasive SQL Server/Btrieve and Ctree/Faircom) | | | | customers, vendors, POP Receipts, Sales Orders, AR |
| and even Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Mac and | | | | documents, you should consider printing reports on |
| Windows: 9.5, 9.2, 9.1 and earlier. | | | | master date and historical transactions. However for |
| In this small publication we would like to review | | | | those of you who are on GPA for DOS or Windows |
| typical services for these old Corporate ERP | | | | - you have more options: redeployment it on new |
| platforms. This article is for Great Plains consultant | | | | Windows 2003 Server and Windows XP or even |
| and for internal IT support in your organization, so it | | | | Vista client workstations. Plus, for GPA 9.1 and later |
| may look a bit technical for non IT GP users, and at | | | | versions: 9.2, 9.5 - you can create DDF files and hook |
| the same time it may look as lacking important | | | | all your GPA tables in Microsoft Access for data |
| technical details for technical consultant - we are | | | | archiving and migration to non Microsoft Dynamics GP |
| trying to make it readable for each group: | | | | platform. If you plan to migrate GPA to Dynamics |
| | | | | GP 7.5 - you do not need to do data extraction, |
| 1. Data Repair. When you did posting | | | | migration tool will connect to your GPA database and |
| (something like your Vendor Check or Payroll Check | | | | move all the records to Dynamics GP Great Plains |
| Batch) and computer crashed in the middle of the | | | | 7.5. And just one note before we go to the next |
| batch posting routine. In all these situations you | | | | paragraph - if you would like us to help you with New |
| may potentially need Database transaction level | | | | GPA company registration key, or upgrade, you |
| repair: removal and modification. If you are on | | | | would need to sign change VAR form to Alba |
| Pervasive SQL DB platform, you should consider | | | | Spectrum |
| creating DDF files for your Great Plains tables to be | | | | |
| available through Pervasive SQL ODBC driver and in | | | | 5. Great Plains Dynamics old version |
| this case you can make tables available as Linked | | | | upgrade. Yes, it is possible, however first think |
| Tables in Microsoft Access, for example (or another | | | | about possible show stoppers: Dexterity Add-ons |
| powerful ODBC connection tool, like Microsoft SQL | | | | (such as your own unique custom modules, coded in |
| Server Linked Server and Query). Before you run | | | | Great Plains Dexterity, Intellisol POP and Project |
| update or delete SQL statement (or simply alter | | | | Accounting). If you have add-ons (you can call us |
| records in MS Access) - we recommend you to save | | | | for helping you identify if custom modules are there), |
| btrieve file and index file for your table to be | | | | then you should find out if your old Great Plains ISV |
| repaired. Data repair on Pervasive SQL or Ctree | | | | has upgrade path, or if you have the source code |
| (you can install Faircom ODBC driver for Ctree) | | | | for you in-house Dex custom module. Next step is |
| should be given to Great Plains Technical Consultant. | | | | to understand the cost of being reenrolled into |
| If you are Dynamics GP Technical consultant, you | | | | Dynamics GP annual enhancement program (as it is |
| should be able to perform that type of work, | | | | the only way to get new version registration key |
| assuming that you are doing similar repair on | | | | and open you the way to the realm of Microsoft |
| Microsoft SQL Server 2005 and 2000 for your | | | | Dynamics GP Technical Support). Next step is to |
| Dynamics GP 10.0 and 9.0 customers | | | | determine with your Dynamics GP Partner upgrade |
| | | | | path and here you go. Let us give you the scenario: |
| 2. Great Plains redeployment on new | | | | if you are on GPA for DOS 9.2. You upgrade to |
| server. Let's assume that you need to move Great | | | | GPA for DOS 9.5, then migrate to Dynamics GP 7.5 |
| Plains Dynamics 7.5 from one server to another. | | | | on SQL Server 2000, next step is upgrade Dynamics |
| You would need to install Pervasive SQL Server, | | | | GP 7.5->9.0, then you apply required service packs |
| register it. If you are upgrading user workstations | | | | and move to Dynamics GP 10.0 which is current |
| (from Windows 2000 to XP for example), you would | | | | version |
| need to reinstall them from Great Plains CD1 (if you | | | | |
| use advanced set of module, potentially from CD2, | | | | 6. How we serve you USA, Canada |
| however we recommend another method). Then | | | | nationwide? If you are in Chicago, Houston, San |
| you copy your old Dynamics workstation folder, | | | | Diego, Los Angeles, we have local presence. If you |
| rename newly installed on XP GP workstation folder | | | | are in other business metro, we serve you via web |
| and copy into the same folder (just create it as | | | | sessions and phone or skype conferences. We are |
| empty folder) contents of old GP workstation. | | | | reasonably available for USA, Canada travel to your |
| Then, open Dynamics.set file and make necessary | | | | location to establish relations and then serve your |
| path changes. Next step is Locations Translation - | | | | remotely (preferred) |
| outside of the scope here, however you can read | | | | |
| about this procedure in Administrator Guide. Please, | | | | 7. International Environment. Please, note |
| also take care about moving central version of | | | | that Dynamics GP Dexterity doesn't support Unicode |
| Modified Forms (Forms.dic) and Reports | | | | characters, or hieroglyphs: such alphabets as Chinese, |
| (Reports.dic). For FRx - please move system | | | | Japanese, Korean. Plus it is only localized (user |
| directory (Sysdata) to new server, install FRx on | | | | interface translation plus local tax and reporting |
| user workstations and change Sysdata from local | | | | compliance) for English Speaking Countries, French |
| path to central Sysdata directory on new server | | | | speaking Quebec, and Spanish Latin America. If |
| (actually FRx is sensitive to all sorts of Paths, | | | | your international subsidiary is located in such regions |
| especially when for your favorite reports you | | | | and countries as Brazil, Russia, China, Continental |
| selected Drill Down Viewer documents to be stored | | | | Europe, Kazakhstan, Central Asia - we recommend |
| in your personal document - assuming that you are | | | | you to consider SAP Business One as it localized for |
| now moved to new Domain with Active Directory - | | | | these countries or even local ERP application, |
| your personal documents are now in different | | | | assuming that it support reasonable transaction |
| directory, so you should open each document and | | | | export into text files to be consolidated via Dynamics |
| make changes to the paths) | | | | GP Integration Manager |
| | | | | |
| 3. Miscellaneous Services, such as Payroll | | | | 8. How to get help? Please, feel free to |
| Tax update for GP 8.0, 7.5 and earlier - as you know | | | | call us: 1-866-528-0577, outside of USA: |
| at this time October 2009 only version 10.0 and 9.0 | | | | 1-630-961-5918 or email us We are very technical |
| are supported and you can download Payroll Tax | | | | and real Dynamics GP Dexterity, SAP Business One |
| update directly from MBS technical support pages | | | | SDK programming gurus. We have Great Plains |
| (Customer Source or Partner Source) | | | | Software Development Factory and could support |
| | | | | unlimited Dynamics GP Customization and |
| 4. Great Plains Accounting for DOS, Mac | | | | Programming needs. Plus we speak English, Chinese, |
| and Windows. If you are on Macintosh, then it is | | | | Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and not only as native |
| very difficult to help you with data repair, all you may | | | | speaking sales folks, but as real technical consultants. |
| expect is if your error is described in GPA | | | | |