Released on = April 20, 2007, 4:34 pm

Press Release Author = Alba Spectrum Group

Industry = Computers

Press Release Summary = Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics GP has variety of reporting
tools: Dexterity ReportWriter, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, FRx,
Advanced Financial Reports (which is in fact old legacy dex tool), Crystal Reports,
SQL Queries (exported to MS Excel), Smart List and Smart List Builder, Microsoft
Great Plains Dexterity

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

Microsoft Great Plains Dynamics GP has variety of reporting tools: Dexterity
ReportWriter, Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services, FRx, Advanced Financial
Reports (which is in fact old legacy dex tool), Crystal Reports, SQL Queries
(exported to MS Excel), Smart List and Smart List Builder, Microsoft Great Plains
Dexterity. This variety of reporting gadgets sometimes leads to misunderstanding on
what reporting tool can do for you. Let's take this philosophical approach - if you
have a tool to create screws, required in car assembly - this doesn't mean that
newer version of the screw maker will let your car ran faster or let you to produce
new car model.
. Reporting Tools limitations. Typically such reporting tools as Crystal Reports or
MS SQL Server Reporting Services (SRS) allow you to link GP tables in some visual
linking tool and then build your report body, and then group it and show summarized
values by groups. Regardless of your expectations that newer reporting tool will
do miracle, you need to go into report engine, which typically is designed outside
of reporting tool, we will describe it below
. SQL Views. In SQL Server you can go far beyond the restricted functionality of
reporting tool - you can create views, where you can unionize select statements and
cross database and even servers platforms - heterogeneous queries, where you pull
data, joining cross-platform data: SQL Server, Oracle, other ODBC compliant, etc.
Well, SQL views are great tools, but sometimes you need to go further to SQL
scripting, as described below
. SQL Stored Procedure. You can base your SRS or Crystal Reports on SQL Stored
Procedure (sometimes referred as stored proc). Procedure is more flexible and
allows you to add variables, parameters, build temporary tables to join your data
across various sources in single union. Typically you switch to stored procedure
approach when you need temp tables, parameters and exec statements (when you build
your select statement on the fly from text constructions)
. GP Report Wizard. We recommend you these considerations. First, try to link
tables in reporting tool. If you see that this approach doesn't work, try SQL view
concept. If View is not an option, consider SQL Stored Procedure - this is final
and guaranteed solution (if you feel that you are still not oriented enough - think
about temporary tables - they should allow you to produce final result set)



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

Contact Details = Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.a;baspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving GP clients in Chicago:
Naperville, Aurora, Plainfield, Romeoville, Bolingbrook, Batavia, St. Charles,
Elgin, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Downers Grove, Morris, Joliet, Minooka, Lombard,
Elk Grove, Itasca, Schaumburg, Crystal Lake, Plano, Oswego, Montgomery, Orland Park,
Alsip, Lyons. In Houston / Dallas metros: Katy, Richmond, Rosenberg, Sugar Land,
Galveston. USA / Canada nationwide: Toronto, New York, Washington, Miami, San
Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Denver, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Toledo,
Indianapolis, Seattle. Minneapolis, Atlanta, Des Moines, Fargo, Moorhead.