Released on = May 29, 2007, 3:44 pm

Press Release Author = Alba Spectrum Group

Industry = Computers

Press Release Summary = Microsoft Great Plains is Dexterity-based application, and
Report Writer is one of the first original Great Plains Software Dynamics modules,
written in GP Dexterity. It is common to hear questions from GP customers,
technical consultants and developers on how to upgrade GP Report Writer report: SOP
Long Invoice form is good example

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

Microsoft Great Plains is Dexterity-based application, and Report Writer is one of
the first original Great Plains Software Dynamics modules, written in GP Dexterity.
It is common to hear questions from GP customers, technical consultants and
developers on how to upgrade GP Report Writer report: SOP Long Invoice form is good
example. Let take a look at ReportWriter technical base:
. Table Links. Typically you see tables from the same module (such as SOP, PM, RM)
only bundled in one specific report. The reason for this - Dexterity assumed
differences between various DB platforms, such as MS SQL Server, Ctree, Btrieve (now
Pervasive SQL) - and being under such circumstances, it took the route to trust its
own indexes only (internal Dexterity DB indexes, you can research them in
GP->Tools->Resource Description->Tables). This is why RW has such limitations, in
comparison to external reporting tools: Crystal Reports, SRS, etc. Table links
change was practiced for earlier GP versions back in 20th century, now if you are
current - you are probably on the safe page.
. RW formula fields. These are the most typical sources of upgrade problems. The
recipe is pretty conservative and simple (but requires individual approach to each
report and each formula field) - you should open old version of GP workstation and
new version on the same screen or on two adjacent computers and compare formula
fields one by one. If on new report you see different calculations, you should try
to replicate rather old logic (this should allow you avoid redesigning report from
scratch)
. RW custom reports. These reports typically never have upgrade issues, due to the
fact that they usually don't have formula fields - these reports typically used for
custom data extractions
. RW Writer Modified Reports in Third Party modules. First of all - you should
accept the fact, that these reports (when we are talking about GP ReportWriter) can
not cross the boundaries of their respective third party module. Further more,
Dexterity architecture treats the products in DYNAMICS.SET file as separate modules,
so the statement is true on the level of one module
. Crystal/SRS alternative. We heard battles between the supporters of one and the
other reporting tool, for instance - Crystal Reports and Microsoft SQL Server
Reporting Services, something like "in the past Crystal was OK, now you have to use
SRS only, period". In our opinion, both Crystal and SRS are too far away from GP
internal DB structure, and in order to make one or another work with GP database,
you as developer have to first test generic report login in SQL stored procedure or
view

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving Microsoft Dynamics GP
USA and Canada nationwide: Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Windsor, New York,
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DeKalb. With reasonable travel we serve Springfield, Bloomington, Normal, Peoria,
LaSalle, Ottawa, Dixon



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