Released on = July 24, 2007, 2:17 pm

Press Release Author = Alba Spectrum Group

Industry = Computers

Press Release Summary = Currently the latest version is 10.0. It is also common
situation when ERP version is not current, but, say 2, 3 or even 5 years old. There
are several version upgrade strategies. One of them is to go pace-in-pace with
Microsoft Great Plains and apply each newly released service pack

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

Currently the latest version is 10.0. It is also common situation when ERP version
is not current, but, say 2, 3 or even 5 years old. There are several version
upgrade strategies. One of them is to go pace-in-pace with Microsoft Great Plains
and apply each newly released service pack. Another scenario is more conservative -
upgrade is investment plus it forces MRP users to work extra hours to help
consultants with pre- and post- upgrade testing - such as printing major reports and
verifying balances. This second conservative approach recommends jump over one
version, i.e. if you are on version 7.0, you don't upgrade to 8.0 but instead wait
version 9.0; plus you upgrade to new version only when it is "tested" in large
number of upgrades (in the first 6 month after being released). Additional upgrade
considerations should be given to custom modules, reporting, in-house-made
integration, EDI, etc. Let's come through version update checklist:
. Reg Key. It is ERP industry standard service practice, when vendor requires all
the customers to be in annual enhancement program, which requires you to pay annual
fee. If you lapse in the annual enhancement program, you should expect certain
penalty to pay in order to get reenrolled into the enhancement program. When you
are current in enhancement, you receive reg key for the new version automatically
. Upgrade Technology. In the case of Great Plains, assuming that you are on SQL
Server platform - upgrade is automatic process, built into GP utilities. When you
first install new version on the server - you will get a message about new version
upgrade - and utilities will launch the upgrade itself upon your authorization.
There are multiple upgrade scenarios and "what ifs", this is why it is not
recommended for end user to do it; however it is theoretically possible to upgrade
on your own - be sure you have full backup for SQL and your GP workstations (plus
Server side software) to be able to roll back. GP has internal architecture, known
as Microsoft Dexterity - this architecture drives upgrade process and deploys it own
tools to do so. You should be familiar with such GP Dexterity features and
terminologies as Dynamics.dic, Dynamics.set, Reports,dic, DEX_ROW_ID
. Reports Upgrade. There are several types of reports: ReportWriter (SOP Long
Invoice Form is one of the most popular modified reports), SQL Server Reporting
Services or SRS and Crystal Reports. The last two reporting technologies are pretty
version independent and typically upgrade without problem
. Dexterity Upgrade. This is one of the most popular GP customization technologies.
If you need to upgrade dex modifications, you need to have dexterity custom
dictionary with customization source code scripts. In most of the cases developers
give you Dynamics.dic with your custom logic, in some cases Extract.dic

Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.com
help@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving GP customers in
Chicagoland: Downtown Chicago, Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Bolingbrook, Darien,
Downers Grove, Hinsdale, Lisle, Romeoville, Plainfield, Elgin, Crystal Lake,
Batavia, Wheaton, Lombard, Villa Park, Glenn Ellyn, Westmont, Des Plaines,
Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Addison, Itasca, St. Charles. Service with
reasonable travel is available in downstate Illinois: Springfield, Bloomington,
Normal, Peoria, Morris, Ottawa, Marseilles, Vandalia, Galena, Sterling, Dixon,
Rachelle, Rockford. We also serve US, Canada nationwide via remote support and our
offices in Chicago, IL and Houston, TX plus short visits onsite when required



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