Microsoft Great Plains Integration Manager ? Advanced Techniques

Great Plains Integration Manager scripting and translation - overview for programmer, software developer, database administrator, IT specialist

Microsoft Business Solutions main middle market ERP application - Microsoft Great Plains has multiple integration options: MS SQL Scripting (stored procedures and views), ADO.Net programming, Microsoft SQL Server DTS packages. You certainly can deploy such SDK tools as eConnect. However here we would like to show you how to program the simplest user friendly tool: Microsoft Great Plains Integration Manager.

We assume that you are familiar with Microsoft scripting technologies: Visual Basic for Application (VBA). You should be aware, however, about poor performance of Integration Manager. We recommend it for low volume of complex transactions. It is good tool, if you are importing about 100 transactions per day from text file (when you need to come through empty lines or something not matching the template to filter integration lines). If you have thousand transactions and performance is critical - switch to SQL Stored procs or Dexterity custom process server.

1. VBA Scripting ? Launch Great Plains Integration Manager, open your integration, right click->Properties, switch tab to scripts, open Before Document script. Now place this code in it:

If Left(SourceFields("F4"), 4)="THRU" Then

SetVariable "DocDate", Right(SourceFields("F4"), 8)

End If

If IsNull(SourceFields("F1")) Or IsNull(SourceFields("F7")) Then

CancelDocument

End If

It should mean that you can create DocDate variable and assign it the value from your query field. The second statement cancels document integration if certain condition met (when line is empty or is not actually integration line - something like comment record, etc.)

Now open Before Document Commit script and place this code there:

Dim MyTime, MyHour

MyTime = Now

MyHour = Hour(MyTime)

If Not IsNull(GetVariable("DocDate")) then

SetVariable "DocNumber", GetVariable("DocNumber")+1

DestinationFields("Document Number")="THRU"+GetVariable("DocDate") &"A" & GetVariable("DocNumber")

DestinationFields("Posting Date")=GetVariable("DocDate")

DestinationFields("Description")="Client Check "+ SourceFields("F1")

If Not IsNull(SourceFields("F8")) Then

DestinationFields("Check.Check Number")=SourceFields("F8")

Else

SetVariable "DocNumber", GetVariable("DocNumber")+1

DestinationFields("Check.Check Number")=GetVariable("DocDate")& MyHour&GetVariable("DocNumber")

End If

DestinationFields("Check.Date")=GetVariable("DocDate")

If Month(DestinationFields("Check.Date")+1)= Month(DestinationFields("Check.Date")) Then

DestinationFields("Check.Date")=DestinationFields("Check.Date")+1

End If

End If

Here you do two things. First you construct check number, using Date and time plus Document number. And the second is even more interesting - you alter check date.

In After Integration script place this code:

ClearVariables

It is good idea to nullify your variables.

2. Translation. Imagine that your are something like collection agency and you need to translate your vendors (from whom you purchase AR) into real vendors (banks). In AP integration open Destination Mapping, select Vendor ID, in the Rule Properties, click on the button next to Translation field, answer No, click on Translation tab and paste from Excel your translation list, something like this:

JOHNB BANKOFAMERICA

PETERP BANKOFAMERICA

MARTHAM CITIBANK

Now your vendors from integration file will be replaced with real vendors from Great Plains.

Happy integrating! if you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies ? USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Colorado, Arizona, New York, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer; akarasev@albaspectrum.com

---

Review of TikiWiki Content Management System

TikiWiki is open source software - it is written in... Read More

Can You Calculate Complex Financial Calculations?

Are you a whiz at calculating financial information? Not the... Read More

Should I Use Windows Update?

Should one use Windows Update?This topic has good and valid... Read More

Save Your Resources - Combine Your IM Clients

There are so many different programs that clutter up your... Read More

7 Things to Consider Before Buying Small Business Accounting Software

The world of small business accounting software can be a... Read More

Know Linux

Linux essentials:It's free for download but you have to pay... Read More

A Simple Computer Software Definition

What is Software?Software is a set of instruction written to... Read More

Increase Office Efficiency With One Simple Tool

When you need a phone number, you do a quick... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains - Payroll & HR Inexpensive Solution? Not Any More

Microsoft Great Plains is main Microsoft Business Solutions accounting package... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Integrations - Tips for Developer

In this short FAQ style article we would like to... Read More

SpyBot - Search and Destroy versus Microsoft AntiSpyware (Beta).... My personal experiences...

Ok... Where to start?Well, I guess I will start at... Read More

Three Steps To Windows Safety Heaven

Now there are Three Steps To Heaven Just listen and... Read More

Online PowerPoint Presentation ? Convert PowerPoint to Flash

Although we don't know whether Microsoft ever envisioned such a... Read More

Upgrading Great Plains Dexterity Customization ? switching to new technologies: SQL, Crystal, eConne

1. Replace Dexterity cursor with SQL Stored Procedure Dexterity... Read More

An Easy Way to Deal with Email Viruses and Worms

If you feel intimidated when someone tries to teach you... Read More

Linux Dual Boot-How To Format

Just the thought of a duel-boot scares many people away,... Read More

SyncUp ? A File/Folder Synchronizer For Windows

SyncUp, a file synchronizer is designed to assist the home... Read More

Does your Company have Documentum?

Are you lost in the mess of documents that get... Read More

COSMIC: A Small Improvement on the Symons Method

The COSMIC FP (function point) software quality metric, is no... Read More

Downloading Spyware Removers: Think Before, not After

Just imagine: you are walking, say, towards your car, and... Read More

Microsoft CRM Modification ? Overview for IT Specialist

Microsoft CRM is now on the scene and it is... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Implementation: Collection Management ? Overview For Consultant

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very good fit for... Read More

Lotus Notes Domino and Microsoft CRM Integration

Well, even if the combination might look very unusual, we... Read More

Lotus Notes Domino and Web: Application Development ? Tips for Programmers

Beginning with Domino version R4 it has integration with the... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains: Getting New Users Licenses ? Annual Service Plan FAQ

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Solomon, Navision, Axapta, Microsoft CRM... Read More

Microsoft CRM: Data Conversion ? Import from Act!

Best Software Act! is very popular CRM for small and... Read More

Manufacturing Outsourcing: Microsoft Great Plains Implementation, Customization & Reporting

Manufacturing in the USA is far away down from mid... Read More

Constructionalist Parsing - Deciphering Natural Language

The research in the field of Natural Language Processing usually... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Project Accounting ? Overview For IT Director/Controller

Microsoft Business Solutions is now in process of creating so... Read More

The Dirt on Screensavers

Remember back in the days where screensavers were the coolest... Read More

Managing Stress in the Computer Industry - Five Steps to a Stress-free Life

It would be easy to think, like most people apparently... Read More

Falling in Love With More Than One Screensaver: The Fun Part

Having from five to ten and more favorite screensavers is... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains customization ? Freight Forwarding/Transportation industry example

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains version 8.5, 8.0, 7.5, Great... Read More