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

---

Corel WordPerfect 7 Macro Programming Example

Case study: A secretary using Corel WordPerfect 7 is often... Read More

A Symons Mark II Function Point Counting Example

I provide, here clear explanations and a count of function... Read More

What is a Document Manager without Version History?

Document Manager and Version HistoryIn previous articles I have discussed... Read More

Enterprise Resource Planning Overview

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) Overview covers What is ERP, Brief... Read More

What You Should Know About Installing Screensavers

Do you remember that frustrating feeling when you find an... Read More

Online PowerPoint Presentation ? Convert PowerPoint to Flash

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

Microsoft CRM Customization Secrets ? Second Edition

This article is for advanced Microsoft CRM SDK C# developers.... Read More

Cisco Certification: Introduction To ISDN, Part V

The major reason I recommend getting your hands on real... Read More

Software Automation Helps Increase your Bottom Line

When you own a small business, time is money. And... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains: Offshore Customization & Development ? Overview for Consultant

When you visit department stores and see that majority of... Read More

40/sec to 500/sec

IntroductionSurprised, by the title? well, this is a tour of... Read More

Save Your Resources - Combine Your IM Clients

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

Free PDF Publishing Software

In a previous article, I wrote about OpenOffice... Read More

.Net Charts and Graphs Interact with Businesses and Customers

Bar charts, bar graphs, and any other chart or graph... Read More

Cisco Certification: Five Things To Do DURING Your CCNA Exam

There are plenty of articles out there about how to... Read More

Navision Sales Module & Reporting: Jet Reports, C/ODBC, XBRL, Business Analytics ? highlights

Microsoft bought Navision, Denmark based software development company, along with... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains Implementation & Customization: Computer Parts Retailer Example

Microsoft Great Plains fits to majority of horizontals and retail... Read More

Protect Your Computer...and Your Business!

We all take the computer for granted. I mean, all... Read More

Great Plains Custom Development: Dexterity, VBA, SQL, Crystal, eConnect ? Overview For Programmer

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

10 Programming Tips

(1) Avoid using the same variable again and again for... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains: exchange & brokerage ? implementation notes

If you company is small or mid-size special products or... Read More

CROOK: A Methodology for the Refinement of Forward-Error Correction

Table of Contents1) Introduction 2) Related Work 3) Framework 4)... Read More

Bill of Lading ? Custom Reporting for Microsoft Great Plains ? Overview for Consultant

Bill of Lading is required report for Logistics and Freight... Read More

7 Things to Consider Before Buying Small Business Accounting Software

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

5 Easy File Management Tips in Microsoft Word

How many steps does it take you to locate and... Read More

What is Spyware? Are You Being Watched?

Find out why Spyware Removal from computers is important and... Read More

Great Plains Dexterity Development: FAQ

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is Dexterity-written application and currently... Read More

Beware of Spyware

One day, you suddenly realize that your computer started to... Read More

Free Software - Powerful Alternatives to Budget-Busting Software

When you buy a computer, it most likely comes with... Read More

The Hidden Power of Online Manual

Writing software manuals is boring, isn't it? We often think:... Read More

International Support - Microsoft Great Plains VAR/Partner Selection ? Overview for V.P. IT

Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular,... Read More

Groupware: What Works the Way Businesses Do?

GroupwareThe internet is full of 1.5 million to 7 million... Read More

Microsoft Great Plains: Service Business Customization & Integration Example

Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains might be considered as ERP... Read More