Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 has multiple improvements and “Project Green” innovations. One of the new key words, Microsoft Business Solutions people like to introduce and increase the frequency of using is eConnect. eConnect object and methods will have more exposure for Visual Studio.Net C# or VB developers through XML web services. Also emphasis shift will be in the field of Microsoft Dynamics GP Business Portal, this is also understandable – Microsoft has to deemphasize former legacy proprietary technologies, such as Microsoft Dexterity (former Great Plains Software Dexterity), Navision C/SIDE (this is in case of Microsoft Dynamics NAV – former Navision Attain), step-by-step phasing them off and replacing with open-source .Net web development. In this small article will touch the “top of the iceberg” in Microsoft Great Plains 9.0 customization, development and integration.

• Microsoft Dexterity Source Code Program reopening. When Microsoft bought Great Plains Software five years ago – it quickly closed Great Plains Dexterity source code program for new enrollments, leaving it open for existing VARs. One of the reasons in our opinion was Microsoft optimism in quick Microsoft Business Solutions product merge: Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, Solomon. It didn’t happen with the expected speed and now it is clear that serious development for Microsoft Dynamics GP requires Microsoft Dexterity skills and experience and access to the source code (DYNAMICS.DIC with Dex sanscripts codes). If you plan your custom application to work with Microsoft Dynamics GP “fat client” – it is DEX.EXE with DYNAMICS.DIC, Dynamics.set and your custom dex dictionary – the Microsoft Dexterity is the tool of choice.

• Microsoft Dynamics GP Integration Manager. Former Microsoft Great Plains Integration Manager – versions 5.0, 5.5, 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0 were based on OLE technologies, deploying Dexterity application as OLE server, and so using Great Plains Forms to implement integration. The result was moderate and slow performance. Now Integration Manager is in the process of being rewritten in eConnect – eConnect will have majority of Microsoft Dynamics GP forms and objects: SOP, POP, IV, Payroll, AR, AP, GL, BR, Manufacturing, BOM. Some drawback of this nice innovative feature – if you are using heavy customization if former Microsoft Access based IM database – you should consider rewriting your customization in new IM.

• Reporting. ReportWriter will stay, however Microsoft SQL Reporting Services will be the reporting tool of choice over former Crystal Reports. You should expect phased change from Crystal to MSSQL Server RS.

• Tables Structure. Will stay – this will mean certain legacy eCommerce programs staying in business reassurance. SOP10100, SOP10200, SOP30200, SOP30300, GL00100, RM00101, PM00200 and other tables will be around for the next … 10 years or so

Please do not hesitate to call or email us: USA 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918 help@albaspectrum.com

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com
http://www.greatplains.com.mx
http://www.enterlogix.com.br ) - Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally. We are serving USA Nationwide: CA, IL, NY, FL, AZ, CO, TX, WI, WA, MI, MA, MO, LA, NM, MN, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Denver, Seattle, Boston, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Diego, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Minneapolis, Washington, Baltimore, New Orleans, Austin, Kansas City.

Scrapbooks are very popular these days. I think that almost everyone wanted to capture family histories and stories in any which way they can. And with the onset of digital technology, scrap booking has even extended to newsletters and journals with photos and illustrations online and in the email. They’ve become so popular that it’s not surprising to receive an entire scrapbook from your relatives and friends and loved ones even across the globe.

With the advanced technology, people have been using graphic design and desktop publishing software to help them create wonderful and creative scrapbooks. Two of this well-known software is CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12 and WordPerfect Office Suite 12.

Each of the software has their own endearing qualities. Both applications are used to create newsletters as far as I know. But what software to choose? It all depends on what you want to create.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12

For graphically-rich family history newsletter or time capsule, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 12 would be the ideal software as it is the easiest graphics suite available in the market today.

CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is a vector editing program. This software is definitely for illustration, page layout, and vector drawing. It has the Corel Photo-Paint for bitmap editing of photos and images for that professional digital imaging look. It has hundreds of clip art photos and images to choose from, which you can overlay your own family photos on top. It also has Corel R.A.V.E. 3 for motion-graphics creation.

With the software’s features and vast collection of photos, clipart and fonts, you can create and design a professional-looking newsletter or a family history time capsule, and even a memorable album where you and your family will find the highlights of your life in wonderful and elegant designs made by you.

Corel’s WordPerfect Office 12

And if you’re the simple type, and you don’t want too much clutter, you can use Corel’s WordPerfect Office 12 to create a no-visual and text-based newsletter. The software has an array of newsletter templates you can use to help you start right away with your newsletter. This so far, is the best alternative to Microsoft Office.

Better yet, why not use both software to help you create your scrap book? One freelance newsletter designer who specializes in genealogy utilizes both software because the combination makes him complete his design tasks twice as fast. "I can create graphics in CorelDRAW 12 and quickly pop them into all my text-based WordPerfect 12 office documents because switching between files is very easy," he relates. This is made possible by the tools in both the software that reduce the number of steps required to finish his jobs.

He adds that what makes it more worthwhile is that aside from saving time, finger movements on the mouth is also reduced, thereby reducing cramps and strains from the fingers to the wrist.

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