| As more midsize and small business organizations are | | | | you should first try ODBC connection to Linux World. If |
| deploying open platform operating systems and tools, | | | | you are on Oracle, then similar construction will allow |
| such as Linux with various blends and PHP/MySQL, | | | | you to hook up MS SQL Server |
| we would like to share our experience implementing | | | | 3. Web Services. eConnect allows you to open GP |
| Microsoft Great Plains in these combined OS | | | | objects for non-Microsoft developer via XML web |
| environments. If you are using Oracle and Unix, you | | | | services - you can either use eConnect interface |
| may also consider the methodology, however it | | | | directly or wrap it in custom web service interface |
| deserves separate article just for brief overview, | | | | 4. eConnect excurse. The core of eConnect is set of |
| especially about Java, EJB nuances. | | | | MS SQL Server encrypted stored procedures, |
| 1. MS Great Plains platform overview. GP workstation | | | | allowing you manipulate GP master records and work |
| is written in C Shell, named Great Plains Dexterity. It | | | | transactions: SOP Entry, POP Receivings, Customers, |
| was designed in earlier 1990th, when DB and OS | | | | Vendors to name a few. eConnect has restrictions of |
| platform independence was the paradigm. However, | | | | GP architecture, one of the typical FAQ is why we |
| when Microsoft acquired Great Plains Software seven | | | | can not post GP batches in eConnect? Well, this is the |
| years ago, Microsoft Dexterity was kind of | | | | restriction, but you can break it utilizing Albaspectrum |
| de-emphasized and GP itself was open for .Net | | | | posting server. eConnect was dedicated initially to |
| platform and for Microsoft Visual Studio C# and VB | | | | eCommerce software developers, to enable GP ERP |
| developers, especially via eConnect. Plus, GP is | | | | platform as backoffice accounting for e-commerce |
| available on Microsoft SQL Server DB platform only. | | | | front end |
| Saying these, Microsoft Great Plains version 10.0 and | | | | 5. Integration technology. Here again eConnect comes |
| 9.0 should be considered as committed to Microsoft | | | | to the scenes. GP Integration Manager, which is rather |
| technologies: SQL Server, .Net, Windows, MS Office: | | | | traditional Great Plains integration tool, was recently |
| Sharepoint, Excel, etc. | | | | redesigned partially in eConnect and so IM |
| 2. Cross Platform SQL Queries. If you do it from | | | | performance was substantially increased. IM can read |
| Microsoft SQL Server 2005 or 2000 side, the | | | | tab and comma delimited text files as well as ODBC |
| construction you typically use is Linked Server, where | | | | compliant queries. |