| Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0, former Microsoft Great | | | | Microsoft purchased GPS, Navision, Axapta, etc. - it |
| Plains, MS Dexterity customization options - overview | | | | launched the plan to unify its MRP applications on the |
| for programmer, software developer, IT director and | | | | .Net and MS SQL Server base. This decision resulted |
| ERP consultant | | | | in new Dex programmers training slow down. This |
| Since its introduction as C-Shell computer platform | | | | slow down was even worth, considering the economic |
| (MAC & Windows) and DB independent | | | | conditions of early XXI century, when a lot of IT and |
| programming language and development environment, | | | | programmer positions were eliminated and |
| Great Plains Dexterity covered very long and probably | | | | programmers were laid off. However, opposite |
| bumpy way together with the whole ERP and IT | | | | process of programming outsourcing and offshore |
| industry. When C programming language was a | | | | development leaded to the Dexterity source code |
| believed panacea to provide application cross-platform | | | | programming centers renaissance in Philippines and |
| expansion, nobody could envision such future toys as | | | | India. Manila was a real stronghold, where such new |
| web thin client (HTML and JavaScript programming | | | | programming dragons as Alba Spectrum and br |
| with Java EJB and .NET database connectors), XML | | | | opened their development offices |
| (providing simple cross-platform interoperability) and | | | | - Future. When Microsoft Dynamics (AX, GP, SL, NAV, |
| especially XML web services (enabling remote users | | | | CRM) will be unified product, Dexterity will probably be |
| to get info from virtually any server). When Great | | | | replaced with eConnect and Web Services interfaces |
| Plains Software was acquired by Microsoft - the new | | | | - Microsoft Visual Studio programmers will be probably |
| owner as we guess had no plans to play-up such | | | | positioned to develop industrial-strength third party |
| Dexterity old-good "strong points" as C Shell and | | | | modules for Microsoft Dynamics. At this moment |
| cross-platform potential, and as many expected | | | | some experts expect Axapta/Microsoft Dynamics |
| Microsoft Business Solutions "froze" new "Source | | | | AX will play more role in final Dynamics, especially on |
| Code Partner" re-enrollment. In 2005 Microsoft BS | | | | the international arena - Brazil, Europe, China, India, Latin |
| re-opened the program (however the price of the new | | | | America. Dexterity really doesn't support Unicode and |
| enrollment and annual fee is king of high for small and | | | | Microsoft had to probe first Navision and later on |
| mid-size VAR). The unofficial opinions were - Microsoft | | | | Axapta to become its international ERP |
| Project Green or currently Microsoft Dynamics project | | | | - Some Nice Dex Source Code Programming |
| is a technological challenge and it will not happen | | | | Features. Automatic Posting. You can use Source |
| overnight, so Dexterity is still out there and partners, | | | | code to enable batch posting without operator |
| who help MBS develop verticals for Microsoft | | | | intervention. This will require one additional user license |
| Dynamics GP are still welcomed. | | | | - this computer will play the role of posting server. |
| - Sanscript. Microsoft Dexterity scripting language is | | | | Chinese language support - bypassing Unicode lacking |
| so-called Sanscript, cursor driven DB access language, | | | | - you can write Chinese in special popup and force it |
| plus it has script and triggers. With version 7.0 Dexterity | | | | into Dex screens - special utility is required |
| support such nice things as COM objects, web | | | | - Microsoft Dexterity Customization upgrade. When |
| services, etc. | | | | MBS decided to concentrate on .Net and Project |
| - DYNAMICS.DIC. This dictionary has all the logic of | | | | Green - the Dex custom code upgrade became more |
| GP core modules. When you install MS Dynamics GP | | | | straight forward and simple, however it is still good idea |
| 9.0, 8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.0 and older versions DYNAMICS.DIC | | | | to deploy professional Dexterity developer on MBS |
| comes with scripts stripped out. If you are enrolled into | | | | Dexterity customization partner |
| Dex source code program you have access to | | | | - Dexterity Nation-wide support. Considering the fact |
| DYNAMICS.DIC with all the scripts in place. This | | | | of market diminishing and programmers concentration |
| enables you to look up procedures and functions calls | | | | in the centralized programming hubs (Chicago, |
| examples, the sequence of events, etc - very good | | | | Houston) with connections to outsourcing centralized |
| help in your custom programming, which is based on | | | | call centers (Brazil, Philippines) - it is good idea to deploy |
| the imitation. | | | | phone and skype support technicians plus outsourcing |
| - Dexterity Programmers Pool. Well, good point - when | | | | the customization upgrade. |