Dynamics GP Developer Notes: Great Plains Dexterity

When you need customization specification forand atomic stored procedures to read, update
Microsoft Dynamics GP, formerly known as Greatand create new records. Obviously Dex indexes
Plains Dynamics and eEnterprise, one of the majorare now in synch and on the top of MS SQL
tools in Microsoft Dexterity. In fact, historicallyServer indexes
Great Plains architecture has Dex foundation, and3. Dexterity customization distribution. It is
Dexterity is in turn a shell, programmed in Cdistributed in so-called chunk files and chunk file is
programming language, as it was popular in earlierrecognized on the next user logon to GP and
1990th. In this small publication we would like tousers gets request on new logic integration.
give you initial Dexterity highlights, assuming that4. Dexterity dictionaries. Samples could be found in
you are not a programmer, but rather GreatGP workstation directory. Simply open for editing
Plains support in IT department, or projectDynamics.set file and read it – you will see
manager, responsible for Dynamics GP systemDynamics.dic, Forms.dic and Reports.dic. Here the
implementation, new features addition, reportingfirst one is business logic metadata, second
and day-to-day support:contains modified forms (through so-called GP
1. Dex forms and reports. Dynamics GP userModifier) and the third contains modified reports
workstation application has Dexterity forms (or(through ReportWriter) – SOP Blank Invoice
screens), reports. If you are consideringreport with your custom logo is one of the most
customizing existing objects, such as forms andcommon examples
reports, you move them to your new Dex5. Programming in GP Dexterity. It may sound as
project as alternate forms and reports. This typea good idea to learn new tools, especially if you
of customization creates new functionality, whichare proactive software developer and coding
is completely in line with base GP user interfaceenthusiast, however Dex is not a simple tools to
and security realmadd to your expertise. Plus, GP customization is
2. Dexterity tables. Since version 8.0 Dynamics GPnot something that you do every day at work.
is only supported on MS SQL Server platform,We recommend you outsource Dexterity coding
meaning that the tables are in SQL Server.and even specification to Dynamics GP Dexterity
However, being developed for multiplatformSource Code Authorized Partner.
environment, Dexterity supports its own indexes