Recommended: Click here to improve PC speed »
Microsoft Dynamics GP is successor of Great Plains Software Dynamics and eEnterpriseERP application, and Crystal Reports was always the reporting tool of the choice forDynamics. Historically GP Dynamics was available on Pervasive SQL and Ctreeplatform, where Crystal Reports were limited, due to the limitation to Pervasive andFaircom ODBC drivers. The last version, available on Pervasive/Ctree was MicrosoftGreat Plains 7.5 and since version 8.0 GP Dynamics is available on Microsoft SQLServer only, and as you can expect, SQL Server opens all the possible horizons forreports development. Current Version of GP as of November 2007 is 10.0. In thissmall article we will open philosophical principles of Crystal Reports design forMicrosoft Dynamics GP:1. Crystal Reports is just a reporting tool, not and magic all-the-problems-solve r . This means that you should not overestimate the power ofreport wizards, but instead design either SQL view or SQL stored procedure to acceptparameters and return records set to your Crystal Report. Then all you need to doin CR is to group records, sort them, and of course apply styles and other cosmetics . We are placing this message in the first bullet, because we saw a lotof report design failures, where designer tried to do very complex GP tables linkswithin CR and then apply further complex restrictions, and ended up with linesduplication, and other annoying problems, which in fact pile up if you try to fixthem with similar patches and at the end of the way, report was abandoned2. SQL View vs. Stored Procedure. Of course SP looks more elegant as it acceptsparameters, which are translated to CR parameters, however SP is also more powerfulthan the view due to the ability to include temporarily tables and intermediatecalculations (based on temporary tables). Temporary tables allow you to go beyondthe standard techniques of grouping in SQL Select statement this should be thereal solution, which will eliminate records duplications, described in #1. If youplan to invest your time in CR practicing for GP, you should make several practicallessons where you base GP Crystal Reports on SQL view and stored procedure3. Other reporting tools for GP. If you are CR developer, it is natural, that youtry to apply Crystal Report in all the situations, however you should be aware thatGP has very powerful pre-designed tools. If you need to create financialstatements: Balance Sheet, P&L, Cash Flow you should consider FRx report designerfirst, FRx links to GP General Ledger and so, if more efficient than CR in FinancialReporting. GP ReportWriter. This reporting tool gets the advantages of GP reportlaunching screens, such as SOP Invoice form, from where you can print specificinvoice so called modified reports allow you to place your company logo on Invoiceform. Other features of FRx and RW are outside of the scope, please check ourpublications on these products4. GP Dexterity Reporting. Dexterity is IDE and programming language of GP. Dexallows you to customize GP forms and reports plus create new ones. In order toexplore Dex option, we recommend you to contact GP Dexterity developer, who shouldhelp you in the selection5. Calling CR from GP interface. You can use several techniques. First one istraditional use VBA/Modifier (you will need customization site enabler license forGP), from VBA scripts you can call CR engine. Second technique is Dexterity, whereyou call Crystal Reports engine from your custom Dexterity sanscript code. You canalso consider SDK for Visual Studio developer, allowing you to extend GP forms andof course call CR from your .Net extension application
Andrew Karasev, Alba Spectrum Group, http://www.albaspectrum.comhe lp@albaspectrum.com 1-866-528-0577, 1-630-961-5918, serving customers USA/Canadanationwide: Illinois, California, New York, Quebec, Ontario, Colorado, Utah,Wisconsin, Florida, Texas. Local service is available in Houston & Dallas:Richmond, Sugar Land, Katy, Rosenberg, Missouri City, Pearland, Friendswood,Meadows, Mission Bend, Jersey Village, Fort Worth; serving GP customers in Chicago,IL: Naperville, Aurora, Joliet, Wheaton, Bolingbrook, Romeoville, Lyons, Niles,Downers Grove, Lisle, West Chicago, Barrington, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village,Lombard, Morris, Ottawa, Marseilles, Seneca, Oswego, Plainfield, Darien, Winchester,Hinsdale
