microsoft dynamics gp development tools

GPUG® Summit 2011November 8-11

Caesars Palace – Las Vegas, NV

Microsoft Dynamics GP Development Tools

Ask The Experts:

Presenter: Mariano GomezMIS, MCITP, PMP, MVP

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Objectives Introduction and overview Utilizing Microsoft Dynamics GP Development Tools Modifier with Microsoft® Visual Basic® for applications Microsoft® Dexterity Visual Studio Tools for Microsoft Dynamics® GP Extender Compare and contrast development tools

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Where is San Andres Island?At only 27 square km, the island of San Andres is one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean Sea

It belongs to Colombia, but was a former British territory up to the early 1700’s

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I get to enjoy this…

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Rules of Engagement No question is silly Ask about a project you are working on Ask about a project your development

team is working on If we don’t know something we WILL get

back to you Come to our Deep Dive session on Tools!

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Utilizing Microsoft Dynamics GP Development Tools

Modifier with Microsoft® Visual Basic® for Applications

Microsoft® Dexterity Visual Studio Tools for Microsoft Dynamics®

GP Need to follow UI design standards

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Understanding the Audience

Who has not worked with any of the UI customization tools?

Who has worked with Modifier & VBA? Who has worked with Dexterity? Who has worked with Visual Studio Tools? Who has worked with Extender? Who has worked with more than one tool? Who has worked with more than one tool

on a single project?

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Q & A starts now, but first…

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Hybrid Development Historically, we used to promote Cross

Dictionary Dexterity development as the leading edge of Microsoft Dynamics® GP development

Now, the way to go is Hybrid Development Not just finding the best tool for the job,

but finding the best tool for each part of the job

Even if it means using multiple tools for a solution

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Dexterity Developers’ tool Same environment and language as the

Microsoft Dynamics GP client is developed in

Can create seamless integrations Can access tables and business logic

(functions and procedures) Can modify core Microsoft Dynamics

windows only Can develop cross-dictionary code

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Visual Studio Tools Developers’ tool Allows .NET Developers to use C# or

VB.NET to integrate with Microsoft Dynamics GP

Can create new forms with similar UI Use Modifier to change existing forms Can work from User Interface events Can call most underlying business logic Can access existing tables directly Cannot work with existing reports

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Modifier with VBA Tool for Power Users, Partner Consultants,

and sometimes Developers

Can automate the user interface Can add additional business rules Can modify windows in any product Can reference system dialogs Can work with reports Limited access underlying business logic

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Extender Power Users’ or Partner Consultants’ Tool Can add additional User Defined Fields to

any window Uses additional window Cannot modify original window From v10.0 SP4 onwards Extender can

now create entire new forms Uses complex data storage system

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Compare and Contrast Tools Use the best tool for the job Different tools have different strengths

and weaknesses Don’t be afraid to use multiple tools Hybrid solutions can achieve more There is no wrong solution if it works

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Links Developing for Dynamics GP Blog (by David

Musgrave & the Developer Support Team)– http://blogs.msdn.com/DevelopingForDynamics

GP/

The Dynamics GP Blogster blog (by Mariano Gomez)– http://dynamicsgpblogster.blogspot.com/

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Links Microsoft Dynamics GP Developer Center– http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics/gp/

default.aspx Microsoft Dynamics GP 2010 White Paper:

Choosing a Development Tool– http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.as

px?FamilyID=a5b6c523-0add-48fd-9deb-2c0ef39b5673&displaylang=en

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Links Visual Studio Tools for Microsoft Dynamics

GP– http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc543

538.aspx

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Conclusion Questions and Answers Contact Presenter

Mariano Gomez,mgomez@IntellPartners.com