Upgrading To Dynamics Gp From Outdated Great Plains Dos Versions Notes From The Fields
The longest path is from Great Plains Accounting for DOS all the way to current version GP 2010. We are writing this paper in May of 2012 and if you feel that it is not current then please check current release with your consultants. Good news is the fact that it is possible to migrate from GPA to Dynamics and upgrade to the future releases. Project is doable but it is challenging at the same time. Let us share popular comments with you:
1.If you are on GPA 9.5 then there is migration tool which should move your data to Dynamics GP 8.0. We have seen numerous customers who are on older releases for example 9.2 or 8.2. If you are on older one then you have to first update to 9.5. You may have original CD but there were diskettes to do the job (as a comment we have them)
2.Recommended path. We would recommend you to update first to GPA 9.5 and then to Dynamics GP 8.0. At this point you are ready to jump to 10.0 in one step (assuming that you are aware about service packs). If your target is 2010 (current as we are writing this paper in May of 2012) then there is second step
3.Issues that we got. Upgrade diskette 8.x to 9.5 reported that Customer master file was not found however it was in GPdata AR folder. We gave it several times with the same error message. The next step was to hope that migration utility will move customers and it did work. GP Data folder was copied to 32 bit XP computer where Pervasive SQL 2000 SP2 single user workstation was rolled out. Dynamics GP 8.0 empty company was created with the same account structure. DB was SQL 2000 developer edition. Transfer of about half GB old database took over four hours. Utility indicated that account structure is different and we had to increase each segment to four characters. But migration was smooth. Then we fixed account structure directly in GL00100 and rebuilt GL00105. And finally changed segments length in SY00300. And we are on manufactured release 8.0
4.The rest was easy. Service pack 5 was applied first and then upgrade was started with GP 10 SP3. As some consultants note the last step took also long time as MS Dynamics is now loading eConnect and installs auxiliary technologies. Production release was installed on SQL 2005 where we recommend you to change compatibility mode. One of the external applications at the time was not compatible with 2010 and this is why we didnt go further
5.Additional steps that you should expect. First of all think if you need something like modified forms. Likely candidates are invoice and purchase order where you may want your company logo. Also Great Plains traditionally deploys financial reporting tools. Initially it was FRx but new trend is Microsoft Management Reporting. Here you typically design Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet
6.Quality Assurance. Comparison was done through Trial Balance in GL, AR and AP. We also verified double entry in GL open transaction table
7.Customers came into the system. This was relief as we were ready to connect to old database with ODBC and DDF files to pump them out from there and move into either directly in SQL queries or through Integration Manager
8.GPA upgrade to 9.5 last flint. Here we had to disable Echo Off in Convert.bat file as it was not working. Reading the log we simply renamed tracking.exe file and the way was open since then. Actually the author was thinking about returning deposit to the customers and walk away as I was stressed by the problem with Convert.bat and customer master table
9.For additional information, please feel free to call us 1-866-528-0577 or 1-630-961-5918 (this number works for international customers) or email us [email protected] We serve you USA/Canada nationwide via remote support (web sessions and phone/Skype conferences). Local service is available in Western Michigan, Chicagoland, Southern California (LA, Orange County and San Diego), Houston area of the state of Texas
1.If you are on GPA 9.5 then there is migration tool which should move your data to Dynamics GP 8.0. We have seen numerous customers who are on older releases for example 9.2 or 8.2. If you are on older one then you have to first update to 9.5. You may have original CD but there were diskettes to do the job (as a comment we have them)
2.Recommended path. We would recommend you to update first to GPA 9.5 and then to Dynamics GP 8.0. At this point you are ready to jump to 10.0 in one step (assuming that you are aware about service packs). If your target is 2010 (current as we are writing this paper in May of 2012) then there is second step
3.Issues that we got. Upgrade diskette 8.x to 9.5 reported that Customer master file was not found however it was in GPdata AR folder. We gave it several times with the same error message. The next step was to hope that migration utility will move customers and it did work. GP Data folder was copied to 32 bit XP computer where Pervasive SQL 2000 SP2 single user workstation was rolled out. Dynamics GP 8.0 empty company was created with the same account structure. DB was SQL 2000 developer edition. Transfer of about half GB old database took over four hours. Utility indicated that account structure is different and we had to increase each segment to four characters. But migration was smooth. Then we fixed account structure directly in GL00100 and rebuilt GL00105. And finally changed segments length in SY00300. And we are on manufactured release 8.0
4.The rest was easy. Service pack 5 was applied first and then upgrade was started with GP 10 SP3. As some consultants note the last step took also long time as MS Dynamics is now loading eConnect and installs auxiliary technologies. Production release was installed on SQL 2005 where we recommend you to change compatibility mode. One of the external applications at the time was not compatible with 2010 and this is why we didnt go further
5.Additional steps that you should expect. First of all think if you need something like modified forms. Likely candidates are invoice and purchase order where you may want your company logo. Also Great Plains traditionally deploys financial reporting tools. Initially it was FRx but new trend is Microsoft Management Reporting. Here you typically design Profit and Loss Statement and Balance Sheet
6.Quality Assurance. Comparison was done through Trial Balance in GL, AR and AP. We also verified double entry in GL open transaction table
7.Customers came into the system. This was relief as we were ready to connect to old database with ODBC and DDF files to pump them out from there and move into either directly in SQL queries or through Integration Manager
8.GPA upgrade to 9.5 last flint. Here we had to disable Echo Off in Convert.bat file as it was not working. Reading the log we simply renamed tracking.exe file and the way was open since then. Actually the author was thinking about returning deposit to the customers and walk away as I was stressed by the problem with Convert.bat and customer master table
9.For additional information, please feel free to call us 1-866-528-0577 or 1-630-961-5918 (this number works for international customers) or email us [email protected] We serve you USA/Canada nationwide via remote support (web sessions and phone/Skype conferences). Local service is available in Western Michigan, Chicagoland, Southern California (LA, Orange County and San Diego), Houston area of the state of Texas