How a Bug Challenges to a Software Professional
February 13, 2008
It is really interesting that a bug can create problem for a learned person even the bug is not alive. One day my one friend was working and a bug created much problem. It was not easy to track the bug. evrytime bug was challenging any other different problem.
What is bug : When there is a defect in a software program, we call it a bug. If we start the product and it crashes, there is a bug. If one find a typo in the help system, that’s considered a bug too. The report which is about software problem is called software problem report (SPR), which is the same as a bug report.
Manufacturing Solutions for Microsoft Great Plains ? Overview for Consultant
February 12, 2008
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has full-featured manufacturing set of modules. In this small article we would like to give you highlights on what kinds of light customization you could deploy, before jumping into Microsoft Great Plains Manufacturing realm. Great Plains Manufacturing is targeted to discrete manufacturing clientele, which is opposite to process manufacturing ? food processing, mining, including precious metals/gold/platina, oil and gas / chemicals / agriculture. Manufacturing from accounting stand point is moving inventory into work in progress and then into finished goods. And this is where we have fundamental difference between discrete and process manufacturing.
? Barcoding ? this would be the help in allocating your inventory to the manufacturing activity. We saw clients who were asking about full-featured manufacturing, but later on we realized that they were envisioning barcode scanning people walking through their warehouse
? Bill of Materials ? well if barcoding doesn’t do the job for you ? you should look if Bill of Materials module will automate your operations. In Bill of Materials you could program light manufacturing. We saw the machinery manufacturing/assembly client in Chicago area who asked us to help them phase out Kiwell manufacturing, because of high annual maintenance cost. So ? our opinion is if you are manufacturing client in the USA ? you should probably first look at the outsourcing part of the business ? if 90% of manufacturing of going to China ? you should consider Great Plains Bill of Materials module implementation only with light manufacturing extensions
Microsoft CRM and No-Frills Cadillacs
February 11, 2008
In today’s business world it’s all but impossible to escape Microsoft. Either you’re using MS applications, developing your own, or negotiating your company’s acquisition by this techno-behemoth. I must that the company is a daily part of my life (in fact I’m typing this article on MS Word). I’ve found however, that although Microsoft develops many versatile business software products, the company’s ‘one size-fits-all mentality goes only so far. I’m referring to the Microsoft CRM system. For you lay-people out there, CRM (customer relationship management) systems are designed to help you gather and interpret customer data in order to anticipate future customer purchasing demands and trends.
Bridging the Gap between Paper and Data
February 10, 2008
The cornerstone of successful automated office systems is the ability to convert printed information into electronic data. Document processing applications need to capture and index data accurately and efficiently to bridge that gap.
This capability can be enhanced with the integration of Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. By this means, extracted data is used to index and save the document into the document management application.
This intelligent document recognition and classification is central to Tokairo’s new contract with a major UK supplier of dairy products. The delivery and receipt procedure works like this:
? When an order is received from a customer a despatch note is issued listing product description, quantities, weight and code
? On delivery the note is signed by the customer along with the customer’s Goods Received Note (GRN) which details the goods actually delivered
Problems arise if goods are damaged, lost or delivered piecemeal, as discrepancies can occur between the despatch note and the customer’s GRN.
The system has been set up so that these documents can be automatically read, matching delivery line items with corresponding items from the company’s despatch notes.
New SQL Delta Version 3.1
February 9, 2008
COMMAND LINE FUNCTION
A powerful command line script processor has been introduced to SQL Delta 3.1. The script processor provides the user with a mechanism for controlling SQL Delta by remote control, allowing databases to be compared and changes scripted without any user intervention. The script language is standard XML and provides a variety of commands for configuring and controlling SQL Delta. In addition to the standard comparison and script functions the user can export reports in various formats including HTML format and then have those reports automatically emailed to the appropriate user. Even scripts can be emailed as attachments if a change is detected in the database.
"We have designed the script processor to provide users, especially DBA’s, with the convenience of programmatic style control of SQL Delta without the need to dig out a compiler and build an application. Even so a programmer can very easily create a seamless execution of SQL Delta from within their own application if they desired" Jay Bailey ? SQL Development Manager.
Owner Mapping
MCP Market News: Microsoft SQL Server & SQL Reporting Services
February 9, 2008
Are you ready? SQL Server 2005, the next-generation data management and analysis software from Microsoft, will deliver increased scalability, availability, and security to enterprise data and analytical applications. SQL Server 2000 Reporting Services is a comprehensive, server-based reporting solution that can author, manage, and deliver both paper-oriented and interactive, Web?based reports.
Develop better understanding of Microsoft .NET Developer Tools
2.) ROI and Business Value of Microsoft SQL Server & SQL Reporting Services
In this session, we’ll take a look at technical and business scenarios where Microsoft SQL Server & SQL Reporting Services provide value. We’ll show you how to make basic value quantifications based upon those scenarios. David will also review the value proposition and selling points for Microsoft SQL Server & SQL Reporting Services. The key portion of this session will include introduction to and training on a value-based tool developed for the specific purpose of accelerating SQL Server implementations. This training will include guidance on how to position the results with your customers. In depth demonstration.
Speaker: David Kirkman, MCSE+I and Partner Technical Specialist responsible for partner technical sales readiness and business case development for Northern California Small-Midmarket Solutions & Partners. 9 years in technology as a technical project manager, and business case developer.
Photoshop Files and Formats
February 8, 2008
People often ask me: What image file formats will Photoshop open or save in? What are the advantages/disadvantages?
Photoshop has the capability to open and save many different graphic files. Here are some of the most popular ones.
Note: When you open an image file other than a Photoshop one, that image will default to the background layer.
.psd, .pdd, .eps Photoshop File. This format preserves the information in all the layers. If you’re going to continue working with a picture, this is the best format to use. File size can be quite large, however. Note: It is advisable to save your work in the most up to date Photoshop format available. For example: if you have Photoshop CS and are sent a Photoshop 7 file, you should save it as a Photoshop CS file to preserve any elements that may not be supported by Photoshop 7.
.jpg, .jpeg .jpe This format compresses the images, so that information (details and colour subtleties) are lost. You can choose how much you want to compress the image. Good format for use on the web. Small file sizes. Millions of colours.
Reporting for Microsoft Great Plains/Dynamics/eEnterprise: RW ? ReportWriter ? Tips for Developer
February 7, 2008
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is written in Great Plains Software programming tool: Great Plains Dexterity. Dexterity in turn was built with conception of graphical cross-platform transferability (in time ? 1992 ? mostly Mac and MS Windows). Plus Dexterity had database abstraction level (through C programming language). The result of such a shrewd future-looking architecture ? Great Plains ReportWriter has multiple restrictions and drawbacks.
Let’s first look at the advantages of using ReportWriter:
? Seamless integration with Great Plains forms ? the most typical scenario ? you modify SOP_Long_Invoice_Form or SOP_Blank_Invoice_From and then print your invoices with modified form ? usually with your logo and changed formats and positions of the fields
? Parameters Entry Forms. Each existing report (Reports section) has associated parameters entry form. Restrictions:
? No Cross-Modules links. You can not associate report with the tables from non-related modules. For example you can not have Sales Order Processing (SOP) and Purchase Order Processing data on the same report (you actually can ? but you need Dexterity programmer help)
? Custom Reports. You do not have parameters entry interface for your custom reports, but you could use restrictions to restrict the selection. Custom reports could be used to export data from Great Plains in text (and then Excel format)
You Can Write Microsoft Office Program in About 60 Minutes
February 6, 2008
Microsoft Office program is a programming tool called Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) that comes with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point, and Publisher. VBA can make your repeating jobs automatic. It also can customize Excel, Word and other Office procedures for your own needs. From Office version 2000, all the Office programs are equipped with VBA.
Hand-On experience is the key to be a good programmer. Programming tutorials are the easier way to learn any computer programs including VBA. For example, a tutorial can show people how to use VBA to automate (make automatic) an Excel routine like updating the fonts and sizes for a range of cells, or automatically pops up a calendar for selecting a date. VBA can also be used as a tool to automate Word mail-merge or create a text file from a Word document. VBA can even be used as a tool to automate email alert in the Outlook Inbox or scheduling task to do.
VBA can make one application like Excel work with another application like Word and Outlook, or any other combination. To make Excel work or control Word is called Excel automates Word. Likewise, Word works with or controls Outlook is called Word automates Outlook.
Microsoft Great Plains Logistics & Warehouse Management ? Implementation & Customization Highlights
February 5, 2008
Logistics automation is often considered as barcoding extension to Sales Order Processing, Purchase Order Processing, Inventory Control modules. Software extensions makers may disagree with this simplification, but budget solution works exactly like barcoding extension and is usually done via Great Plains Dexterity, Modifier with VBA and SQL stored procedures. If your company is looking for implementing automated inventory bin/item pickup and conveyer ? then you need specialized software. However if you just envision your warehouse workers with barcode scanners ? then read this article to understand your options with Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains.
? Warehouse Automation. When you are looking for warehouse management automation ? you should research supply chain management applications available on the market. Usually they are expensive and targeted to large logistics clients. You can use Microsoft Great Plains inventory module features, such as locations or sites, serial/lot number tracking, inventory count, inventory transfers and combine these with simple VB-based barcoding to feed documents from your barcode scanners to Great Plains directly.
