Chapter 1: Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains Architecture
This chapter introduces you to Microsoft Great Plains’ architecture. The design philosophy as well as the underlying architecture is covered.
Main Topics
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Architecture |
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Functionality vs. Technology |
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Addressing Business Needs |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Identify the architecture of Microsoft Great Plains |
Chapter 2: Microsoft SQL Server Install
This chapter looks at the key issues with installing Microsoft SQL Server. An installation is not performed in class but important installation decisions are discussed.
Main Topics
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Overview of Microsoft SQL installation |
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System Requirements for Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains on Microsoft SQL Server |
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Installation of Microsoft SQL Server 2000 |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Install Microsoft SQL Server |
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Identify hardware requirements for Microsoft SQL Server for use with Microsoft Great Plains |
Chapter 3: Microsoft SQL Server Install MSDE
This chapter discusses installing the MSDE version of SQL for use with Microsoft Great Plains. In addition, a few common command line tools are reviewed.
Main Topics
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MSDE System Requirements |
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MSDE Installation |
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MSDE Configuration Tools |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Install the MSDE version of Microsoft SQL Server for use with Microsoft Great Plains |
Chapter 4: ODBC Setup
Microsoft Great Plains requires an ODBC connection to the Microsoft SQL Server to access data. This chapter focuses on the specific settings for creating a data source name.
Lessons
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Create a Data Source Name (DSN) for Microsoft Great Plains |
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Identify the correct settings for an ODBC source for Microsoft Great Plains |
Chapter 5: Great Plains Data Server Installation
This chapter examines the process of installing Microsoft Great Plains on Microsoft SQL Server. This includes examining each installation screen and looking at the various options to select during the installation.
Main Topics
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Install Microsoft Great Plains in a Client/Server environment |
Chapter 6: Great Plains Utilities
This chapter examines how to setup your Microsoft Great Plains databases, account framework, additional sorting options, and how to create a client template. The chapter focuses on the steps performed immediately after installing the Microsoft Great Plains program files.
Main Topics
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Microsoft Great Plains Utilities |
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Dynamics database initialization |
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Account framework setup |
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Setting system options |
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Additional tasks |
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Initializing the sample company |
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Creating additional companies |
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Creating a template for client installations |
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Troubleshooting |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Identify account framework parameters |
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Create additional companies |
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Create a client installation template |
Chapter 7: Microsoft Great Plains Client Installation
This chapter guides you through the various processes of installing Microsoft Great Plains on a client workstation. Hardware and software requirements are examined as well as the ability to install the client from a template.
Main Topics
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Microsoft Great Plains client requirements |
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Standard installation |
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Installing the client from the template |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Install Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains on a client workstation |
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Identify the hardware and software requirements for a client workstation |
Chapter 8: Microsoft Great Plains System Manager
This chapter examines the System manager components of Microsoft Great Plains. Specifically, the creating of users, security, classes, and companies are covered. In addition, this chapter examines a few standard reports included with Microsoft Great Plains.
Main Topics
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The Microsoft Great Plains series |
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Integrated accounting |
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System and company setup |
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System password setup |
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User classes |
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User setup |
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User access |
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Advanced Security Setup |
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Security setup |
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User activity |
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User preferences |
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Registration |
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System reports |
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Company setup procedures |
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Create company |
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Company information |
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Internet information |
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Company reports |
Lab
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Test your skills creating users, classes, and company access |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Identify the relationship of the Microsoft Great Plains series |
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Create users and grant user access in Microsoft Great Plains |
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Setup security and classes in Microsoft Great Plains |
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Track user activity in Microsoft Great Plains |
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Register Microsoft Great Plains |
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Setup company information in Microsoft Great Plains |
Chapter 9: Great Plains Components
This chapter discusses the files installed during the installation of Microsoft Great Plains.
Main Topics
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Installation components and files |
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Where to store dictionaries |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Identify components and files installed by Great Plains |
Chapter 10: Microsoft Great Plains Features
This chapter examines the purpose of the SQL options, walks through a batch recovery process, and looks at how identity columns and stored procedures are used in Microsoft Great Plains.
Main Topics
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SQL options |
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Batch recovery process |
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Identity columns |
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Stored procedures |
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Microsoft Great Plains features |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Identify the features of Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains |
Chapter 11: Post Installation Administration
This chapter examines the database options to set for your Microsoft Great Plains databases. It also discusses maintenance of Microsoft Great Plains databases and identifies database backup procedures. To complete the chapter, you set up a database maintenance plan.
Main Topics
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Database options |
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Database backup procedures |
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Great Plains SQL maintenance |
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SQL database maintenance |
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Using the database maintenance wizard |
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Great Plains data recovery procedures |
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Backup procedures within Microsoft Great Plains |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Configure database options |
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Setup a database maintenance plan |
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Perform SQL maintenance |
Chapter 12: Optimizing Performance
This chapter discusses how to optimize your Windows Server system. Specifically, it looks at settings for memory, CPU, network, and the disk subsystem through system monitor.
Main Topics
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Windows Server operating system configuration |
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Windows Server operating system bottleneck analysis |
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Strategies for testing and tuning servers |
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SQL Server configuration |
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Methods of optimizing a SQL relation database |
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Analyzing less than optimal performance |
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Monitoring SQL Server with System Monitor |
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Optimization summary |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Define the settings for optimizing Microsoft Great Plains performance |
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Identify System Monitor counters used in optimizing performance |
Chapter 13: Process Server
This chapter covers the basics of setting up Process Server. Terms are defined as well as the components of Process Server. During the chapter, you define tasks to run remotely and define which servers will run remote tasks. As a member of a team, you create an environment to process Checklinks remotely.
Main Topics
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Overview of Process Server |
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The DPS and DPM environment |
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Process server setup |
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Designating the output report location |
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Process monitor |
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Process server inquiry |
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Process server reporting |
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Review of setup and execution |
Lab
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Using a partner in class, setup Process Server to remotely process Checklinks on each other’s machine |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Setup and configure Process Server |
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Identify settings of Process Server |
Chapter 14: Microsoft FRx Installation
This chapter examines installing the FRx application but does not delve into the inner workings of extracting financial information. Included in this chapter is configuring databases for use with FRx and defining the folder structure for reports.
Main Topics
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Installation considerations |
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Pre-install: running SQL scripts for FRx |
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Create a shared folder on server |
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Installing FRx on the first workstation |
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Changing data paths and FRx registration |
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Setting up company information |
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Adding additional FRx workstations |
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FRx troubleshooting techniques and tips |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Install FRx for Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains |
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Identify the characteristics of FRx |
Chapter 15: Microsoft SQL Server Bulk-Copy Program (BCP)
This chapter discusses the command line driven BCP tool. It looks at the parameters for BCP and how to perform an export and import of data from a Microsoft Great Plains database.
Main Topics
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Bulk Copy Program |
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Transfer data with the BCP utility |
Lab
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Export and import data from a Microsoft Great Plains inventory table |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Configure BCP to import and export data from a Microsoft Great Plains database |
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Identify the parameters of BCP for importing and exporting data from a Great Plains database |
Chapter 16: Report Scheduler
This chapter discusses how to set up the Report Scheduler option.
Main Topics
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Define the characteristics of Report Scheduler |
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Configure Report Scheduler |
Chapter 17: Troubleshooting
This chapter discusses the methodology around troubleshooting Microsoft Great Plains. Then, you look at a few tools used in troubleshooting and troubleshoot ten different scenarios.
Main Topics
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Identifying the problem and finding its source |
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Tools and sources |
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Problem solving using SQL Server Profiler |
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Problem solving using the dexsql.log file |
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Troubleshooting scenarios |
Lab
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Troubleshooting Microsoft Great Plains |
After completing this chapter, students should be able to:
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Identify the characteristics of Microsoft SQL Server Profiler |
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Create a dexsql.log file |
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Troubleshoot Microsoft Great Plains |
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