Integration Manager - VBA 1

[baugie]

I am using Integration Manger to import Sales Trx data. I am using regular Integration Manager that uses the GP User Interface as it's data entry point. We have VBA code behind the Sales Trx screen which I thought would automatically run during the integration, however it is not running. The screen was updated before I arrived using Paradigm (I believe) and has some automation kick off during the save event to create other items based upon the data entered.

My first thought would be that Integration Manager only uses the regular Windows, not the extended ones. Is this true? Secondly, will Integration Manager run the VBA during the integration?

Thanks in advance for any information.

baugie

 

[curtman]

Baugie - How are you "triggering" your VBA code? e.g. does some event like entering a value somewhere trigger the VBA code to fire? If so, I'm wondering if your intergration needs to "touch" that field, even if putting in the default value... not positive on that yet.

Is using VBScript in the integration itself feasible? Although this may be a duplication of the VBA code, the Integration Manager implements a pretty nice facility to exceute script.

Curtis

 

[baugie]

The code is being triggered from multiple locations. One is from the actual text field, as well as from the Save event. I figured that the save event would trigger the code, but it didn't. That is assuming that the Integration Manager uses the extended screen, and not the original one.

As far as using a VBScript, that is feasible. It is, as you stated, duplication of efforts and I would like to use the original VBA as it was developed before I started here by an integration consulting company. So I am not familiar with all of the intricacies of it.

Thanks for the response,

baugie

 

[curtman]

One thought came to mind (only b/c it has burned me in the past). Does the login under which you are running the integration have access to the customized screen?

Go to Setup >> Security to control it by user or Setup >> User Class to control by class.

 

[baugie]

I am doing my test integrations under my own login, and I definitely know that I have access to the modified screen. That was a good thought though.


Is there a way to keep the Dynamics Interface visible during the integration so that I can see what it is doing in the background? This may help me at least look at which screen it is accessing.

 

[curtman]

Integration Manager launches a separate executable called "watchdog" whose purpose is to keep the Dynamcis inteface hidden.

What you can do is invoke a debugger in the "before integration" event (or anywhere else). Just add the word "stop" in the code window. I use Visual Studio but MS distributes a freebie. Check the VBScript section of MSDN.

Once you are in debug, you can step through the code.

One other thought - you may want to add a message box somewhere in the VBA code and then run the integration. This should throw an error and will definitely answer the question of whether or not the VBA code is fired.

Make sure you have a good backup of the original code, either a .package file or the .vba file.

 

[stef315]

There's a techknowledge from MBS about how to show GP while an integration is running. It's TK 28711 for version 7.0. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to post here so let me know if you don't have access to Techknowledge.

There are also ways to put a msgbox in places on your integration that will pop up telling you the value of the field at that point (for debugging purposes of course). Let me know if you want to try that.

 

[baugie]

Thanks stef315 for the tip on the TK article. It allowed me to see which screen the IM was using during the integration. It would seem that it is using the default Sales Order Trx screen, and not our modified one. So that answers my question about why the VBA wasn't kicking off.

However, this opens up a new question. How can I explicitly declare to IM to use the modified Sales Order Trx screen and not the vanilla one? There are several business rules built into the modified screen that I would rather not have to dupliciate into IM causing a maintenance headache. Any thoughts?

Thanks for all the input!!

 

[stef315]

I've never actually tried this so I'm looking for an answer. There is a TK 9665, that says IM was designed to integrate into non-modified windows.

Are you by chance integrating transactions that are all similar? To the point of all have one line (or two, etc) of item detail? Probably not. If so, there is also the possibility of just using a macro. That's probably not going to work for you but I'm just throwing that out there. I've used it for simple things like updating GL segment descriptions where there is no IM adapter.

You might also ask the Tools team at GP. They usually give good support and will sometimes give non-standard answers to try to find solutions for you.

Sorry I can't help more!

 

[baugie]

The transactions are not necessarily similar. This is a central integration tool that I am developing for up to 10 external systems to use as they integrate orders through G.P. The article confirms my problem since it won't integrate through modified windows. I am going to have to duplicate the processes that are in VBA into VBS for integration manager to use internally. Just makes the development and maintenance a bit more of a headache.

Thank you so much for all of your help!

baugie

 

[stef315]

Yes, it will be difficult to do that because: 1. You will have to maintain both. Make all changes to both. and 2. The VBScript will not be exactly like the VBA code. The VBScript is a little different and sometimes more limiting than what even VBA will allow. Hopefully it will work for you.

There is also a product called "econnect" that a lot of the bigger companies use. I have never really used this myself but everyone raves about it at Tech Conference. Maybe it has more flexibility. It's supposed to be really cool and I saw a demo of a company that used it for thousands of transactions from multiple sites in a matter of minutes. They mentioned the price was supposed to be going down. Maybe for version 8.0.

 

[baugie]

Thanks for the info. I suppose that by the statement 'price was supposed to be going down' that eConnect actually costs money? Which precludes my company from using that as a valid option. You mentioned something called Tech Conference, is this another web-forum or is that an actual G.P. Tech Conference?

Thanks for all of your help. I guess its time to roll up my sleeves and quit imagining a way to do this and actually do it!

Thanks!

baugie

 

[stef315]

lol, I like the imagining method better!

Yes, eConnect is a product customers can purchase, like Integration Manager. I think it was pretty expensive and some consultants asked if the price would go down at all and if eConnect would be included more.

Tech Conference is the former Great Plains Technical and Development Conference for Partners. I have seen a couple of customers attend but it is mainly for partners and ISVs. Next year, however, it will be combined with the Microsoft conference (stupidly, I don't remember what's that's called). Anyway, the Tech Conf is usually a good place to connect with other GP consultants, learn about other products, and hear about the plans for the future.