In this week’s New SmartConnect Office Hours, we discussed the changes coming to the Microsoft Dynamics GP connector. From online and on-premise deployments to Node Maintenance updates, here’s what you need to know about the new Dynamics GP connector. If you’d like to watch a video explaining this update, see here:
Using New SmartConnect with Microsoft Dynamics GP
As we began planning for SmartConnect improvements, one of eOne’s biggest goals is to provide parity between the online and on-premise versions. With this release, the two applications should look and feel the same, and all documentation and help articles will apply to both.
On-Premise and Online Deployment
In the previous versions of SmartConnect, the GP connector only worked on-premise because it depended on your local eConnect installation. Now eConnect is bundled into SmartConnect itself, so you don’t have to install it separately.
The team also removed the need for Dexterity triggers for real-time and SmartList data sources, so nothing needs to be installed in GP. This means you get a simpler setup and can use online SmartConnect with your local GP installation.
One GP Connection
With the newest release of SmartConnect, you can use a single GP connection for everything you need without requiring an extra SQL connection. Once you set up your connection, it will be able to access your Dynamics database along with every company database. You will also be able to use either the Dynamics or the company databases in lookups, and in GP data sources, including new ones like:
- A GP query data source
- A GP real-time data source
- A GP change data source
The main difference with these data sources is that these GP-specific ones are going to be included in the connector, fully scoped. It will also understand the GP database structure, like the relationship between the system tables in Dynamics and the company tables, making it easier to use.
Building a GP Destination
Other big updates include a simplified Dynamics GP destination and an updated user interface. In the past, we would pull from the eConnect node bundles that Microsoft expects you to use based on what you’re building. However, the nodes they selected didn’t always fit how real customers use SmartConnect. Now there won’t be any nodes listed by default, and you get the opportunity to add in ones you need and drag and drop them in the order you want.
Users will be able to duplicate nodes without going to Node Maintenance, and each copy maps on its own. SmartConnect will also flag nodes that run out of GP’s expected order. You’ll get a warning if the order is expected to break the integration, which will make it easier to troubleshoot what’s going on and minimize the need for external support.
Node Maintenance
What used to be Node Maintenance is now in the integration itself, and it loads all of Microsoft’s pre-built 259 nodes and 5,617 fields. You can view and modify the nodes as needed, and you can even add custom nodes from yourself, a partner, another ISV, or Node Builder. It’s also tied directly to the GP connector rather than a floating setup menu, and you can still mark nodes as required or change display names as needed.
SmartConnect will check your labels, data types, and settings, and flag anything that is set up wrong, so you know your integration will run correctly. Adding this guidance into the app will hopefully reduce the amount of errors users have, while giving them more control over what they see.
Migrating to the Newest Version of SmartConnect
The eOne team is developing a migration plan to help users move to the newest version of SmartConnect and will have the tool ready in early 2027. Anyone on SmartConnect18 will need to move to SmartConnect21 before migrating to the newest version.
It’s also important to mention that if you have a small number of integrations, a brand-new implementation may take less effort than moving existing integrations over. Our team can help you figure out what your migration path may look like, depending on what your current setup looks like. Contact us here to get started.
Upcoming SmartConnect Office Hours
If you haven’t signed up for New SmartConnect Office Hours and want to learn more about some of the other updates included, it’s not too late. Upcoming New SmartConnect Office Hours include:
- November 13: Using New SmartConnect with Shopify
- November 19: Using New SmartConnect with Dynamics NAV
- December 3: TBD
