Named instance of GP with different account framework

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Posted on by Rob Klaproth

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What is the most efficient way to have a named instance of GP with a different framework and be able to access from the same workstation? Whoever implemented this GP system I'm on set the max framework in DYNAMICS DB when they installed GP to 5 characters, 2 segments (ouch). The client does not want to buy Reformatter, and honestly the amount of work it will be, it's just easier for me to create a new instance of GP and load their COA, vendors, and BB and then she can log into the old instance when she needs history (she hasn't put any 2018 transactions in the other system yet anyway!).

So, the question is this. I know every time you load GP it checks the framework and if it doesn't match with the DB it has to launch utilities and synchronize framework. What I'm wondering is where is that stored, in dex.ini, dynamics.set, or somewhere else?

I'm thinking the best approach is to copy her current GP client folder into a new folder, create another icon for it, and a new ODBC data source and point it to the new DYNAMICS DB, and then she can have 2 GP icons on her desktop, one for the archive system, and one for the new system.

Thoughts on this?

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Rob Klaproth 1,730 on at

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RE: Named instance of GP with different account framework

Thanks Richard. The client decided not to expand their COA. They will just multi-purpose the existing setup, which is fine for a bit, but they will probably run out of codes eventually if they aren't careful. :) No one else mentioned this here, but I did read that another option would be to leave the COA alone, and implement analytical accounting but that's another whole can of worms.
Richard Wheeler 75,848 Moderator on at

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RE: Named instance of GP with different account framework

From a legal standpoint since the historical copy is not being use in production I believe you can simply leave it where it is and then install a second instance of SQL on this server and install a second copy of GP. This time use a new framework. Use this second instance as the production copy and import a fresh chart of accounts and other master data. This will allow you to have a new DYNAMICS.DIC file which will not conflict with the previous copy. If you ever wondered what that little box that pops up when you run GP Utilities that says synchronizing is doing, one of the things it does is write to the DYNAMICS.DIC file the information about the framework it finds in the DYNAMICS database. Finally you will name your data source to something different than the original to set the connection to the new instance.
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Rob Klaproth 1,730 on at

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RE: Named instance of GP with different account framework

Mariano, thank you for your insights! As always you are a treasure trove of knowledge and I appreciate the time you spend to reply to these posts. I originally proposed the separate install and they did not like the idea so I was trying to find a way around it, but based on what you are saying I will stick with my original plan.
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Mariano Gomez 26,225 on at

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RE: Named instance of GP with different account framework

First and foremost, the article referenced by Richard dates back 2014 and I must say, the majority of hosting providers I know use multitenant services nowadays as they are mostly providing the web client as a method of keeping cost low - this was the whole purpose of it to begin with!

Second, you cannot have the same instance of GP accessing two different named system databases. The Dynamics.dic dictionary file is synchronized to the account framework. The runtime engine runs some low-level code that makes sure the internal dictionary table metadata matches that of the actual physical SQL Server table, after the account framework has been defined.

So, if web client and multi-tenancy is not your thing, then you will need to separate instances of GP running on that workstation and accessing two separate system database instances. Note that I did not say two separate instances of SQL Server as your configuration can be a single SQL Server running named system databases, or two separate instances or SQL Server.

Copying the GP client is a NO-NO! This approach is not supported by Microsoft as the instance would be devoid of its registry entries. Use the installation media to setup the new instance of GP.
Richard Wheeler 75,848 Moderator on at

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RE: Named instance of GP with different account framework

Starting with GP 2013, the support of multi-tenant GP became available. However, I have personally have never been asked to set one up and after reading this article I may not want to do so.

https://dynamicsgpland.blogspot.com/2014/11/who-actually-uses-dynamics-gp-multi.html

In theory this would allow you to have multiple Dynamics databases each with its own framework.
Derek Albaugh on at

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RE: Named instance of GP with different account framework

The account framework maximums are setup in system tables within Dynamics GP, the SY003001 and SY00302 table, but it isn't as easy as just changing these values.

There are approximately 30+ tables that get setup to have a specific number of columns to correspond with the account framework maximums and those would need to be all configured as well.

The Re-Formatter tool is an option many customers have used.

We also offer Account Framework Change advisory services and such through the GP support team.

Other than that, we don't really have any documentation or process for doing what you're looking to do, though it's possible someone on this forums may have done something like it.

Thanks