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Dynamics 365 Community / Forums / Microsoft Dynamics SL (Archived) / Data Integration with ...
Microsoft Dynamics SL (Archived)

Data Integration with other systems

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Posted on by Mark Schurmann

I am in the early planning stages of an integration project involving Dynamics SL, SalesForce and two in-house applications.  There is data that needs to be synced between these systems and I need to be able to create AR invoices in Dynamics from sales information coming from an in-house system.  It would appear that my only options for getting data into Dynamics are the Transaction Import and VBA or C# code written against the Solomon Object Model.  I do not find either of these methods appealing as they both seem  a bit cumbersome.  Conversely, writing directly to the database seems a bit too risky.  

Are these my only options?  

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  • Apps Mexico Profile Picture
    Apps Mexico 1,090 on at
    RE: Data Integration with other systems

    Using the sql profiler properly and KNOWING what are you doing, you can check all the data that SL need to check the data integrity. Everybody have a point o view about the best approach. I have at least five customers with sotre procedures that import the data directly to the database and all works ok.

    When they have to import thousands of records, all the night long isn't enough to import the data using the transaction import. At the end the best approach depends of your needs and the way that implements the solution.

    The transaction import is powerful, but isn't the only solution and you don't change the dynamics version every month to avoid check what changes has the new version.

  • Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: Data Integration with other systems

    Hi Mark

    Out of curiosity... why Salesforce and not Dynamics CRM?

    Thanks

    Tom D

  • Community Member Profile Picture
    Community Member Microsoft Employee on at
    RE: Data Integration with other systems

    As a long time ISV that creates added modules to SL for a specific vertical and integrates to SL, let me strong state that you should never write directly into the SL database.  Doing so bypasses all the data checks that the various screens use leading to possible corrupted or unconnected data and, further, every time a new version of SL comes out, you run the risk that your code has to be changed to accommodate a database change.

    SL provides Transaction Import for this very purpose.  It is powerful, quite easy to use and is the only logical route for integrating data from another software system.

  • Apps Mexico Profile Picture
    Apps Mexico 1,090 on at
    RE: Data Integration with other systems

    I have many store procedures that imports data into the principal sl screens. And can tell you that for me is faster than transaction import and know what are you doing isn't risky, just need to kmow t-sql and sql profiler.

  • Suggested answer
    KenF58 Profile Picture
    KenF58 1,035 on at
    RE: Data Integration with other systems

    Transaction Import is surprisingly powerful once you get into it. I have set up batch files that read csv files in a folder and run Transaction Import and then move the file to an archive location. The batch file is then set up to run every hour using task scheduler.

    The main drawback is that you have to leave a session running with Dynamics SL open and it cannot lock or the TI will not run.

    The ability to write BSL code in the control file is also very powerful.

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