Where does our help come from? Our hope?

Psalm 121:1-2 - I will lift up my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help?
My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

I think Psalms 121:1-2 says it pretty clearly. Our help, comes from the one that made the heavens and the earth. The place you stand, or sit, or lie down. The ground below it, the air around it, the sky above it. All made by the same, who shaped the very lines on the fingertips of your hand.

Made by the same, who has the hair on your heads even numbered. The one who placed, named and knows the count of all the stars in heaven.

A recall hearing about an analyst once saying, that there are more stars in the universe, than there are grains of sand on all the earth. Now pick up a handful of sand, and just think of how many grains are in your hand.

Now read that part again: The one who placed, named and knows the count of all the stars in heaven.

That is where our help comes from. That is our rock, our faith, our love, our hope.

May you have a blessed start to the day, and may 'YHWH' / 'LORD our God' be with you. May Christ fill your heart, and your cup overflow with peace, love and faith.





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Microsoft Introduces Major ERP and CRM Incentive Offerings

Microsoft just released today, information about major ERP and CRM incentive offerings.

This is a three point focused push, broken into the following:

• First is Business Ready Flexible Pay, which gives new Microsoft Dynamics ERP and CRM customers in the U.S. the option to purchase the solutions today but pay for them in equal payments over three years



• Second, in an effort to make it easier for companies to move from outdated and costly business applications to Microsoft’s modern ERP solutions



• Third, Microsoft wants to make it even easier for its ERP customers and partners to expand their solutions to include industry-leading CRM

The full release can be found here: MS Press: Microsoft Introduces Major ERP and CRM Incentive Offerings

Here a quote from a customer in respect to upgrading from JD Edwards, to Microsoft Dynamics AX:
“We fundamentally saw Microsoft Dynamics AX as a game-changer for us versus Oracle JD Edwards,” said Scott Rollins, vice president and chief information officer of Flow International Corp. “Not only were we able to deploy a fully functional ERP in about half the normal time of other systems like JD Edwards, but Microsoft Dynamics AX gives us a platform that is significantly easier to innovate on. In addition, our analysis showed more than $5 million lower total cost of ownership over five years with Microsoft Dynamics AX versus JD Edwards EnterpriseOne.”

So who would turn their nose up at a savings of over $5 million dollars of lowered TCO? That goes straight to the bottom line of your company, and in turn gives your company the Microsoft Platform to drive your business with.

If your interested in finding out more, have questions, want to talk, feel free to contact Sunrise Technologies, Inc.. Also a direct link to Our Contact Us Page.



Feel free to ask any questions, and make sure to tell them I sent you!

Check back soon, as I have more great post coming out. See you then!




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Arch. Journal: Mapping Applications to the Cloud

I cam across a great, very detailed article in the Microsoft Architecture Journal. The direct link to this article, can be found here: Mapping Applications to the Cloud

Here is the articles summary:
"As economic pressure builds globally, many organizations are starting to look at Cloud Computing as a potential choice to reduce the total cost of ownership for IT. In searching for ways to use Cloud Computing technologies, enterprises have to ask what applications make good candidates for moving to the Cloud and which do not, such as "Does the nature of the business itself allow for Cloud Computing to even be considered?"
This article provides a broad overview into what Cloud Computing is and discusses an approach to mapping enterprise applications to Cloud Computing platforms to assist in determining whether your applications or your business model are a good fit for the Cloud."

What a timely article this is. The question that derives from this: "Does the nature of the business itself allow for Cloud Computing to even be considered?"

Let me say this article does a really good job, of trying to give someone some real context in helping answer that question. Several examples are given, with good detail to them, from an architects point of view.

I recommend reading this, as this really helps shape the cloud computing question. Once more, this should be considered, and thought of when looking at custom applications that interact with Dynamics. And services that could live in the cloud that Dynamics make use of.

Take for example the given Photo/Video Processing.


You could see such an application being designed with the cloud in mind, and the retail stores connecting to the cloud and interacting with it. Also at the same time, this same example processing application could itself be connecting back to, say a Dynamics AX ERP platform. Storing customer information, processing credit cards, creating sales orders, etc. etc.

I would like to thank Darryl Chantry, Senior architect in the Platform Architecture Team at Microsoft, for taking the time to write such a great article.

Well check back soon, as I have more great post to come. See you then!




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Bloglines - Dynamics AX Related Blogs

Hope everyone has had a great week so far. Thought I would do a little many post here. Came across the bloglines listing for blogs relating to Dynamics AX.

Bloglines: Dynamics AX Related blogs

This is a really good list of Dynamics AX blogs. Some updated a good bit, some not so much, but good to check out anyway. I recommend giving it a once over, to make sure you have at least checked them all out once.

Well check back soon, more great Dynamics AX post to come!




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Earth Day - Celebration of YHWH God's Creation

Today is Earth day. A day to celebrate the Earth, our home. Home to all humans, and lifeforms that make up this most awesome place.

I mean just think about all the lifeforms that exists, just as you walk outside in your own yard. Close your eyes and just try to think of all those livings beings. It's amazing, and can help keep you humble, and thankful.

On this earth day, let's keep focus and give thanks to the creator of it. YHWH, God the Father, LORD your God.

A great link of verses that can easily relate to earth day was composed by Samford University. The link can be found here: Earth Day - Relevant Bible Verses

Also one not mention there, but I thought was great to mention:

Joel 2:21-23 NIV:

21 Be not afraid, O land;
be glad and rejoice.
Surely the LORD has done great things.

22 Be not afraid, O wild animals,
for the open pastures are becoming green.
The trees are bearing their fruit;
the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.

23 Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness. [a]
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.

So on this Earth day, gives thanks to the one on most high. To the creator of all things. rejoice, and say aloud thank you for this day, that you have made of God.

I hope you all are able to have gotten some sun today, and can enjoy a little earth on this day.

Check back soon, and keep in mind... a whosoever.




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What is SQL Server BI anyway?

One of the major focuses for a lot of companies these days, even in these tough times, is BI. I have wrote about this recently, specifically with the move of PerformancePoint as being part of the SharePoint offerings.

Direct link to my last post here: Dynamics BI: BI for the Masses

That post gave a real broad picture into what BI will look like from an overall Microsoft BI strategy.

However, what is BI in terms of SQL Server? Why is this important to understand?

Well Dynamics, and therefore Dynamics AX, makes use of SQL Server to run on top of. And more and more SQL Server features are being tightly integrated and very much a part of Dynamics AX solution.

Since this is the case, it makes sense, that one needs to understand BI from SQL Server point of view. In doing this, then the incorporation can better be unnderstood, and the use of SQL Server BI solutions inside Dynamics AX can be better made use of.

So what is BI in terms of SQL Server?

BI for SQL Server is made up of several key technologies / terms. They are:

• SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS).
  


• SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS)
  - Multidimensional Data
  
  - Data Mining
  


• SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS)
  

These technologies make up what can be used to create BI solutions from SQL Server's point of view. Each of the above links goes to the home page found on MSDN, which contains to wonderful amounts of information about each of these topic area's.

SSRS can be used to create functional / procedural reports, where SSAS can be used to mine data, create predication based cubes, and other OLAP data dimensional cubes from transactional data. SSIS can be used to ETL, or Extract, Transform and Load data from many, many sources into a SQL Server staging or Datawarehouse that can then be used by SSRS and SSAS for reporting and knolwedge management about a businesses operations.

These are the key to understanding BI solutions from SQL Server's point of view, and answer the question What is BI in terms of SQL Server?

Next I will move forward with these topic area's for help in understanding them, and answer the next question in line: Why is this important to understand?

Check back soon, and see you later!




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Forrester Report: Microsoft Moves Dynamics Forward With New Releases and going Snorkel-ing?

Just released the other day, Forrester has a new report out, talking about how Microsoft Dynamics ERP platform is really being moved forward with the latest releases, like Dynamics AX 2009, and simplified pricing.

The direct link to this report can be found here: Microsoft Moves Dynamics Forward With New Releases And Simplified Pricing Strategies

Another bright spot shinning on Microsoft Dynamics!

Also, what about Snorkel?



That's from the miko.com web site. From the site:
"Snorkel will be a bloody mess! Oracle has no systems experience." Direct link: Here.

Also some other post about The Sun-Oracle deal.:

Oracle press release speaks truth

Oracle-Sun: an enterprise catastrophe

It seems a lot of systems, platform and open source people are up in arms over this. Lets see how this plays out...

Check back soon!




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Getting back to it

Well my vacation is finally over. It was so nice. I thought that I would get sometime and write some last week, however I was able to get some more fun in the sun instead.

This week is going to be super busy with my regular job, studying, and posts. I have ready a great post soon about BI. Also my interview with Microsoft execs will be coming out either end of this week, or start of next week.

I did hear this morning about Oracle is going to buy Sun in whole, for $9.50 a share. I wonder what impacts this will have on Open Source, Java and Oracle's and Sun's enterprise user's and platforms?

Well hope everyone is doing well this fine morning. Check back soon as I get back to normal writings, and we continue to move forward in our Dynamics AX world!

See you then!




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Vacation

Well just thought I would give a quick update, I have been on vacation since last Friday. It's been very nice, not seeing a computer until now.

I am still actually on vacation, but plan to get a post in still this week on SQL Server BI and Dynamics AX making use of that BI.

Hope your all doing well, and see you at the end of this week. After that, starting next week it will be back to normal posting, including an interview soon with two high level Microsoft Execs.

See you then!




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Free Ticket - Admit one whosoever

Today when I went to the bank, I saw something off to the side. It caught my eye. It said:

FREE TICKET - Admit one to Heaven

This was a small little card, just sitting off to the side. I picked up a few and put them in my wallet.

When I looked at them more closely, there was another message on the front of the card, it said: SEE BACK

So I flipped the card over, and it had the following passages:

JOHN 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

ROMANS 10:13
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved.

These may be very familiar verses to you. They may not be. They speak though one of the most high truths that we humans can cling too. The enternal salvation from our sins, through Christ Jesus - Yeshua.

I thought this free ticket fits exactly into the message that I hope each and everyone of you are able to hear, understand, and get --- espcially during the upcoming weekend. This is when we celebrate Easter, and that marks for us, on the third day the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords was raised up from the dead, had beaten death, held the keys to hell, and offered us the way back home... a free ticket to heaven. Do you have yours?

whosoever. That's what it says. It does not say, black, nor white, nor poor, nor rich. It says whosoever. That's the only requirement for the ticket, you being the whosoever.

I hope and pray, that this Easter is special, and that you keep with you the reason why we call it easter. Why we celebrate Easter. What the gift means. What it means to have a free ticket.

May your hope and joy spring forth from the greatest love that exists. From our Creator, and through his Son Jesus - Yeshua, Christ the Lord.

Are you a whosoever?




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Webcast: .Net for X++ programmers

Well thanks to twitter, I just saw that a web cast focusing on .Net for X++ programmers will be done soon.

The link can be found here: Webcast: .Net for X++ programmers

This web cast is being put on by 'Florian DITTGEN'. This should be a really great webcast, and any Xpp / X++ developers that will be doing any work with .Net, I think this is for sure worth checking out.

Well check back soon!




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Sunrise Technologies - WebCPA Top 100 Var List

Sunrise Technologies, Inc. the Microsoft Gold Certified VAR I am a part of, has made the WebCPA Top 100 VAR List for 2008.

The full Article can be found here: WebCPA - The VAR 100 Face a Tough Year

The direct link to the entire list can be found here: PDF File of the full list

Congrats to all my fellow Sunrisers! All the hard work pays off in the end.

Check back soon!




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Pre-release of Lean Manufacturing for Microsoft Dynamics AX

[* PartnerSource Access Required *]

Microsoft just released yesterday, and updated the release this morning, Lean Manufacturing for Microsoft Dynamics AX.

This is actually a pre-release, that comes with an EULA stating this will not be used in production.

The point of this release is to introduce partners to what the Lean Manufacturing offering comes with and can do. Below is a list of highlights from the post:

"Our Lean Manufacturing solution will enable mid-sized organizations to implement and utilize lean tools such as Kanban, lean order schedules, Heijunka board scheduling and much more. This will enable them to embark on the “lean journey” - helping streamline and optimize their manufacturing processes, and enabling them to take their business to new levels of profitability and growth."

Some of the benefits are:

• Sales-based scheduling


• Heijunka board production leveling


• Robust Kanban functionality and options


• Lean order schedules


• End-to-end integration and connectivity to other Microsoft products, servers, and technologies

Some helpful links that came as part of this post:
- Lean Manufacturing for Microsoft Dynamics AX Hot Topic Recording

- www.leancoe.com - eBECS Lean Center of Excellence

This will be a great add-on, that I know a lot of people are excited about. Including Dr. Scott Hamilton, who I recently interviewed for his book: Managing Your Supply Chain Using Microsoft Dynamics AX 2009 - Book Review

Well that's all for now. Check back soon as we continue down the Dynamics path. See you then!




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QueryRun and Query Objects - Binding operation failed to allocate buffer space

So if you ever work with the QueryRun and Query objects within X++, and I mean work with them a lot. You might come across an issue.

If for some reason, your start to see the following in thrown errors or in the event viewer, Application event log on the AOS, then you have an issue most likely with the QueryRun and Query Objects.:

Binding operation failed to allocate buffer space

The issue that your facing is the query that your creating. The query your creating, to make use with your QueryRun object is causing the AOS to hit a buffer limit. You can increase the buffer limit at the AOS. But most likely what you will need to do is force literals for the query your building in X++.

It's simple to do, after your create an instance of the Query object simply do a: Query.literal(1); call.

This will 'force the hand' of the AOS to accept the buffer allocation requirement, and allow your advanced query to run. Therefore allowing your QueryRun operation to finish as desired.

Well that's all for now. Ran into this, and thought it would be worth putting out here. If anyone has ran into this before, and wants to share feel free to leave a comment. Also if you have more details about literals and the use as described above, feel free to share that as well.

Check back soon!




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Microsoft - The Next Big ERP Innovator

I just came across a post, thanks twitter, from CIO mag. This article was posted yesterday. It's talking about Microsoft being the next big ERP innovator. It sights independant analyst getting excited about what they saw at Convergence this year.

From the post:
"It was hard not to marvel at the vision outlined by Microsoft executives, who were showing off next-generation touch-screen computing technologies at the main event and how average users ranging from order clerks to warehouse workers would be able to use the so-called Microsoft Surface device to access reams of inventory data by simply manipulating images on a screen, for example to rearrange popular inventory to areas within reach to improve the pick-and-pack process."

The direct link to this can be found here: The Next Big ERP Innovator: Microsoft

Also from that post:
"Pang was equally impressed with the brand-new Dynamics AX 2009 for manufacturing that included some breakthrough modules. He was also encouraged by the new products' ability to allow Microsoft's resellers to compete with the "high end" offerings of other vendors while ensuring ever-important affordability."

It's a very well put together article, and worth the read. This just continues to point out, that Microsoft Dynamics AX is the best ERP platform around.

Well check back soon!




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I am moving on to SAP

After many years focusing my entire career around Microsoft platform and specifically Dynamics AX, I am making the switch and going to work for SAP...

April Fools!

As if that was even something anyone would ever start to believe about me. Microsoft Dynamics AX rocks!

Today is April Fools day, and one of the places I love to go and check out is www.ThinkGeek.com home page on April 1st. They have great new products they launch. (Which are not real).

My favorite one this year is the Tauntaun Sleeping Bag.



The direct link to this great new product can be found here: Tauntaun Sleeping Bag - Slumber in the Belly of the Beast

From the product page:
This high-quality sleeping bag looks just like a Tauntaun, complete with saddle, internal intestines and glowing lightsaber zipper pull. Now when your kids tell you their favorite Star Wars movie is "Attack of the Clones" you can nestle the wee-ones snug in simulated Tauntaun fur while regaling them with the amazing tale of "Empire Strikes Back".



I recommend you go and buy at least 20 of these, as they will not last long.

Well check back soon as I continue down the Dynamics road. And yes I will continue to focus on Dynamics AX. No I will not be doing anything with SAP, other than replacing it with new Dynamics AX implementations. :-)

See you soon!




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