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Forum to discuss building external web applications for SalesLogix. View the code of conduct for posting guidelines.
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integration model
Posted: 25 Jun 07 5:48 AM
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Within our overall strategy there is a requirement to streamline the current processes we have in place. Our current IT infrastructure consists of a legacy Perl environment with multiple databases consisting of duplicated information and fragmented administration systems.
We have used Saleslogix as our Customer Relationship Management tool since 2003. The integration of Saleslogix with our back end systems has always been part of our overall IT strategic plan. We would like to make Saleslogix our central data repositary and envisage the following integration:
1. Data transfer to and from a range of Oracle databases and Saleslogix
2. Automated Data transfer between Saleslogix and Sage MMS
3. Processes within Saleslogix which are based on controls and criteria for billing, account
reconciliation
4. web adminstration interface
5. SOA environment
If anyone has any articles they know which could be helpful or any ideas as to how we can acheive this, I would be most grateful for this information. |
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Re: integration model
Posted: 26 Jun 07 6:42 AM
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First I'd suggest you (or whoever in your team is going to do the design/development) take a formal class on developing in SalesLogix.
Next, take a look at tools like TaskCentre as a "engine" to help you in "automation" of event/alert and integration. Also there is a replacement for DynaLink (ERPLink) coming (There has not been a beta yet) but we really do not know any details.
Web admin interface? - DOn't waste your time... there is no set of API's to accomplish this. "Sometime" in the future.. not this year and possibly not next... there will be a web interface...
SOA - 7.2 SP1 is supposed to introduce Web Services.
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rjl |
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Re: integration model
Posted: 26 Jun 07 11:33 AM
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1) SQL SSIS or DTS could handle this nicely. Not sure if you're on Oracle or not, but if you are on SQL, then you have all the tools you need to accomplish large-scale and transactional data transfers between SLX and the Oracle databases or any other OLEDB/ODBC compliant platforms. Even if SLX is hosted on Oracle and you're moving data between Oracle databases then this still works, but of course you need to own the appropriate SQL license and have the tools installed to use.
2) IIRC, as of v3 of Sage MMS you can host on a SQL database. If this is the case then it falls under the same as #1 above. However, I am not sure what other database options there are for MMS if not on SQL.
3) You could build out any of this easily. The "how" depends on what is entailed in the processes. There are common tools used for workflow for SLX, as rjl mentioned, such as TaskCentre or KnowledgeSync.
4) Are you trying to accomplish tasks performed in the SLX Administrator? Is that what you mean? If so, you'll be rolling your own of about everything. As rjl mentioned, there are no API's for that stuff so some of it you will end up getting stuck. If you mean administration for your custom processes for things like billing and account reconciliation that you plan to build, then that is something different entirely. It would just be a case of building what you need as web-based. Not a huge task, but the complexity would depend on what you're after.
5) As rjl mentioned, web services are coming OOTB in a very near future release. However, that doesn't mean you can't build you own now. I have several implementations where web services are used heavily. Both to read data from SLX and to add data to it from other systems. A simple task. There's very little specific to SLX about it. Just standard web services that read and write to the SLX database - all using the SLX OLEDB provider.
Hope that helps.
-Ryan |
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Re: integration model
Posted: 27 Jun 07 8:35 AM
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Having already been down the road you are embarking on let me add my two cents worth - 
I have to strongly agree with RJL. Take a class or two from Sage. Regardless of how you accomplish this (even outsourcing) you need a firm understanding of the architecture of SLX and MMS to manage or even develop a integration. Second, once you have that understanding then things like using DTS/SSIS become simpler but they do require more thought and manual work to develop than a GUI like Scribe, KS, etc. Now this next comment comes from painful experience as the number of integrations and their complexity grows. Think NON SLX centric solutions. In otherwords, look into tools that will work for all your relational database needs. Not just a tool that is specific to one or a few apps. A good example is the one RJL cmentioned - TaskCentre. If you (like I did) start down that narrow road of a SLX integration solutions, you may find yourself boxed in and having a large mix of solutions for various applications that are hard to manage which is where I am now!  |
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