How to create a chunk file in Dexterity in Microsoft Dynamics GP

This article describes how to create a chunk (.cnk) file in Dexterity in Microsoft Dynamics GP.

Applies to:   Microsoft Dynamics GP
Original KB number:   894700

Introduction

A chunk file is a self-installing data dictionary file that creates a dictionary that is run by the Dexterity runtime engine. Additionally, a chunk file is used to distribute customizations and third-party products to seamlessly add functionality or modify existing functionality in Microsoft Dynamics GP.

More information

Dexterity is ideal for creating transaction-based business applications, such as accounting and business management products. Additionally, Dexterity gives you the complete set of components that are used to create Microsoft Dynamics GP and Microsoft Small Business Financials. The components include a forms builder, a database manager, a report builder, a 4GL scripting language, a 4GL debugger, and an embedded macro system.

As a developer, you'll use the Dexterity IDE to create, to debug, and to test your customizations. To distribute your customization, you'll use Dexterity Utilities to create the chunk file. Dexterity Utilities can also be used to do several maintenance and reporting functions that are typically not needed during the development cycle.

The steps to create a chunk file involve two dictionaries: the development dictionary and an extracted dictionary. The development dictionary is a renamed copy of Dynamics.dic. It contains added or modified resources and code that you've developed.

An extracted dictionary is a dictionary that contains only the added or modified resources and code. It doesn't contain Dynamics.dic. Instead, it contains any modified forms and reports that were transferred from the development dictionary. Modified forms and reports become alternate forms and reports after the chunk file is installed. The chunk file is created from the extracted dictionary.

Before you create the chunk file, follow these steps in Dexterity:

• Compile your development dictionary. To open the development dictionary, select Open Source Dictionary on the File menu. With your development dictionary open, select Compile All on the Explorer menu.
• If you're using Dexterity Source Code Control, make sure that all resources are checked in. On the Explorer menu, select Source Code, and then select Check In.
• Make sure that the Resource IDs that are assigned to the resources you created don't change values between builds. For more information, see How to use an index file and the Microsoft Dynamics GP Dexterity source code control functionality to make sure that the resources that you create maintain the same resource ID in different builds and versions of your code.

To create a chunk file, follow these steps in Dexterity Utilities:

1. On the File menu, select Open Source Dictionary to open the development dictionary as the source dictionary.

2. On the Utilities menu, select Extract to extract all third-party resources to an extracted dictionary. These resources will have a Resource ID that is greater than 22,000.

   Note

   If you don't have alternate forms or reports, go to step 6. Alternate forms and reports are original Microsoft Dynamics GP forms and reports that have been modified in your customization. Because their resource IDs are less than 22,000, they are not extracted in step 2. So additional steps are required to move alternate forms and reports to your chunk file.

3. On the File menu, select Open Destination Dictionary to open the destination dictionary by using the extracted dictionary that you created in step 2.

4. On the Dexterity Utilities toolbar, select Transfer, and then select Dictionary Module to transfer the alternate forms or reports to the extracted dictionary.

5. On the File menu, select Close Destination Dictionary.

6. On the File menu, select Close Source Dictionary.

7. On the File menu, select Open Editable Dictionary to open the editable dictionary by using the extracted dictionary that you created in step 2.

   Note

   If you don't have any alternate forms or reports, go to step 9.

8. Update the internal Series Resources lists to include the alternate forms or reports. On the Dexterity Utilities toolbar, select Resources, and then select Series Resources. Select the All Resource Types check box and the All Series check box, and then select Update.

9. On the Dexterity Utilities toolbar, select Product Information. Enter the following information:

   • The product name
   • The product ID that has been assigned to you by Microsoft Sales Operations
   • The names of the custom forms and reports dictionaries
   • Compatibility information

   Select OK. Type DYNAMICS.SET in the Launch file box, and type 0 in the Launch ID box.

10. Create the chunk file:

    1. On the Utilities menu, select Auto Chunk.
    2. Select Browse to name the chunk dictionary and to indicate the location where it will be saved. You can use an 8.3 formatted file name with the extension chunk, for example, Fabrikam.cnk.
    3. Select a module, for example, 51.
    4. Enter the major, minor, and build numbers. You can match your major and minor numbers to the Microsoft Dynamics GP version that you use, and then type your own build number.
    5. Select Total Compression to remove the source code from the final chunk file, and then select OK.

11. On the File menu, select Close Editable Dictionary.

References

For more information that is related to this article, see the Integration Guide manual and Dexterity training materials that are included with Dexterity.