[ILUG] OpenERP demo server

[Bernhard Rohrer]

On 19/09/11 16:34, Michael Kennedy wrote:
> On 19/09/2011 13:23, Bernhard Rohrer wrote:
>>   actually I would do all my accounting in OpenERP, since it allows 
>> for cost accounting and project based accounting and cash flow 
>> forecasts and a lot of other things that I really really want.
>
> Super...
>
> Unless someone advises us otherwise, can we proceed on the basis that 
> OpenERP is "as good as it gets" - compared to other "Cloud" systems... 
> Eg, Xero, KashFlow, FrontAccounting, FreeAgent/Iris Openbooks, 
> GNUCash, xTuple, LedgerSMB, TurboCash, SQL-Ledger, SageOne, PostBooks, 
> OpenBravo, Adempiere, WebERP, GnuAccounting - to name but a few ;-)

agreed.

>
> Eg, does OpenERP handle all our basic VAT needs - perhaps with add-ins...
>
>> _but_ we also need a way to dump all that info so the accountant can 
>> properly massage it and present it to revenue
>
> Technically, that should be simple...
>
>   1. We need a mechanism to get at the data in OpenERP. It's very 
> likely that OpenERP has "export" facilities - which allow the user to 
> dump all the requested data from the OpenERP DB into some standard 
> format, such as CSV, Excel, etc. If not, I expect the DB structures 
> inside OpenERP are "standard" (I've not checked - perhaps MySQL, 
> PostGreSQL, etc) - in which case it should still be easy to extract 
> whatever we need... If neither option is available, then, in an 
> emergency, we could "reverse-engineer" the internal filing systems, 
> but that's getting serious!, and surely not necessary.
>

openERP runs on PGSql

>   2. Then, we need to identify which "Accounting/Auditing" systems are 
> used by the Accountants, and what "Import" facilities are available - 
> perhaps CSV files; perhaps databases from "sister" bookkeeping systems.
>
Mostly Sage AFAIK - i need to talk to my accountant. Who has also 
promised to look into OpenERP

>   3. Finally, we'd need to re-jig the OpenERP data into the latter. 
> That should be a simple task, if both of the data-formats are well 
> defined. (I can certainly handle that aspect - if needed).

cool, thanks!

There are a few more aspects. OpenERP does payroll and keeping payroll 
up to date with changes in legislation is a task for a committed 
professional who gets paid. We also need a more than basic accounting 
framework for Ireland to make life easier.

OpenERP does project management on based on GTD and SCRUM. There will be 
need for consultants for this and a lot of other features. Also setting 
OpenERP up and adminuistrating it (especially the latter) is no job for 
the faint of heart, since permissions are given directly in python 
statements, which is currently my personal bugbear.

One thing I intend to play with is email and calendar integration 
between OpenERP and Zentyal.

Also OpenERP has a mass emailing feature, written by somebody who has no 
clue of the field (no statistics, no opt-out mechanism, the latter being 
a legal requirement). One would need integration with an existing 
service such as MadMimi <http://madmimi.com>.

I really like the dynamic we are getting going on this subject and as a 
non-coder, but experienced sysadmin I'll certainly be happy to help.

cheers

Bernhard