# Prophet 21 guides

> How Epicor Prophet 21 software is put together, and how to extend, report on, import into and integrate with it without creating upgrade debt.

Source: https://docs.lumina-erp.com/prophet-21/

**In short.** Start with how the system fits together, then pick the guide for the job in front of you. Every guide favors the option that survives the next upgrade.

Prophet 21 is an ERP system built for wholesale distributors. These guides are for the people who keep it running: administrators, report writers and developers. They explain how the parts fit, and they help you choose the change that is cheapest to own over the next several upgrades.

If you are new to the system, read them in order. If you have a specific job, jump to the one that matches it.

- [How a Prophet 21 system fits together](https://docs.lumina-erp.com/prophet-21/how-p21-fits-together.md): A conceptual map of a Prophet 21 installation, from the SQL Server database and middleware tier to the clients, background services and hosting.
- [DynaChange Rules, Designer, a report or an integration?](https://docs.lumina-erp.com/prophet-21/choosing-dynachange-or-integration.md): A decision guide for Prophet 21 change requests. Match the request to the lightest tool that solves it, and know what each option costs you at upgrade time.
- [Planning a Prophet 21 data import](https://docs.lumina-erp.com/prophet-21/planning-a-data-import.md): Plan a Prophet 21 data load you can trust, with dependency order, rehearsal loads in a non-production copy and reconciliation that decides when it is done.
- [Custom transactional forms with Crystal Reports](https://docs.lumina-erp.com/prophet-21/custom-crystal-forms.md): The custom-copy pattern for Prophet 21 transactional forms, how to make form changes that survive upgrades and how to test them before customers see them.
- [Reading Prophet 21 data with SQL, safely](https://docs.lumina-erp.com/prophet-21/reading-p21-data-with-sql.md): Query a Prophet 21 database without risking data or slowing users, with a read-only login, locking on a busy ERP and short starter queries on orders and items.
- [Prophet 21 integration options, and how to choose](https://docs.lumina-erp.com/prophet-21/integration-options.md): How to connect Prophet 21 with other systems through APIs, file imports, database reads or middleware, and the questions that decide between them.
- [SQL Server care for an on-premises ERP database](https://docs.lumina-erp.com/prophet-21/sql-server-care-for-an-erp-database.md): A working checklist for the SQL Server under an on-premises ERP such as Prophet 21 software, from backups and restore tests to memory, tempdb and patching.

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Epicor, Prophet 21, P21 and DynaChange are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epicor Software Corporation registered in the United States and other countries. Kinetic is a trademark of Epicor Software Corporation. Lumina ERP is an independent consultancy and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by Epicor.