Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team Blog

New Release of CRM SDK, V4.0.6

2008-09-05T16:41:32Z

Announcing the sixth update to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 SDK. You can download it here or read it online at the CRM Developer Center . What’s New in this Release? Updates include: E-mail Provider documentation – Have you wanted to know about creating a custom e-mail provider? This all new section gives you the basics! Customization file reference – This newly completed section describes the details you need when working with the form and saved query sections of the customization...(read more)

Support for Windows Server 2003 Hyper-V

2008-09-04T21:41:25Z

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Engineering for the Enterprise team has released Support for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V . In summary, this KB article (957054) states that "Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is officially supported to run on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V in production systems.” Additionally, the Microsoft Dynamics CRM team is committed to: Continuing support for virtualized environments in future...(read more)

Managing a telemarketing campaign

2008-09-03T14:39:46Z

Welcome Guy Riddle , CRM MVP, and today's guest blogger. How do we go about setting up a telemarketing campaign through Microsoft Dynamics CRM? Here is the challenge - we have acquired a list of Companies that we want our telesales team to call, but it is not quite as straightforward as ‘assigning’ a number of the records to each member of the telesales team – as often is the case with telemarketing there are other requirements that come into play: We need to measure ‘activities’...(read more)

Data Migration Manager Tips and Tricks

2008-09-02T15:01:49Z

Here is a write-up to help Data migration Manager (DMM) users who are looking for tips and tricks to improve their experience with DMM. Boost Data Migration Manger’s (DMM) Performance 1. All the machines in the system must be in the same time zone and use same regional settings. 2. In the Internet Options -> Connections -> LAN Settings, set the physically nearest proxy server and set ‘Bypass proxy server for local addresses’. Do not use the option ‘Automatic Configuration’...(read more)

Microsoft Word Proposal for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

2008-08-27T15:36:07Z

Over the last few months, I've presented at three conferences ( Tech Ed, IT Pro, Microsoft's internal Tech Ready ) about building software as a service solution with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Now that all the conferences are over, I'm making more of this content available to you our readers, partners, and ISVs. I've created a video of the solution demonstration at http://www.democrmonline.com/WordProposalIntro/ which is also available from the home page of the http://www...(read more)

CRM Accelerators – Part IV – Enterprise Search Accelerator

2008-08-26T15:13:59Z

Last week we introduced the Event Management Accelerator which is part of the CRM Accelerators for Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers and partners to be released in the next few months, each week we will unveil more details of each accelerator. In this article we feature the Enterprise Search Accelerator. Enterprise Search Accelerator – Due to be released in Q3 2008 The enterprise search accelerator allows Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS) customers to view and search for Microsoft Dynamics...(read more)

Thoughts on Forms

2008-08-25T16:09:18Z

Forms, forms, forms… It’s amazing how much manual data entry we still have to do in what is supposed to be an increasingly automated world. For a data-intensive application like CRM, the way the application presents and requests data from the user can be pivotal in deciding whether the user actually benefits from the system. Take an example from one of the most popular sites today: YouTube. How many fewer videos a day do you think would be uploaded if their submission form...(read more)

Professional Developers Conference 2008

2008-08-25T14:54:07Z

Is it too early to start talking about what is looking to be a really good PDC ? The keynotes and events scheduled will be very interesting and venue compelling. Here's some cherry-picking from my viewpoint. Chris Anderson and Don Box will be delivering one of the keynotes at this year’s PDC. For the third consecutive PDC, Chris and Don will defy the odds and perform feats of live coding against “fresh” platform technology in front of thousands of attendees. This year Don and...(read more)

Client Extensions and Scripting Samples in the SDK Part 2

2008-08-22T16:04:54Z

Continuing from my previous blog post Client Extensions and Scripting Samples in the SDK Part 1 , I will continue to point out a few of the samples for client extensions and scripting that have been added to the SDK. In Part 1 I covered the following: Add Customer Address data to the Case record form. Integrate Live Search into your forms CrmService method samples This time I'll cover these: Add default form data values using QueryString arguments Create Activity Record Templates How to Control...(read more)

Offline and Online Synchronization in Microsoft Dynamics CRM

2008-08-21T15:20:44Z

We are pleased to announce the release of the first Nuts and Bolts article Offline and Online Synchronization in Microsoft Dynamics CRM , which is designed to: Provide answers to FAQ Offer multiple levels of complementary information to support a broader, multi-perspective understanding of the topic Convey the baseline “principles” users require to begin to address related but tangential technical queries Structure content and present it with a “look and feel” that will be...(read more)

Making Sense of Server Roles

2008-08-20T17:15:52Z

Our Guest Star series continues with Matt Parks , one of our first CRM MVPs and a key figure in the CRM community . One of the many things that was introduced with Dynamics CRM 4.0 is the concept of server roles. Available only with the Enterprise license of Dynamics CRM, server roles provide quite a bit of flexibility is controlling what components of the solution run on each server in a multiple server deployment. However, with flexibility comes confusion. With Dynamics CRM 3.0, the...(read more)

CRM Accelerators – Part III – Event Management Accelerator

2008-08-19T17:09:48Z

Last week we introduced the eService Accelerator which is part of the CRM Accelerators for Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers and partners to be released in the next few months, each week we will unveil more details of each accelerator. In this article we feature the Event Management Accelerator. Event Management Accelerator – Due to be released in Q3 2008 The event management accelerator gives companies the ability to easily manage the planning, execution, tracking and reporting requirements...(read more)

The Dynamics Duo… Dynamics Super Heroes?

2008-08-18T14:59:46Z

Girish Raja and I (Ben Riga) just finished up a few videos for Channel 9 to show off the superhuman … super-developer … line-of-business platform power you get when you build your solution on Dynamics CRM. There are 5 videos we put together to help developers and ISVs better understand the vision for how Dynamics CRM fits in with the rest of the Microsoft Platform stack. In this series, which we’ve dubbed The Dynamics Duo, we talk about: Dynamics CRM Customization Dynamics...(read more)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM On-Premise and On-Demand: What’s the Difference?

2008-08-15T15:41:39Z

As part of Microsoft’s CRM strategy to deliver the “Power of Choice” to customers and partners, we offer Microsoft Dynamics CRM in a variety of subscription or ownership models: On-premise: Customers purchase the licenses and run the application on their own servers. On-demand: Customers subscribe to the software service on a per user per month basis: Partner-hosted: Microsoft partners host the application in their facilities on behalf of customers, and provide customer service...(read more)

CRM User Group (CRMUG) Summit 2008

2008-08-14T16:59:27Z

This just in from guest blogger Mark Rhodes , of the Dynamics CRM User Group (CRMUG). Meet other Microsoft Dynamics CRM user veterans, Microsoft Support resources, and other product specialists at the first CRM User Group Summit , September 22nd to the 24th in Las Vegas, NV at the Green Valley Ranch Resort and Spa . You will be able to participate in information-packed educational sessions, role-based tracks and professional networking sessions. The sessions are designed to deliver Microsoft...(read more)

New Microsoft Dynamics CRM Developer Book

2008-08-13T16:50:44Z

Guest blogger CRM MVP David Yack talks about what he has been doing in his spare time. :o) In my spare time (ha!) for the last year I have been working on writing a book targeted to developing applications on CRM 4.0. Originally, the book was going to be a short book focusing on workflow but has grown to over 600 pages covering all developer centric topics. In the book I talk about everything from setting up a developer environment to using SilverLight with CRM. You...(read more)

CRM Accelerators – Part II – eService Accelerator

2008-08-12T16:18:58Z

Last week we introduced the Analytics Accelerator which is part of the CRM Accelerators for Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers and partners to be released in the next few months, each week we will unveil more details of each accelerator. In this article we feature the eService Accelerator. eService Accelerator – Due to be released in Q3 2008 The eService accelerator provides businesses the ability to deliver self-service capabilities to their customers while tracking and managing these interactions...(read more)

MS Word Proposal for CRM Online

2008-08-11T20:35:20Z

Over the last few months, I've presented at 3 conferences ( Tech Ed, IT Pro, ms internal - Tech Ready ) about building software as a service solutions with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Now that all the conferences are over, I'm making more of this content available. I've created a video repro of the solution demo. http://www.democrmonline.com/WordProposalIntro/ Also available from the home page. http://www.democrmonline.com This is a nice example to demonstrate the value of software...(read more)

Client Extensions and Scripting Samples in the SDK Part 1

2008-08-08T17:23:08Z

I want to call attention to some of the client extension and scripting samples included in the SDK. There are a number of new capabilities and samples sprinkled throughout documentation. People who have been working with Microsoft CRM for a long time may not have noticed unless they make it a habit to compare each new release of the SDK with the previous versions or read the release notes very carefully. When creating samples for the SDK we have to be very careful not to include anything that is...(read more)

Integrate SharePoint with Microsoft Dynamics CRM

2008-08-07T14:07:55Z

David Abraham from Chorus IT brought to our attention a very informative article on their website about how to integrate Microsoft CRM with SharePoint. They have also provided download links to a visual studio project file giving the source code away for free! You can view the post here: http://www.chorusit.com/sharepointintegration.aspx Please note that this solution has not been tested or verified by Microsoft and is not supported by Microsoft. Cheers, Shirlene Lim...(read more)

CRM4 Outlook Client – Issues and Fixes

2008-08-06T17:50:03Z

The picture above is the first “computer bug” found in 1945. As a piece of techno-folklore, this was a literal bug! In the past several months since the release of the CRM 4.0, we’ve had the usual stream of customer issues come in through our support channel. No software is bug free and even with all the rigorous testing that we do, there are things that get overlooked. CRM for Outlook is a product surface that gets a lot of end-user exposure and we hear loud and clear when our...(read more)

CRM Accelerators – Part I – Analytics Accelerator

2008-08-05T17:08:13Z

Last week we introduced the CRM Accelerators program for Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers and partners, each week we will unveil more details of each accelerator. In this article we feature the Analytics Accelerator. Analytics Accelerator – Due to be released in Q3 2008 Many customers and partners will be familiar with Analytics Foundation for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 which was a business intelligence feature pack for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0. Analytics Foundation for Dynamics CRM 3.0 included...(read more)

Microsoft Seeks Beta Testers For Internet Explorer 8

2008-08-04T15:50:11Z

Here's your chance to test Internet Explorer version 8. As reported in InformationWeek : Microsoft is widening the testing program for the forthcoming Internet Explorer 8 and is actively seeking the public's help in putting the browser through its paces prior to release. In a blog post , IE8 program manager Allison Burnett promised that the second beta version of the browser is "right around the corner" and invites Web surfers to apply to become an official tester. "Tell us...(read more)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM URLs

2008-08-01T15:48:57Z

CRM 4.0 introduced many changes to the way URLs need to be constructed. In MSCRM 3.0 and earlier, you could simply access a page by using a URL such as http://<crmserver:port>/default.aspx The introduction of multi-tenancy and CRM Online/IFD deployments required changes to the URL formats. Both CRM online and IFD deployments require URLs of the form https://orgname.mycrmhost.com – This was mainly done for reasons related to securing cookie domains, but also helps provide organization...(read more)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide update 4.2.0 is now available!

2008-07-30T16:33:56Z

I’m pleased to announce that the second update to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide is now available! In our commitment to provide continuous publishing to our customers and partners, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide update 4.2.0, contains the following: Over 30 corrections and revisions. 3 new topics. Install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server on multiple computers (using NLB) Deploy Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook with Systems Management Server 2003 Configure...(read more)