CRM Open Database Connection

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Hello

We have a requirement where we have a few 3rd party databases (in SQL or Oracle and possibly Microsoft Access) and we need to have a live view into 3 entities from our Dynamics CRM. Essentially we need a read only view into CRM dynamics from these third party databases and pull the values of parameters at real time. So if the field updates , it gets automatically updated in our 3rd party database. Does anyone know if CRM dynamics is capable of providing this functionality? And if yes Can anyone point me towards resources where I can learn to do this.

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a33ik 84,331 Most Valuable Professional on at

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

Hello,

This is possible but only with development.

Potentially this can be possible with virtual entities that were announced earlier this year:

Virtual entities – allow data in external systems to be represented as CRM entities and can take advantage of Business Process capabilities. These are just models in the Dynamics system but no tables created in the database and no data is replicated. Plug-in to APIs and surface external data to Dynamics within the Dynamics interface. Have an Azure DocumentDB you want to show in Dynamics, as long as it has an API or you can create your own you can surface the data and interact with it within Dynamics like its native Dynamics data. Important to note that there is no security model in Dynamics for virtual entities, security is the responsibility of the source system or API.

Source - www.qbsgroup.com/.../extreme-365-emea-2017-highlights.aspx

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ashlega 34,477 on at

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

Hi,

it seems you'll need to implement some sort of integration:

a) Use plugins to push data to the external databases synchronously

b) Use SSIS/Scribe/Informatica etc to implement delayed data synchronization (it will be delayed since you'll need to schedule those data transfer packages to run periodically)

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

If i for example use microsoft Access, using the ODBC connection wizard, is it possible to have a linked table into crm? where would i find the connection string information for this? From what i understand the underlying CRM is simply an SQL server with tables. Can i somehow connect to that SQL Server?

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a33ik 84,331 Most Valuable Professional on at

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

No,

That's not possible. You can't just point some entity to use other source. to make it possible you either will have to sync information between your CRM and external datasource using Scribe, SSIS or something else or develop plugins that will handle all the CRUD operations and CRUD information in your external DB.

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ashlega 34,477 on at

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

Hi Andrii,

the question could be about doing it the other way around..

netzero, are you trying to display Access data in CRM or are you trying to display CRM data in Access?

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ashlega 34,477 on at

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

If it's "CRM data in Access", you might want to have a look at the filtered views:

technet.microsoft.com/.../dn531182.aspx

As for the database access, it's probably a question to whoever has deployed CRM.. to the deployment administrator maybe.. you can't find that information in the CRM user interface (though you can find some of that in the deployment manager):

technet.microsoft.com/.../dn920265.aspx

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

Alex is correct. I am interested in simply reading data from entities that are stored onto CRM using an external database. We dont actually even need to modify the data, simply read it in.

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a33ik 84,331 Most Valuable Professional on at

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

Then again, you will have to write plugins that will read information from your external DB and provide it as CRM Entity. Good luck.

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

Im sorry this is confusing. Andreii, I think you miss understand what i am looking to do. We have Crm database where people do their work. we want to retrieve information from the CRM database and display it as a view in an external database.

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ashlega 34,477 on at

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RE: CRM Open Database Connection

Well.. I think it's possible to link a table to Access:

support.office.com/.../Import-or-link-to-SQL-Server-data-a5a3b4eb-57b9-45a0-b732-77bc6089b84e;rs=en-US&ad=US#bm2

Not sure about Oracle etc.

As for the connection string (sql server name and DB name) - please see above. You actually don't have to use FilteredViews, but, then, you'll need to configure SQL logins / permissions. CRM users will have access to the FIlteredViews by default (but those views will also account for CRM permissions, so keep that in mind)

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