How to bulk update a field to remove all spaces?

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Posted on by Community Member

Hi,

I am working with Crm Online. I would like to know how I could massively update a field from all records of an entity to remove spaces in the field (not only at the beginning or the end, but also in the middle). The person who asked for this operation don't want to do it through excel export/reimport. Is there a way this could be done with a workflow? Would the best solution to do it with an app console?

Thanks

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Aiden Kaskela 19,696 on at

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Hi Frantz,

I'd use an app console for this if it's a one-time process. A workflow would work but you'd have to write custom code for it, then run the workflow on all the records. If it's a one-time process, you'll just end up deleting the workflow anyway.

I'd definitely use a console app - query for record where the field Contains a space and make the updates.

Hope this helps! I'd appreciate if you'd mark this as Answering your question.

Thanks,

Aiden

EDIT: If this field will get data with spaces in it over time, you may want to write a triggered workflow or a plugin to handle those cases, but for the initial cleanup I'd still go with a stand-alone app.

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Community Member on at

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Hi Aiden, thanks a lot for the tip. How could I write custom code for a workflow? Is it possible to go through C# plugin from a workflow? Thanks again for your help!

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Aiden Kaskela 19,696 on at

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Hi Frantz,

You can write c# for either a plugin or a workflow, but they're triggered differently. A plugin fires as a result of something being updated in the database (CRUD operation, Assign, etc). A workflow fires either manually or triggered, and always on one and only one record.

I love building workflow assemblies - here's a good starter msdn.microsoft.com/.../gg334455.aspx

And if you want to see some of the things they're capable of, check out my site at kaskela.wordpress.com

Thanks,

Aiden

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martingr 600 on at

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Hi

We have the same issue. Did Aiden solution work for you?

Why didn't the asker want to update this through excel export/reimport? I am considering this solution and are curious about the downsides with this approach..

Thanks for any clearifications :)

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