Dear Experts,
I need to confirm and understand the following from you. My Question revolves around CRM dynamic 365, rich UI forms, WEB APi to call data from, CRM 365 database and custom databases, custom validations, Single Sign on through CRM Dynamics. If you could please reply to my queries inline below to each question, would be highly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
Case Scenario:
We have 100 of fields from financial accounting systems which we would like to be presented on Dynamic CRM 365 online versions in certain formats such as tabs/sections- following rich UI, and then to apply various validations (client validations or coming from WebAPI (another data source). We understand there are some limitations to design rich UI forms in MS Dynamics. Based on this we need to decide, either we should go with CRM dynamic forms layout or use .net core/html to build forms and integrate the forms to CRM dynamics. Our client is persistent to use CRM dynamics. We need to know the pros and cons for each approaches. Or if someone suggests the best possible way to achieve the scenario mentioned below. What is the best way to approach all of this. If you can reply to inline to each queries below:
QUERIES
A. About CRM 365 database: I understand the online 365 version will have it own database online. We already have one custom SQL Database created on Azure to process data, which have data from other systems, but because CRM will use it own database. Question is can CRM database be created on our custom databaase (so to only use 1 database). Can someone confirm?
B. Form Requirements in Dynamics
I understand we, need to create entities first for the fields to store value and show on forms. We have different sections and each sections may have different tabs which will contain form fields.
- The form fields need to be using Tabs - (In CRM tabs are just section which can collapse/open), but can it be actual Tab formats?
Tab1 - Layer1 , Tab2, Tab3, but can we achieve this?
- How to use Subforms?
- Can we show progress to a form - that is filled or not filled
- Can we hide/unhide certain fields in form based on any field selection
- Can the form layout be more than 4 rows as shown in the example
- Fields caption in the begining, and then the rest of the fields should not have caption like the one shown below: Form fields should be without captions. Example layout is mentioned below, How do we achieve this?
FieldName1 FieldName 2 FieldName3 FieldName4 FieldName5
Accounts TextBox1 Box2 Box3 Box4 Box5
Ledger Box1 Box2 Box3 Box4 Box5
Maintanence Box1 Box2 Box3 Box4 Box5
Or what do you suggest to do in this regards, how should we achieve such requirement, ?.
C. Could this all be achieved through Customer Portal in dynamics: I read it is just UI element created to expose certain features to customers without giving created a user licence/access.? Can someone confirm, if it can fulfill all UI requirement mentioned above in Question B?
D. Quicker way to create complex forms in dynamics? If you can mention
E. Secure Access - Single Sign on through Azure Identity Management: We do not want to create license to be created for each user to Access Dynamic Forms. Can we expose the CRM form to outside world through AZURE IDentity management? I read we need to use Customer Portal which is again just another UI elements, but can CRM dynamic Forms be exposed using Azure Identity management. CRM Dynamic is just one aspect, we have micro-service runnings and other custom storage in our Azure resource groups. Therefore, we have identities created on Azure, can we use that to access CRM forms as well?
F. Validations and Web API validations from other database: Also each Form field or combination of fields will have validations that may be simple client side validation OR validations coming from another backend Azure database through Web APIs created in Azure API management. And Validations could be triggered on form field value (lost focus) or on Form load/Form Save. Can we validate the fields through calliing custom web-api from other database in dynamic CRM form interface? What is the best way to achieve this (plugins or workflows or business rules or jquery)?
G. Save Data to other database from Dynamic Forms: Is it possible on dynamic CRM forms, when we hit save, the data will also go into our own custom database on azure i.e. calling through some web API in Azure API management (where the data on save will go into our own custom database? What is the best way to achieve this (plugins or workflows or jquery)? If you can explain
H. What is the best way to approach all of this ? Should we use Dynamic Forms for the rich UI form fields and validations or we create a .net mvc/html core forms, and store them in dynamic CRM database. Then use WCF/Rest API exposed from Dynamics. Our client is persistent to use CRM dynamics because of its other feature. But, at this stage they would like to use only form or workflows.
Please let me know if you need any further clarifications:
Kind regards,
