Get answers to common questions about setting up the design environment and building custom solutions with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Delve into core architecture, tools, and techniques, and learn how to exploit powerful customization features. Authored by industry-leading experts, this book shows how to deliver intelligent CRM solutions that meet the unique challenges and requirements of your business.
Discover how to:
Set up the development environment
Enhance the product’s APIs with your own code
Execute business logic using plug-ins
Build custom workflows that extend native workflow functions
Create user-friendly integration with scripts and application extensions
Code custom pages optimized for Microsoft Outlook with Offline Access
Extend Microsoft Dynamics CRM using ASP.NET
Create advanced Windows Workflow Foundation solutions
Extend multilingual and multicurrency features
Construct a custom security-access solution
Get code samples on the Web.
Overview
Chapter 1 Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 SDK Overview
Software Development Kit Introduction
Hitchhiker’s Guide to Common Questions
Microsoft Dynamics CRM as a Business Application Platform
Summary
Chapter 2 Development Overview and Environment
Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 System Overview
Hardware Requirements
Development Environment
Testing Environment Considerations
Migrating Data
Redeployment
Development Tools
Additional Development Considerations
Summary
Chapter 3 Communicating with Microsoft CRM APIs
Overview of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 SDK
Accessing the APIs in Visual Studio 2008
CrmService Web Service
MetadataService Web Service
CrmDiscoveryService Web Service
Connecting to Microsoft Dynamics CRM IFD
Connecting to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Offline
Connecting to Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online
Summary
Extending Microsoft CRM
Chapter 4 Security
Role-Based and Object-Based Security
Security Principals
Access Rights
Impersonation
Using the Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK to Perform Security-Related Operations
Using Direct SQL for Accessing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Data
Data Encryption
Summary
Chapter 5 Plug-ins
Writing Your First Plug-in
The Event Execution Pipeline
IPluginExecutionContext
Impersonation
Exception Handling
Deployment
Debugging Plug-ins
Unit Testing
Sample Plug-ins
Summary
Chapter 6 Programming Workflow
Overview
The Workflow Designer
Windows Workflow Foundation
Custom Workflow Activities
Example Activities: Math Building Blocks
Example Activity: Retrieve Most Available User
Example Activity: Calculate Related Aggregate
Summary
Chapter 7 Form Scripting
Form Scripting Overview
Calling Web Services from Script
Using the CRM API SOAP Request from Script
Testing and Deployment
Scripting from ISV.Config Buttons
Advanced Topics
Scripting Examples
Summary
Chapter 8 Developing with the Metadata Service
Connecting to the MetadataService
Retrieving Metadata
Remote Customization
Caching the Metadata
Handling Errors
Summary
Advanced Topics
Chapter 9 Deployment
Common Deployment Steps
Deploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM Components
Offline Application Deployment
Testing Strategies
Additional Deployment Considerations
Example Deployment Sequence
Summary
Chapter 10 Developing Offline Solutions
Overview
Offline Development Environment
Offline Navigation
Communicating with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK API Offline
Scripting for Offline
Developing Iframes for Offline
Developing an Offline Plug-in
Offline Development Considerations
Summary
Chapter 11 Multilingual and Multi-Currency Applications
Programming for Multilingual Applications
Programming for Multi-Currency Applications
Summary
Chapter 12 Advanced Workflow Programming
Custom Workflow Manager Tool
Workflows as Entities
Declarative Workflows
Summary
Chapter 13 Emulating User Interface with ASP.NET Development
IFrame Development
Dialog Box Development
ISV Page Development
Summary
Chapter 14 Developing Custom Microsoft CRM Controls
Overview
CrmPicklistControl
CrmBooleanControl
CrmDateTimeControl
CrmEntityPicklistControl
CrmGridViewControl
Summary
Chapter 15 Additional Samples and Utilities
Utility Classes
Customizations Utility
Additional Script Samples
Field-Level Security
Summary
Appendix About the Authors
Jim Steger
Mike Snyder
Brad Bosak
Corey O’Brien
Philip Richardson
Appendix About Sonoma Partners
Appendix Additional Resources for Developers from Microsoft Press
Mike Snyder and Jim Steger are cofounders and principals at Sonoma Partners, a consulting firm specializing in Microsoft Dynamics CRM implementations. Both Mike and Jim have been recognized as Microsoft MVPs for their contributions to the Microsoft Dynamics community. Mike is one of the industry’s leading CRM experts and participates in the Microsoft Dynamics Partner Advisory Council. Jim is a leading technical architect for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, with deep experience in XRM solutions complex enterprise integration projects.
Jim Steger and Mike Snyder are cofounders and principals at Sonoma Partners, a consulting firm specializing in Microsoft Dynamics CRM implementations. Both Mike and Jim have been recognized as Microsoft MVPs for their contributions to the Microsoft Dynamics community. Mike is one of the industry’s leading CRM experts and participates in the Microsoft Dynamics Partner Advisory Council. Jim is a leading technical architect for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, with deep experience in XRM solutions complex enterprise integration projects.
Brad Bosak is a lead architect at Sonoma who designs complex client solutions in a wide range of industries.
Corey O'Brien
Corey O'Brien works at Sonoma Partners, a Microsoft Gold Certified partner with extensive CRM experience. O'Brien is a lead architect at Sonoma who has designed complex client solutions in a wide range of industries.
Phil Richardson
Philip Richardson is a former Senior Program Manager on the Microsoft Dynamics CRM team at Microsoft.
