Power of Productivity : Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Beta Released

No more Waiting!

The Dynamics CRM 2011 Global beta is released!

Today, the Microsoft Dynamics CRM team releases the beta of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, for both cloud-based and on-premises deployments. The beta of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for on-premises and partner-hosted deployments will be available in all 40 markets in eight languages.

There is more goodness at the CRM Resource Center ‘What’s New’ articles:

What's New in CRM Online?

What's new in CRM On-Premise?

To try out the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 beta or sign up for the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online beta visit www.crm2011beta.com.

Videos here.

Get, Set.... Explore!!!

Exciting Developer Experience with MS CRM SDK 4.0.12

Advanced Developer Extensions

Advanced Developer Extensions for Microsoft Dynamics CRM, also referred to as Microsoft xRM, is a new set of tools included in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK that simplifies the development of Internet-enabled applications that interact with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. It uses well known ADO.NET technologies. This new toolkit makes it easy for you to build an agile, integrated Web solution!

Advanced Developer Extensions for Microsoft Dynamics CRM supports all Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployment models: On-Premises, Internet-facing deployments (IFDs), and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. The SDK download contains everything you need to get started: binaries, tools, samples and documentation.

Authentication for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online

Newly added authentication documentation and sample code for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online that does not require using certificates, making it easier for you to write code for your online solutions.

There are quite a few other updates in this version of the SDK package. Refer to the release history on the first page of the CHM for a complete list.

The latest verion of SDK 4.0.12 is available for download. Download it.

Take a 10 Minute Quick Start Walkthrough here.

Enjoy!

Customer Care Accelerator available for Microsoft Dynamics CRM in Codeplex

Customer Care Accelerator for Microsoft Dynamics CRM is available for download on the CRM Accelerators codeplex site.

The Customer Care Accelerator focuses on delivering contact center enabling functionality, such as the ability to create a unified desktop by combining data elements from disparate line of business applications and displaying it in a single user interface. The core Customer Care
business scenarios highlighted by this accelerator include the following:

 Integrated desktop: Customers can aggregate information from diverse business applications into an integrated desktop providing employees with a 360° view of the customer interactions. Customer service representatives have immediate access to business critical information to serve customers quickly and efficiently, increasing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
 Duplicate Data Entry: Organizations can streamline business processes by creating desktop automation workflows. Process automation eliminates the need for agents to re-enter the same data in multiple applications. Minimizing duplication helps to reduce human error and ensures a consistent customer service experience.
 Computer Telephony Integration (CTI): Organizations are provided with a consistent framework to connect CTI systems with key lines of business.
 Activity Reporting: Contact center managers have swift access to agent desktop transaction reporting, helping them to identify process bottlenecks. This capability is currently addressed by ICC Accelerator AIF component.

CCA is available as permissive shared source and is a reference example that can be adapted to fit the needs of a customer as well as additional business scenarios.

Happy CRMing

Microsoft CRM 4.0: Deployments vs Features

	On-premise	Hosted (IFD)	Online
Customization and Configuration Tools
Customization: · Entities · Attributes · Forms and views · Relationships · Mappings · Workflows	Yes	Yes	Yes
Configuration: · Business units, Teams, Roles · Administration · Business Management · Product Catalog · Relationship Roles	Yes	Yes	Yes
Scripting
Form and Field event scripts (Jscript)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Client Extensions
Navigation (SiteMap)	Yes	Yes	Yes
UI Control and customization (ISV.Config)	Yes	Yes	Yes
IFRAMEs	Yes	Yes	Yes
Custom Reports
Run existing reports	Yes	Yes	Yes
Create new reports using the report wizard	Yes	Yes	Yes
Upload and run file reports (Excel worksheets, text files, and so on.)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Upload custom SRS reports using SDK methods	Yes	Yes	No
Access filtered views	Yes	Yes	No
Import/Export/Publish Customizations
Customizations	Yes	Yes	Yes
Workflows	Yes	Yes	Yes
Data Migration & Import
Data Migration	Yes	Yes	Yes
Data Import	Yes	Yes	Yes
Plug-ins
Workflows
Declarative workflows using workflow tools in Web application	Yes	Yes	Yes
Custom workflow activities (.NET Assemblies)	Yes	Partner specific	No
Web Services
Discovery Web service	Yes	Yes	Yes
CrmService Web service	Yes	Yes	Yes
MetadataService Web service	Yes	Yes	Yes
Deployment Web service	Yes	Yes	No
Supported Authentication Mechanisms
Integrated Active Directory authentication	Yes	No	No
Forms based authentication	Yes	Yes	No
Windows Live ID authentication	No	No	Yes

Microsoft Translator inside Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Another nice cool feature! Microsoft Translator inside Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
This customization is designed to call the ‘Microsoft® Translator’ service from within CRM. This example uses a custom button, included in an entity form, to call the service and translate text into another language.
Recently Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team has published a helpful post with the necessary steps to invoke the Microsoft Translator.
Check out the post here.

Update Rollup 7 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 is available

Update Rollup 7 has been released.


As Always, This is a tested, cumulative set of updates for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. It includes performance enhancements that are packaged together for easy deployment.

Quick Details Below:

Version: 04.00.7333.2138
Knowledge Base (KB) Articles: KB971782
Download Link : Click here
KB Article : Click here

CRM at a Glance

Thanks to Jim for sharing this.

Updated Microsoft Dynamics CRM Statement of Direction is available for download

Updated version of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Statement of Direction available for download, both on PartnerSource and CustomerSource.

Microsoft has prepared a well-defined Roadmap in bringing new innovations to customer relationship management (CRM) software with Microsoft Dynamics® CRM. This document outlines the future direction of Microsoft Dynamics CRM through to the next major release, Microsoft Dynamics CRM “V.Next” which is targeted for release in 2010. “V.Next” is planned to provide a Best-of-Breed Business Solution Platform.


Happy Reading...!

Record Counter for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 released in MSDN Code Gallery

Are you facing difficulty in counting the total number of records in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0? Are you wondering if you could find a way to count the number of Pages and Records? If the answer is yes, then it is worth downloading my project from MSDN Code Gallery.

Record Counter walkthrough document is included in the Downloads tab which walks you through the plugin functionality and deployment procedure. Record Counter Plugin is available for download from here.

This simple plugin designed for MSCRM 4.0 is still in Beta stage. I am open to suggestions, if you find any bugs or would like to suggest an enhancement, please feel free to ask.

Few Screenshots below:

Quick find view

Form Assistant

Lookup view

Auto Resolve Lookups

Public Views

Advanced find

Free Silverlight 3 Firestarter Sessions - Register now

The Silverlight team is running a one day event at Microsoft on September 17 to talk about Silverlight 3.

The agenda for the event:

* Keynote by Scott Guthrie
* Key Silverlight Scenarios by Tim Heuer
* Expression 3 Overview by Adam Kinney
* Sketch Flow by Janete Perez
* Toolkit & Controls by Justin Angel and Shawn Oster
* RIA Services by Brad Abrams
* Building Silverlight UIs with XAML Power toys by Karl Shifflett

If you’re interested, the sign up link for attending the event is here.

How xRM can Stretch IT?

Theorem with Proof. Excellent...! I just got this news letter from Microsoft.

Update Rollup 6 for MS CRM 4.0 Released

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Development team continues to release regular rollups. Microsoft has released Update Rollup 6 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. The update includes bug fixes and performance enhancements packaged together for easy deployment. Update Rollup 6 is available for all languages that are supported by Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

For more information about this release, see Microsoft Knowledge Base article 970148: Update Rollup 6 is available for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

Download here: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=79f90982-c039-41c2-af8e-3119ecf27790&displaylang=en

Did you know: Sort records by multiple columns in MS CRM

Just hold down the SHIFT key and click the column heading and you can sort on multiple columns.

Click here for more details.

Did you know: Easy way to troubleshoot Asynchronous failures using [Advanced Find]

MSCRM 4.0 uses a lot of System Jobs to drive many features such as Workflows, Import Data,Duplicate Detections, Campaign Activities distribution, Send Bulk E-Mail and more... These jobs are processed by the Asynchronous Service and it can happen that the service fails to process these jobs. Jobs can fail or get stuck in waiting state.

Quick step: Add Error Code and Message Column in Advanced find and Filter the System Jobs which are showing error Code.

Detailed steps:
Here are a few steps you can try to get more information about the System Jobs failures reasons:
• Log into Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
• Go to Settings \ System Jobs, click Advanced Find button, click Save As to save your custom query, name it “Problematic System Jobs” for instance and click OK.
• Click Edit Columns, Add Columns and select Error Code and Message. Click OK. These two columns will be helpful for troubleshooting.
• Get back to Advanced Find screen. Click on Show Details. Select the Error Code field and select Contains Data criteria. [Filter on the System Jobs which are showing errors]
• Click on Save Button.

Now when you select this view in Settings \ System Jobs, you can see the Error Code and Error stack in Message Column which states the reason of the failure.

The failure is likely to be that the Asynchronous Service cannot contact the CRM Web Services because of a bad configuration. Error Code : -2,147,204,346

Isn't it easy !!! Happy Troubleshooting.

Please refer the following articles for more information:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;947423

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;950416

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;950542

Did you know: MSCRM and Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcuts are documented in the CRM help file but here is a quick list of MSCRM, Outlook and general shortcuts.

Top keyboard shortcuts
Select all text in the current field or current list	CTRL+A
Close an active form	ALT+F4
Move forward through a form's fields	TAB
Move backward through a form's fields	SHIFT+TAB
Save a form	CTRL+S or SHIFT+F12
Save and close a form	ALT + S
Expand/collapse Form Assistant	CTRL+SHIFT+F
Cancel edits and close a form	ESCAPE
Delete a record	CTRL+D
Save and then open a new form	CTRL+SHIFT+S
Outlook keyboard shortcuts
Switch to Mail	CTRL+1
Switch to Inbox	CTRL+SHIFT+I
Switch to Outlook Calendar	CTRL+2
Switch to Outlook Contacts	CTRL+3
Switch to Outlook Tasks	CTRL+4
Display the Address Book	CTRL+SHIFT+B
Create a new Appointment	CTRL+SHIFT+A
Create a new Contact	CTRL+SHIFT+C
Create a new Task	CTRL+SHIFT+K
Check Spelling	F7
Other Keyboard shortcuts
Copy text	CTRL+C
Paste text	CTRL+V
Undo previous text change	CTRL+Z
Cut text	CTRL+X
Delete text	DELETE
Move the insertion point to the start of the next word	CTRL+RIGHT ARROW
Move the insertion point to the start of the previous word	CTRL+LEFT ARROW
Select all text in the current field	CTRL+A
Cancel the current task or command, or close a selected list or dialog box	ESC
Move up through a list of records	UP ARROW
Move down through a list of records	DOWN ARROW
Expand or collapse the preview in a list view	SPACEBAR
Open the selected record	ENTER
Select all records on the current page	CTRL+A

Utilize MSCRM and Outlook Keyboard Shortcuts and get things done faster :)

Introducing “Did you know” Series….

Discover the fascinating facts and amazing stories about the Dynamics world. Loaded with useful trivia facts about Microsoft xRM.
In this series, I intend to keep my posts short and easy to understand. With that being said, I welcome you all to my blog! I intend to update it frequently.

A little more on MS CRM 5

Brad Wilson, GM of Microsoft Dynamics CRM has discussed some details of the next major release at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans this week. According to Brad, Dynamics CRM 5.0 will sport improvements in the user interface and data visualisation features, enhanced sales and marketing capabilities, and tighter integration with Microsoft's SharePoint Server collaboration platform.

The full article can be read at http://www.crn.com/software/218500733

A marriage between Bing and Twitter

Surprised to see BingTweets, a fusion of Twitter and Microsoft's search engine Bing. BingTweets enables you to see deeper, real-time information about the hottest topics on Twitter by fusing Bing search results with the latest tweets.

Created by Federated Media.

Check out BingTweets @ http://bingtweets.com/

Coming Soon..!!! New Solution Accelerators for Microsoft Dynamics CRM

What is Solution Accelerators?

CRM Solution Accelerators are a range of add-on solutions developed for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 customers and partners. These ready-made solutions include event management, sales forecasting, service, notifications, and analytics.

Each accelerator is available at no cost and showcases how the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 platform can be configured and extended to broaden marketing, sales, and service capabilities. Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers and partners are encouraged to further extend these accelerators to meet their specific business needs.

Microsoft has announced 3 new CRM Accelerators for Microsoft Dynamics CRM. No doubt, this helps current Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers and Partners to establish business insight across social networks, channel-centric organizations and Web interaction channels. The accelerators come with full source code so you can modify them to best fit your needs, or use them as examples for creating other customizations.

Social Networking Accelerator

The Social Networking Accelerator allows business professionals to monitor and analyze customers’ conversations on social networking sites, and as a result, provides real-time status updates about their products and services. This accelerator delivers integration with Twitter.

Partner Relationship Management (PRM) Accelerator

The Partner Relationship Management (PRM) Accelerator allows businesses to use Microsoft Dynamics CRM to distribute sales leads and centrally manage sales opportunities across channel partners.

Portal Integration Accelerator

The Portal Integration Accelerator easily connects Microsoft Dynamics CRM to an organization’s Web experience.

The new CRM Accelerators will be made available in the next few weeks. Microsoft Dynamics CRM customers and partners can download each of these solutions from http://crm.dynamics.com.

Read more [Microsoft PressPass]

so I’m looking forward to trying this out.

Dynamics CRM 4.0 Rollup 5 Released

Folks, Microsoft has released Update Rollup 5 for Dynamics CRM 4.0. You can read about it here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=970141

And download here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?displaylang=en&FamilyID=5101d801-976b-4c11-bdfc-000b970ef4a3

As always, It is a cumulative update that now incorporates additional bug fixes & performance improvements.