Fromm the TEAM: The product is shipped and now you may be asking, where is the SDK? Check the Downloads page in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Developer Center the first week in January. We are working hard to ensure that the SDK contains all the sample code you’ll need to get started with the new features.
Thanks for your patience, Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK Team
Jon Petrucelli - President and Founder - ProductiveGap Corp
http://www.philiprichardson.org/screencasts/titan/DataMigration/DataMigration.html
There is no sound. But watching it is pretty interesting. This guy put out some great stuff. Thanks Phillip.
Jon Petrucelli - President and Founder - ProductiveGap Corp - www.productivegap.com
http://www.crmbuyer.com/rsstory/60864.html
Worth the read. Happy Holidays.
Jon Petrucelli - President and Founder - ProductiveGap Corp - www.productivegap.com
These customizations below are helping clients to better use and leverage the power of the APIs of MS CRM with all the controls and then the intuitive Interface.
First of all (red arrow), we added Previous/Next buttons to the form. This is just a matter of modifying the isv.config file, restarting iis, adding the image files, and changing the web.config file to allow isv customizations to “All” client versions rather than “None”, which is default. These buttons will allow you to scroll through Accounts one at a time without opening/closing any forms. For example, if you pull up a list of Accounts, and you want to scroll through the list, open the first Account record and click the “Next” button, CRM will open the next Account record in the list and so forth. This works very well and is just a matter of adding javascript to the isv.config file. I particularly like this previous/next buttons because this comes up a lot when you are working in CRM all the time. They work out great just like on the records in the Outlook interface. These buttons are invaluable to a sales person.
Second (blue arrow), This is a custom SRS Report that is shown in an IFrame. This report is a summary of data that needs to be displayed for a particular Account record. The IFrame in CRM allows you to pass the GUID of the particular Account into the Report as a parameter and will generate the report with Account-specific information every time you open an Account. This is useful to clients with many integrations or sources of data to be brought together and analyzed in the context of one client or entity. This is going to be a summary for them, but the nice part is that we can pass parameters into reports and then show them on the form, as well as have them update every time the form is opened. Our next step is to use the CRM Style Guide and make this look seamless in CRM (change the background color and fonts, etc.)
Third (green arrow), we have all seen this before. Just another example of us using this method at a client site. Things to watch out for are making sure these are hidden on formtype create since there is no GUID yet, it will throw an error, so you need to only run the code if the form is NOT create or quick create.
Wow this is going to really hit the competition (SFDC) hard! We have been asking for this for a long time. Client can now download the full product of MS CRM and test drive it for 90 days. It will be very good and potentially bad (more on this later). This availability gives people the ability to really understand the product which has been more difficult to pilot and try out in the past. The easy access is awesome and I am positive will drive more interest and sales and growth.
Problem is that MS CRM is not quite as easy for a new user to get into as MS puts out there. It is a different way of thinking about Contacts, Accounts, Opps, Cases, Leads etc then the majority of buyers have dealt with. Don’t get me wrong. It is a great product and designed very well. It just takes some training, experience etc to get into it and feel the real power behind the application and its simplicity and design. So I already have scars from prospects/clients saying “just give me the product and I will figure it out” We have done that to varying and little degrees of success/failure.
Regardless, I fully support this and love it. It will really be great to help the clients get all the info to make the right choice for them. In the end I know that MS CRM is the best product on the market for most companies. I believe this will help people see that! Here is the link to get started: CLICK HERE!
*IMPORTANT! You may use the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 editions with the respective License Keys for a maximum of 90 days. Each edition may be converted to a full use version by applying a commercial license key in the Microsoft CRM License Manager. A re-install of the software is not required. You will need to convert the license key to a commercial license before the 90-day period ends, as the 90 day period cannot be extended, and Users will not be warned of the impending expiration. Should expiration occur, access can be regained by applying a commercial license key.
Downloads for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 are now available for customers and partners. This is the English language version, and other language versions will be available starting next month (specific announcements will be made at that time).
The downloads can be found at the following links:
Server generic page: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=99CB3A7A-EBA9-4DE9-B0F1-2EBF11C3D756&displaylang=en
Server TRIAL: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=A9C110FD-AAC8-4D2A-B401-7801B1866E82&displaylang=en
Email router: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E1358499-3FDB-45B8-ADF0-7585F758277E&displaylang=en
Outlook client: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=60C4A6CC-59D7-416E-9F44-0AE8FF249768&displaylang=en
Data Migration Wizard: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=6766880A-DA8F-4336-A278-9A5367EB79CA&displaylang=en
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas – Ho Ho Ho!
Try this link. CLICK HERE> - Overview - The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide consists of the following three documents:
· Planning Guide: This guide gives you the information and tools that help you get your organization ready for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. It includes two main aspects of planning for a customer relationship management (CRM) system:
o Technical: These topics focus on such areas as the supported topologies, system requirements, and technical considerations to address before you install.
o Implementation methodology: These topics cover the business management, CRM requirements, and project management aspects that are needed when you deploy a CRM system. Additionally, there are several documents included that you can use as tools to plan the implementation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. These tools are in the planningtools folder where the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Implementation Guide is located.
· Installing Guide: This guide provides the information that you need to install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, such as step-by-step instructions for running Setup, command-line installation instructions for silent installations, and guidance about how to remove Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.
· Operating and Maintaining Guide: This guide gives you information about how to back up, restore, and provide data recovery for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0. Additionally, this guide provides troubleshooting steps for known issues.
Just a reminder that the registration for Convergence is now open. I have been going to these for years and they are invaluable. The opportunity to gain knowledge and gain mindshare from experts in the Dynamics field is a once a year event. This is a great place to re-energize and socialize for partners and clients. Below is the reminder from MSFT about registration:
Registration for Convergence 2008 Orlando is now open.
March 11—14 2008, Orlando, FL - Convergence is the premier Microsoft Dynamics event, bringing customers, partners, team members and industry experts together in an environment created for you to discuss solutions, address business needs and establish a true community that can be leveraged throughout the year.
Convergence 2008 Orlando highlights:
· Partner Briefing Day
· Keynote Address from Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer of Microsoft
· 242 Concurrent Sessions
· 110 Interactive Discussions (formerly Chalk & Talks)
· Structured Networking
· Technical Support Desk
http://www.microsoft.com/dynamics/convergence/default.aspx
Also, check out our blog for more updates: http://microsoft-dynamics-crm-4-live-titan.blogspot.com/
Click the RSS feed to subscribe to updates
Regards, Jon Petrucelli
We have been in the Beta test programs for CRM 4.0 for the last 6 months. It has been great to get in there and bang around and build out our test environments. This has also afforded us the opportunity of doing installations and test conversions from 3.0 etc. Some random thoughts as we get closer to GA of the 4.0 product will follow. We will start posting a lot more about the new product and movement from 3.0 to 4.0. Here is a first installment of some tips and tricks.
One of the coolest things about 4.0 is the Multi-tenancy aspect. MSFT invested a lot in this and it is really cool, extremely powerful and easy implement. I have personally tested the multi tenancy features and was shocked at hose simple it was to create an entirely new and separate instance of CRM 4.0. Especially when I consider the complexity of the 1.0 and 1.2 days. 3.0 installation was greatly simplified, basically you conditioned the domain properly and then ran the install. 4.0 is a huge step forward too. Congrats CRM team on more great leaps and bounds.
Below are the Top 5 CRM 4.0 Installation Tips n Tricks from Tricia one of our top CRM consultants. She has been working regularly on CRM 4.0 for the last few weeks. Here are some quick thought from her:
1. Connector for Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services
a. After the CRM 4.0 installation, don’t forget to run the setup for the Connector for Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services. Found in the installation files (CRM 4.0\srsdataconnector\setupsrsdataconnector.exe)
b. It must be installed on the computer that has SQL 2005 Reporting Services installed.
c. Without this connector, the CRM reporting feature will not work.
d. The Connector for Microsoft SQL Server Reporting Services eliminates the Kerberos double-hop authentication that was required for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3.0 deployments when SQL Server Reporting Services was installed on a separate computer.
2. Data Migration Manager
a. Although Data Migration Manager and Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook can be installed on the same computer, they cannot run at the same time.
b. Data Migration Manager must be installed on a computer that has a connection to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM server.
c. We do not recommend that you install the Data Migration Manager on a computer that is running Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server.
3. Microsoft Dynamics CRM E-mail Router Setup
i. If one or more Microsoft Dynamics CRM users will have their e-mail settings set to use the E-mail Router or a forward mailbox, you must run and complete E-mail Router Setup to enable Microsoft Dynamics CRM e-mail message tracking.
ii. It consists of two main components:
1. E-mail Router component (installs the E-mail Router service and E-mail Router Configuration Manager)
2. Rule Deployment Manager component (deploys the rules that enables received e-mail messages to be tracked)
iii. Microsoft Exchange Server is only required if you want to use the E-mail Router to connect to an Exchange Server e-mail messaging system.
4. Pre – CRM 4.0 Install
a. On a clean Windows Server Install, you must install a couple of Windows Components, and have the Windows Server installation CD on hand.
b. CRM 4.0 requires that Internet Information Services and the SMTP services be installed and the services running before CRM 4.0 is installed.
1. Go to Add/Remove Programs, then Install Windows Components.
2. Click on Application Server and click “Details…”
Ø Check Internet Information Services (IIS)
3. Click on Internet Information Services (IIS0 and click “Details…”
Ø Check SMTP Service
4. Insert Windows Server Installation CD to install the components
5. Make sure the services are running (Administrative Tools à Services).
5. CRM 4.0 requires SQL Server 2005 to have the SP2 installed BEFORE CRM is installed. CRM 3.0 did not require this service pack before installation.
Regards, Jon Petrucelli
Got this from a blog first thing this morning. From InternetNews.com:
"Microsoft announced Monday that it has released to manufacturing the long-awaited update to its Dynamics-branded customer relationship management software (CRM). Previously codenamed "Titan," the latest version of Microsoft Dynamics CRM actually has two names in its final form. For on-premise, customer-hosted, as well as partner-hosted deployments, the product has been dubbed Dynamics CRM 4.0. The company will also be offering the package on-demand in a Microsoft-hosted environment that it has named Dynamics CRM Live. Existing and new customers will be able to download the update when it's released on the Web this week, a Microsoft official told InternetNews.com. The Microsoft-hosted version, however, continues to run under the early access program that the company began in September. Microsoft plans to take that version live during the first half of 2008, said Brad Wilson, general manager of Microsoft Dynamics CRM. "[In the meantime,] more than 100 customers are using [CRM Live] at this point," Wilson added." - Read more...
Regards, Jon Petrucelli
