Implementation Guide Version 4.3.0

Update of the IG. This guide contains comprehensive information about how to plan, install, and maintain Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

Download [via Microsoft Download Center]

Release of CRM Notifications and Extended Sales Forecasting Accelerators

The first CRM Accelerators are now available:

- CRM Notifications

- Extended Sales Forecasting

Read more [via East Region Microsoft CRM]

The new .NET Logo!

.NET gets a new logo ! More about the new branding this week at PDC 2008 !

                  

Multitenant CRM Enables Rapid Deployment, Flexible Foundation for Field Sales Team (Case Study)

Facing rapid growth, U.S. Dynamics Field Sales needed a sales force automation tool that would map to the team’s unique solution-selling process and drive adoption among sales staff.

Working with Microsoft IT, U.S. Dynamics Field Sales deployed Microsoft Dynamics CRM and integrated it with its legacy customer relationship management system, providing the team with greater flexibility and an improved user experience, while laying the groundwork for enterprisewide adoption.

Read more [Microsoft Download Center]

Create Product Line mappings in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

It’s not possible to create custom mappings between the various product lines (Opportunityproduct to Quotedetail etc.) in MSCRM 3.0 and 4.0. The functionality is present in MSCRM, but is not accessible by an application administrator.

Through a simple adjustment in the sitemap, the desired functionality can be made visible, so that it will be possible to create mappings between sales opportunity products and quote details, quote details and salesorder details and finally salesorder details and invoice details.

Before the extra code to the sitemap can be added, it is necessary to retrieve the right GUID’s from the table entitymapbase.

Step 1:

OpportunityProduct to QuoteDetail:

Start Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Management Studio and run the following query: Select * from entitymapbase  where targetentityname =
'quotedetail’. There are 3 lines displayed as a result of which the row with SourceEntityName 'opportunityproduct' shows the GUID that is needed.

Copy the GUID in EntityMapId.
Replace the red colored GUID text below with the just obtained  GUID.

<Group Id="Product" Title="Product Mappings">
  <SubArea Id="opportunityToquote" Title="Opportunity Product to Quote Detail" Url="/tools/systemcustomization/relationships/mappings/mappinglist.aspx?mappingId=GUID" Client="Web" />

Step 2

QuoteDetail to SalesorderDetail:

Start Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Management Studio and run the following query: Select * from entitymapbase  where targetentityname =
'salesorderdetail'. There are 3 lines displayed as a result of which the row with SourceEntityName 'quotedetail' shows the GUID that is needed.

Copy the GUID in EntityMapId.
Replace the red colored GUID text below with the just obtained  GUID.

  <SubArea Id="quoteToorder" Title="Quote Detail to Order Detail" Url="/tools/systemcustomization/relationships/mappings/mappinglist.aspx?mappingId=GUID" Client="Web" />

Step 3

SalesorderDetail to InvoiceDetail:

Start Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Management Studio and run the following query: Select * from entitymapbase  where targetentityname =
'invoicedetail'. There are 3 lines displayed as a result of which the row with SourceEntityName ''salesorderdetail' shows the GUID that is needed.

Copy the GUID in EntityMapId.
Replace the red colored GUID text below with the just obtained  GUID.

<SubArea Id="orderToinvoice" Title="Order Detail to Invoice Detail" Url="/tools/systemcustomization/relationships/mappings/mappinglist.aspx?mappingId=GUID" Client="Web" />
</Group>

Step 4

Combine the 3 sections of codes and place them in a desired location in an area in the Sitemap and with a groupid as follows:

<Group Id="Product" Title="Product Mappings">
          <SubArea Id="opportunityToquote" Title="Opportunity Product to Quote Detail" Url="/tools/systemcustomization/relationships/mappings/mappinglist.aspx?mappingId=GUID" Client="Web" />
          <SubArea Id="quoteToorder" Title="Quote Detail to Order Detail" Url="/tools/systemcustomization/relationships/mappings/mappinglist.aspx?mappingId=GUID" Client="Web" />
          <SubArea Id="orderToinvoice" Title="Order Detail to Invoice Detail" Url="/tools/systemcustomization/relationships/mappings/mappinglist.aspx?mappingId=GUID" Client="Web" />
        </Group>

Import the customized sitemap; the desired functionality is now available.

Semantra 2.5 strengthens conversational analytics for Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Semantra, the leading developer of conversational analytics software that breaks the barrier between users and business-critical enterprise data, announced general availability of Semantra 2.5 for Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

The leading business intelligence and analytics tool empowers users to enter simple commands in a familiar search box to quickly retrieve specific information from enterprise databases. Semantra 2.5 includes several key enhancements:

Ubiquitous Data Access: Seamlessly searches all CRM sales, services and marketing data in addition to customized tables and fields

Summary Analytics: Aggregates and summarizes data according to specific search parameters

Embedded in Microsoft Dynamics CRM: Launches Semantra within the CRM application via single sign on or launched separately from the desktop browser

Results Link Back to CRM: Gives users instant access to all CRM record detail directly from a result set

Linking to Public Data: Plug-ins facilitate easy linking from result sets to public data including maps, professional networking sites and business reports

Improved Comprehension: Enhanced “Did you mean” capability provides helpful suggestions when inquiry is mistyped or not understood

Customized Result Sets:“Hide/Show Data” function allows users to modify results for better decision making

Read more [Semantra]

Watch the demo

Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

Microsoft BizTalk Server is used to connect systems both inside and across organizations. The BizTalk Server Adapter for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 enables integration between Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and non-Microsoft business applications.

Read more about BizTalk here.

Download the Adapter here [Microsoft Download Center]

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) – version 4.0.7

Update of the SDK to version 4.0.7.

Download [Microsoft Download Center]

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Help Update (On-Premise Edition) - version 4.2

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM documentation team has updated the Help for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 based on feedback from customers and partners. In this update, you will find expanded information and clarifications in many topics, as well as bug fixes and new topics to support late-breaking product features. 

There are five download options:

1. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 server update for 32-bit systems
2. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 server update for 64-bit systems
3. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 for Microsoft Office Outlook with Offline Access update
4. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Language Pack updates for 32-bit systems (applies to both server and client components)
5. Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Language Pack updates for 64-bit systems

Download [Microsoft Download Center]