TIDBITS on the Microsoft Power Platform

What Are Some of the Default Entities? #msdyncrm

When you purchase Microsoft Dynamics CRM a number of entities come with the system (if you need a refresher in entities, see previous post). You can create hundreds more, but here are some of the building block Entites.

• Lead
• Account
• Contact
• Address
• Opportunity
• Case
• Case Resolution
• Activities including
• Social Activities
• Tasks
• Appointments
• E-Mails
• Phone Calls
• Faxes
• Letters
• Product
• Article
• Competitor
• Connection and Connection Role
• Contract
• Document Location
• Entitlement
• Goal
• Invoice
• Order
• Price List
• Queue
• Campaign
• Team
• User
• and so much more!

 

Keeping up with Dynamics CRM Versions

Keeping up with the incredible Microsoft Dynamics CRM versions in the old days was hard enough, but now the team is  updating and releasing at an even faster pace. 

Benefits:

• If you don't like something, enter a CONNECT request and you might be surprised sooner than you think or VOTE on one already submitted.

 

• Competition: There information is probably outdated, ask multiple sources. Also make sure you include an experienced servcies provider in your conversations. The Field Service teams at Microsoft and at Partners configure and extend past most all objections.

Negatives:

• You need to make sure to plan on staying current.
• You need to interrupt the versioning.

These Resources can help

 The Dynamics CRM in the Field Blog

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM Team Blog

 

What is an Entity? #msdyncrm

What is a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Entity?

Think first about a table within a database and then add more. A entity in CRM is one focal point of data including a set of fields, a set of views, a set of forms, a set of relationships and more.

An  entity includes an unlimited number of system views that display the data in a spreadsheet like format. Views can also include related data.

An entity includes an unlimited number of data entry forms, although many rollouts have one form per entity. A form is a set of fields laid out in a manner that allows easy data entry. Forms can be tied to security roles.

An entity  includes relationships to other entities. For instance you have an Account entity that has a relationship to a contact entity and this relationship is one account to many contacts. You can also have different types of relationships including One to Many, Many to One, and Many to Many.

An entity includes Charts. A chart is a graphical representation of the data that is contained in the entity and it's related entities. Charts can also be filtered and displayed based on the views.

An entity includes system messages that can be configured.

An entity can be named or renamed to represent the specific needs of a business. Take for instance Account, the Account entity can be renamed to be Company, Corporation, Building, Farm, Sign, Hospital, Department, Office and more.

New entities can be created to meet the demands of many different types of businesses and data tracking.  

For the new to CRM 2013 Developers

A little bit of scripting love!

http://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/develop1/archive/2013/11/02/crm-2013-script-loading-deep-dive.aspx

Supporting Dynamics CRM: Tools! #msdyncrm

I have had this one kicking around in my knowledge folder and I wanted to make sure I shared it.

TOOLS for DIAGNOSISing

http://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/dynamicscrmsupportblog/archive/2013/11/01/support-diagnostics-tools.aspx 

Charts Getting you Down? Inject them!

You don't have to live with only all the powerful out of the box charting options. You can also Modify the Chart XML and inject steroids into the system.

Check out Alex's post on the basics.

https://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/crmpowerobjects/archive/2013/11/01/modifying-chart-xml-in-crm-2013-the-basics.aspx

History is in the next Cube

One of the amazing things about technology is that the "Grandfathers and Grandmothers" of the industry might be sitting in a cube next to you happily working away.

Time is so compressed!

When I saw this post on the evolution of CRM Systems I had to smile and share!

https://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/crmsoftwareblog/archive/2013/10/31/the-evolution-of-the-crm-system.aspx 

Hold onto your Hats! Dynamics CRM 2013 is Deepening gaining depth and breadth

Something amazing happens when you move to the Cloud. Updates Happen and for the millions of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online users updates have been happening. Have you looked at some of the more recent released features such as  Microsoft Social Listening.

This year I have counted at least four if not eight major feature enhancements to Microsoft Dynamics CRM and the wonderful is not slowing down.