Module 1: Microsoft CRM Architecture and Customization

This module explains how the Microsoft CRM Architecture and security model apply to customizations, provides an overview of the built in Customization tools, examines the Post-URL action of CRM Workflow, the capabilities of the OnChange event, how Microsoft CRM uses Web Services and the Microsoft CRM SDK.

Lessons

• Microsoft CRM Architecture
• Microsoft CRM Security model
• Microsoft CRM Customization Tools
• Post-URL Actions in Workflow
• OnChange event
• Application Integration
• Calling Microsoft CRM using Web Services
• Integrating Web Services and Microsoft CRM
• Microsoft CRM SDK

Practice: Working with the Post-URL Action

• Use the Post URL action to write data to a file

Lab 1.1: OnChange Event

• Display a message to the user based on the value selected

Lab 1.2: OnChange Event

• Use the Document Object Model to modify the value of another field based on the value selected

Lab 1.3: OnChange Event

• Update a field value from an external web applications based on picklist selection

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand the Microsoft CRM Architecture
• Understand the Microsoft CRM Security model
• Use the Microsoft CRM Workflow Post-URL action
• Use the Microsoft CRM OnChange event
• Understand how Web Services can be created to interact with Microsoft CRM
• Understand the purpose of the Microsoft CRM SDK

Module 2: Microsoft CRM Object Model

This brief module provides a high level overview of the objects within the Microsoft CRM platform and how they interact. This will provide a review of the Microsoft CRM entities and describe the relationships between them. This module provides a starting point to discuss the Microsoft CRM Class libraries. There are no labs in this module.

Lessons

• Documentation on the CRM Object Model
• Core System Management
• Customer Management
• Sales Force Automation and Marketing
• Customer Service Management
• Miscellaneous

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand the structure of the Microsoft CRM Object Model
• Understand the relationships and dependencies between objects
• Understand how objects are documented
• Understand selected methods and capabilities of the different objects

Module 3: Introduction to the Microsoft CRM Class Library

This module describes how to use the Microsoft CRM library. You learn how to use the SDK to get the information you need. The library components are introduced as well as prerequisites for making method calls. The interfaces exposed by the library are described as well as examples of common methods, enumerations and types. Other topics include: how security can be handled in custom applications, best practices and advanced topics when using the library, and how structured exception handling can be applied to error thrown by Microsoft CRM

Lessons

• Microsoft CRM Class Library Structure
• Steps to invoke methods
• Common methods
• Using Enumerations & Types
• Security
• Best Practices
• Using a configuration
• Using an Abstract
• Creating a Wrapper
• Handling Exceptions from Microsoft CRM

Practice: Calling a Microsoft CRM Platform Method

• Creating an Account

Lab 3.1: Change the Accounts and create a CRMException

• Change the Accounts to derive from the CRM BusinessBase
• Create CRMException to implement the BaseApplicationException
• Create a ThrowCRMException method in the CRMBusinessBase
• Use the ThrowCRMException method in the CRMBusinessBase constructor

Lab 3.2: Create a configuration and a wrapper

• Create a CRM Configuration
• Reference Microsoft.CRM.Platform.proxy.dll and Microsoft.CRM.Platform.Types.dll
• Create a CRM Wrapper Class

Lab 3.3: Create a CRMIdentity in the Accounts Application

• Create GetCaller method in the CRMWrapper
• Create RetrieveUserPrivileges method in the CRMWrapper
• Create CRMIdentity
• Create and initialize a CRMIdentity field in the CRMBusinessBase

Lab 3.4: Upload an Accounts XML file and export it into Microsoft CRM

• Review the Upload.aspx file
• Change the Accounts.aspx code behind file to use the uploaded file name from the session
• Create a public static CreateAccount method in the CRMWrapper
• Create a public Create Method in the Accounts
• Create a public ExportToCRM method in the Accounts
• Add an Export button to the Acccounts.aspx page and enable it only when the user has privilege to create an account
• Implement the Export button event to export to Microsoft CRM
• Test it and check the results in Microsoft CRM

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand the Microsoft CRM Class library structure
• Invoke Microsoft CRM library methods
• Retrieve a users security credentials
• Understand the common methods found in the Microsoft CRM Class library
• Understand the Microsoft CRM library enumerations and types
• Understand how to check a user’s security privileges and access rights
• Use a Configuration
• Use an Abstract
• Use a Wrapper
• Handle exceptions thrown by the Microsoft CRM Platform

Module 4: Microsoft CRM Class Library

This module provides a more in-depth understanding of the Microsoft CRM library. It focuses on common create, retrieve, update, delete, share and assign methods found in most Microsoft CRM objects. It also explores options for querying data. This module provides ample opportunity for hands-on practice with these methods.

Lessons

• Creation and Retrieval Methods
• Modification and Deletion Methods
• Sharing and Assigning Methods
• Custom Queries

Lab 4.1: Display the leads you own

• Create a public static RetrieveLeadsByPrincipal method in the CRMWrapper
• Create a public Retrieve method in the Leads to initialize the DataSet_ds field
• In the Leads.aspx code-behind file, change the get method of the MyLead property to initialize the session leads object to the leads you own
• Implement the PageIndexChanged event procedure to page the DataGrid

Lab 4.2: Add a new Lead

• Create a CreateLead method in the CRMWrapper
• Create a public Create method in the Leads
• Enable the NewLead button only when the user has the privilege to create a lead
• Implement the Save button click event
• Test the application

Lab 4.3: Update Leads

• Add the code in the DataGrid1_ItemDataBound event procedure to open a new child window to edit the selected row
• Create an UpdateLeadMethod in the CRMWrapper
• Create RetrievePrincipalAccessLead method in the CRMWrapper
• Create HasWriteRightLead method in the CRMWrapper
• Create HasWritePermission method in the Leads
• Create Update method in the Leads
• Enable the Save button and editing fields only when the user has permission to update the lead in the NewLead.aspx code-behind file
• Implement the Save button click event in the NewLead.aspx code-behind file
• Test the application

Lab 4.4: Delete a Lead

• Create a DeleteLead method in the CRMWrapper
• Create HasDeleteRightLead method in the CRMWrapper
• Create HasDeletePermission method in the Leads
• Create Delete method in the Leads
• Enable the Delete button only when the user has permission to delete the Lead in the NewLead.aspx code-behind file
• Implement the Delete button click event in the NewLead.aspx code-behind file

Lab 4.5: Retrieve Hot Leads

• Create an ExecuteQuery method in the CRMWrapper
• Create an ExecuteQuery method in the CRMBusinessBase
• Create a RetrieveHot method in the Leads
• Implement the HotLeads button click event procedure in the Leads.aspx code-behind file
• In the Leads.aspx code-behind file, add the cod in the get method of MyLeads property to initialize the session leads object to the hot leads
• Test the application

Lab 4.6: Complete the Send Me More Info application

• Run the Skeleton application
• Complete the Submit button click event procedure in the FillForm.aspx code-behind file to create a Lead
• Test the application

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Use the common methods exposed for each by the Microsoft CRM library
• Check users’ permissions to determine whether they can perform specific actions
• Use the CRMQuery to create, store, manage and execute queries in Microsoft CRM

Module 5: Linking to External Data

This module focuses on the ways that data from external applications can be linked to objects stored on the Microsoft CRM Server. This module demonstrates how the post-URL action in Workflow can be used to post Microsoft CRM to another application. The ability to use Post-Callouts to build a more robust data integration is introduced as well as how Microsoft Message Queue Server™ and Microsoft BizTalk server are use in this process.

Lessons

• Integrating External Data with Microsoft CRM
• Using Post-URL actions
• Creating a Web Service to Process Post URL
• Using Post-Callout Methods
• What is Component Services?
• Steps to use a Serviced Component
• Understanding the Post-Callout Architecture
• The ICRMCallout Interface
• Registering Callouts with Microsoft CRM
• Best Practices with Post-Callouts
• Using Messaging
• Using BizTalk Server

Lab 5.1: Lead Survey Application (using Post URL)

• Run and observe the skeleton Survey application
• Create a lead in Microsoft CRM and conditionally assign it to a salesperson. Then save the survey data in SQL Server with the leadId
• Add a button to the Microsoft CRM Lead and Contact forms to display the survey page for a particular lead or contact
• Complete the UpdateCustomerId web page to update the link field in the Survey database
• Create a workflow rule in Microsoft CRM for the event of contact creation to post a URL to the web page
• Test it
• Inactivate the workflow

Lab 5.2: Using Post-Callout

• Create a library project
• Create a CRMCallout to implement the ICRMCallout interface PostCreate method
• Strong Name the assembly
• Add the component to the GAC and Register it in the COM+ service
• Register the component in Microsoft CRM
• Test it

Lab 5.3: Use Post-Callout and MSMQ

• Create a private method _SendtoMessageQueue to create a message queue and send a message to it
• Modify the PostCreate method in CRMCallout.cs or CRMCallout.vb to invoke the _SendtoMessageQueue
• Add the component to GAC and register it in the COM+ service
• Test it

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Understand how external data can be linked with Microsoft CRM
• Use the Post-URL action in Workflow to post data to an external web application
• Use Post-Callouts to implement a notification mechanism for data integration
• Use Microsoft Message Queue Server to process changes to Microsoft CRM data asynchronously
• Understand how BizTalk Server may be used to involve multiple applications in the messaging process or to execute long running business processes

Module 6: User Interface Alternatives

This optional module focuses on alternative techniques you can used to represent data from Microsoft CRM to users. These alternative user interfaces can be used to augment the ways that external solutions can collect and display data that resides in Microsoft CRM. This module shows how to make the interface of a custom application consistent with Microsoft CRM through the use of cascading sheets (CSS). It also introduces how Microsoft Office 2003 applications such as Word, Excel, and InfoPath can be integrated with Microsoft CRM using Visual Studio Tools for Office. Also alternative user interface allowing users to perform edits within a grid is presented. This module is presented if time permits.

Lessons

• Using CSS with Custom Applications
• Using Microsoft CRM CSS Styles
• Using Microsoft CRM with Word to create a Mail merge document
• Using ASP.NET for In-Place Editing
• Using Office 2003 with Microsoft CRM
• Visual Studio Tools for Office 2003
• Excel 2003 Programmability
• Using InfoPath 2003
• Integrating InfoPath with Microsoft CRM

Lab 6.1: Applying CSS Styles

• Link the template.css to the Newlead.aspx file
• Apply the in the Template.css to the controls in the NewLead.aspx file

Demo: Create a Mail Merge Document

• Using Word, Internet Explorer, and ASP.NET

Demo: A Grid to Maintain Leads

• In-place editing using a DataGrid

Demo: Visual Studio Tools for Office and Excel

• A simple example of importing Microsoft CRM data into Excel 2003 to create a pivot table report.

Demo: Using InfoPath 2003

• Retrieve and submit leads using InfoPath

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Use the Microsoft CRM cascading sheet (template.css) to make a custom application have the Microsoft CRM look and feel
• Use the Word object model with Internet Explorer and VBScript to create a web-based mail merge
• Use an ASP.NET DataGrid to provide in-place editing of Microsoft CRM data in a custom application
• Use Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Office to allow managed code to run in an Office document
• Use InfoPath 2003 as a front end for Microsoft CRM data using custom web services