Microsoft CRM Custom Design & Development: SDK, C#, SQL, Exchange, Integration, Crystal Reports


Microsoft CRM is new player on the CRM software market.� The whole conception behind CRM seems to be different.� In case of traditional CRM software (Siebel, Oracle) - the application was designed with platform independence in mind.� Microsoft CRM is dedicated to Microsoft technology and so deploys all the Microsoft tools: Windows Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange 2003/2000, SQL Server, Crystal Reports Enterprise, Biztalk server, Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Great Plains as backend, etc.

If you are software developer, database administrator or web designer who is asked: how do we customize Microsoft CRM ? we are giving you directions in this article.

  • Microsoft CRM SDK ? this is software development kit with C# and partly VB.net code samples ? it is supported by Microsoft Business Solutions technical support.� It is based on web service calls, if you are C# .NET developer ? you are excellently positioned to do this type of customizations.� This is the preferred modification scenario and this should be easily upgradeable customization.� VB.Net examples will be available soon.
  • Legacy SQL Data integration.� This is also easy and safe.� If you have SQL database, sitting on the same or linked SQL Server ? you can create ASPX .Net application and simply integrate it into CRM.� You can place it on the navigation bar or menu in isv.config ? please refer to MS CRM SDK
  • Legacy ASP integration ? this is somewhat more sophisticated.� You have to deploy HTTP handler to be a middle party between CRM which is .Net based and ASP which is legacy IIS.� The trick is ? you have to have INI file with security settings to penetrate into MS CRM with proper credentials, calling web service.
  • Microsoft Exchange Programming.� Microsoft CRM has Exchange connector ? which moves CRM incoming email to MS if it has GUID in its subject.� You can alter this logic (for instance - move email to CRM if it doesn't have GUID but it is from the sender who is contact or account in MS CRM).� Refer to MS Exchange SDK onsyncsave event handling.� Then simply apply some MS CRM SDK programming - you need some COM+ objects creation and VB programming experience.
  • Direct SQL touch ? in #4 above I described you the scenario with MS Exchange handlers ? this would be ideal world if MS CRM SDK does the job.� But ? in real world this is not always true ? you have to do direct flags correction in CRM database (like making Activity closed, moving email attachments/octet streams, etc).� This is not supported by MBS technical support ? but you can rescue to this technique if you have to get job done.
  • MS CRM Customization tool ?� this is rather end-user tool and we don't describe it here ? read the manual.� We've described above the options to use when this tool doesn't do the job
  • Crystal Reports - feel free to create Crystal report - tables and views structure is self explanatory.� Try to avoid the temptation to create your own SQL view or stored procedure in MS CRM database, instead - create custom database and place your view and stored proc in it.�
  • Happy modifying! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-866-528-0577! [email protected]

    Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies ? USA nationwide Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, based in Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Miami, Canada, UK, Australia�and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com), he is Dexterity, SQL, VB/C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

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