Microsoft CRM Integration with IBM Lotus Notes Dom

Microsoft CRM Integration with IBM Lotus Notes Domino – machinery dealership example

by: Andrew Karasev

IBM Lotus Notes with Domino email server is traditional document workflow management solution for large corporate business, where you need audit trail on approval cycle and decision making. Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is very cost efficient solution to automate sales process. It might be surprising, but we see good strata of clients who are willing to deploy and integrate both systems: MS CRM and Lotus Domino. In our opinion these clients are balancing ERP platform risks and trying to protect and deploy investments into Lotus licenses, while deploying new and already leading CRM solution – Microsoft CRM. In this small article we’ll give you the integration example – European division of one of the well known machinery manufacturer dealership network.

• Custom Lotus Database. In our case client had custom database, which was designed back in the beginning of 1990th. Some dealers had Lotus Notes Domino 4.0 and some of them had 6.0 and 6.5. Technical excurse – in Lotus Notes Domino 6.0 you can use Java 2 agents, and it seems to be platform independent (Microsoft Windows Server, IBM AS/400). To synch all the dealerships – the decision was made to upgrade across the network to Lotus Notes Domino 6.0 (to be a bit conservative)

• Domino Messaging. Obviously you have to have just one email server assigned to your url domain, and as traditionally Lotus Domino was the email server – the replacement with Microsoft Exchange 2003 (which is natural choice if you purchase Microsoft CRM) was not an option. With Alba Spectrum Technologies MS CMR Lotus Notes Domino connector you can switch email messaging to Lotus Domino

• Lotus & MS CRM events synchronization. IBM and Microsoft software designers designed CRM & Lotus events differently. Second phase of the project implementation will synchronize appointments, calendar events, etc. between Lotus and MS CRM.

• MS CRM ODBC lookups to Lotus database. As the second phase we plan to implement lookups from MS CRM Account to cases with custom fields and Lotus notes lookup tab. This tab will be realized as web .net application, integrated into MS CRM web interface. This web application will have machine serial number, warranty & service info. As you probably know in MS CRM 3.0 you can deploy custom table in link it to MS CRM object as onetomany. The most important is that it will be synchronized by MS Outlook and will allow you as a salesperson to work offline.

You can always have us help you with MS CRM customization, implementation, support & MS CRM SDK data conversion. Give us a call: 866.528.0577 or 1.630.961.598, [email protected]

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, NonProfit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.

[email protected]

This article was posted on September 02

by Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM integration: Oracle database access

Microsoft CRM integration: Oracle database access from MS CRM

by: Boris Makushkin

Today’s article topic is customization possibility demonstration for user web interface of Microsoft CRM. As an example we’ll use MS CRM integration with ASP.Net application, accessing customer data access, when customers are stored in Oracle 10g database. Let’s begin:

1. First, let’s create the table to store customer information in Oracle database. We’ll use web application iSQL for table metadata manipulation:

2. Table is now created and contains four fields: CUSTOMER_ID, FIRST_NAME, LAST_NAME и ADDRESS. Fill it with text data:

3. Now we’ll work with data access to Oracle database from ASP.Net application. We should download from Oracle site http://www.oracle.com Windows Instant Client. We don’t have to install it – just unpack all the files in the directory of your choice, for example c:\oracle and set environmental variable TNS_ADMIN, pointing to this directorty.

4. In c:\oracle directory (or where TNS_ADMIN point out) create file tnsnames.ora as following (change host and service names):

ORCL1 =

(DESCRIPTION =

(ADDRESS = (PROTOCOL = TCP)(HOST = oraclehost.youtdomain.com)(PORT = 1521))

(CONNECT_DATA =

(SERVER = DEDICATED)

(SERVICE_NAME = ORCL1)

)

)

5. Make correction to windows registry to have MS SQL Linked Server work properly withOracle OLE DB Provider. In the hive KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSDTC\MTxOCI make these changes:

OracleXaLib = กoracleclient8.dllก

OracleSqlLib = กorasql8.dllก

OracleOciLib = กoci.dllก

6. Now let’s create Linked Server in MS SQL Server 2000:

Note: in the Security tab we need to use security context with the credentials, having valid access to Oracle Database.

7. Linked Server is ready – let’s test it functioning – open table list. We should see customer table there:

8. Now we’ll create stored procedure for Oracle data access:

SET ANSI_NULLS ON

SET ANSI_WARNINGS ON

GO

CREATE PROCEDURE MyCustomersList AS

SELECT * FROM OPENQUERY(ORACLE, กSELECT * FROM Customerก)

RETURN

9. Next step is customizing Microsoft CRM using interface. We’ll add customer list button into Quote screen toolbar. Edit isv.config:

Change Url to your host name.

10. To create ASPX page we’ll use RAD for ASP.Net WebMatrix:

11. Create new page for data access:

12. Change it’s code to access our data:

Sub Page_Load(Sender As Object, E As EventArgs)

Dim ConnectionString As String = กserver=(local);database=Albaspectrum;trusted_connection=trueก

Dim CommandText As String = กEXEC MyCustomersListก

Dim myConnection As New SqlConnection(ConnectionString)

Dim myCommand As New SqlCommand(CommandText, myConnection)

myConnection.Open()

DataGrid1.DataSource = myCommand.ExecuteReader(CommandBehavior.CloseConnection)

DataGrid1.DataBind()

End Sub

13. Now we’ll test our web application by calling it from MS CRM:

Happy programming, implementation, customization and modification! If you want us to do the job – call use 16309615918, 18665280577, Europe: +49 231 4387600! [email protected]

About The Author

Boris Makushkin is Lead Software Developer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Oracle, Navision, Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, serving Chicago, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Florida, New York, Canada, Australia, UK, Russia, Europe and internationally ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Oracle, Unix, Microsoft CRM SDK, Navision, C#, VB.Net, SQL developer.

[email protected]

This article was posted on February 21

by Boris Makushkin

Microsoft CRM Integration with Navision – overview

Microsoft CRM Integration with Navision – overview for programmer

by: Andrew Karasev

Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is very good budget alternative to Siebel and actually beloved by Microsoftoriented IT department system. Considering the fact that in many cases Microsoft CRM should somehow fit into and cooperate with existing legacy business applications, integration question maybe the first to place. It is probably good to mention that Microsoft Navision has its own CRM module (and Navision will probably have MS CRM Navision integration tool for MS CRM 2.0 – at this moment we do not know when). We would like to give you, software developer highlight on how you allow Navision data lookup from Microsoft CRM screens: Account (which is customer), contact, lead.

We suppose that Navision is installed with native C/SIDE database, because in the case of MS SQL Server this topic doesn’t make sense

Microsoft CRM web interface is built on .Net architecture and Microsoft CRM SDK is married with .Net. We suggest you to use Microsoft tools to connect to Navision database via ODBC.

Native C/SIDE Database. If Navision sits in C/SIDE database, then create ODBC linked server to Navision via C/ODBC

Configure web.config to enable Microsoft CRM customization

Configure isv.config to place the button or navigation bar on one of your MS CRM customizable forms: Lead, Account, Contact, etc.

Use MS CRM SDK sample code to come into Microsoft CRM Security realm

Create separate Database on the same SQL server where Microsoft CRM is hosted and place heterogeneous stored procedures or views – which will be pulling data from Navision C/SIDE linked server

Program ADO.Net calls and returned dataset processing in Visual Sudio.Net (preferably C#.Net, because Microsoft CRM SDK is C# oriented)

We probably should mention that isv.config buttons allow you to transfer GUID of the Contact, Lead or Account to your integrated web application

Crystal Reports caution – MS CRM has builtin Crystal Reports Enterprise, licensed for MS CRM data access only. So, if you like to integrate web Crystal report into your application – you should resolve licensing issue and check with Microsoft on purchasing full version of Crystal Enterprise. The other way is to separate your Crystal web application and MS CRM by placing them on separate hardware

Additional tip – in your stored procedure use this directive: DBCC TRACEON(8765), which allows working with the data results of variable length returned by C/ODBC driver

Good luck with integration! If you want us to do the job give us a call 16309615918 or 18665280577! [email protected]

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, serving clients in Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, Denver, UK, Australia, Canada, Europe and having locations in multiple states and internationally ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), he is CMA, Great Plains Certified Master, Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer. You can contact Andrew: [email protected]

This article was posted on February 18

by Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM Implementation US market lessons

Microsoft CRM Implementation US market lessons

by: Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft Business Solutions. If you compare it to other traditional CRM applications, such as Siebel you will see that Microsoft CRM does use all the resent Microsoft technologies, that means that Microsoft targets its CRM to Windows market exclusively, plus this means that Microsoft CRM is more difficult in its installation. Microsoft doesn’t even have to care about other platforms, such as Linux/Unix or Apple. Now we see kind of paradoxical situation when Microsoft CRM is gaining market share even in recession and early postrecession time. Where is the secret?

Let us give you our vision, based on our three years of MS CRM implementation practice in USA and internationally.

1. Microsoft CRM is for MCSE / Microsoft oriented IT departments – Microsoft CRM would be beloved system for IT specialists. If you are MCSE+I CRM will recruit all your MS Exchange, Active Directory, MS SQL Server, Windows domain security, Windows 2003 Server, Web publishing and HTML knowledge and experience. This is completely opposite to earlier Apple Computer believe that computer systems should be easy in service and completely intuitive. MS CRM is kind of intuitive for end user, but not for its administrator.

2. Microsoft CRM is not CRM but rather simplified CRM if you do remember old days whitepapers about CRM in general, or even itกs predecessor Lotus Notes/Domino these papers were full of predictions about the future and were written for top level company executives, not for regular computer specialists. This was probably why so high percentage of CRM sales failed in implementations. Microsoft CRM has the highest ever rate of successful implementations, because it is not a CRM, but rather popularized version of it it just does the job as cheap and reliable car.

3. Transportation Companies about 30% of our clients in the States are transportation and freight forwarding companies. This actually proves the hypothesis that MS CRM is very simple solution these companies usually do not have extra money to spend on their computer system, but need the solution for its sales people to instantly see the cargos, plus have simple customization, allowing them to integrate with legacy system.

4. Movement down to small and tiny companies – this is completely new trend for CRM market. We know the examples when 5 employees companies make a decision to implement and have surprising success in Microsoft CRM implementation.

Happy implementing!

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, based in Chicago, California, Colorado, Texas, New York, Georgia and Florida, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com) You can reach Andrew at 16309615918 or 18665280577. He is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 06, 2004

by Andrew Karasev

Interviews with WellKnown Ezine Writers #3: She

Interviews with WellKnown Ezine Writers #3: Shelley Lowery

by: Michael Southon

MS: Shelley, you’re an excellent person to talk to about Ezine Articles, because as well as being a prolific Ezine Writer you own and operate the largest article announcement lists on the Internet (www.websource.net). How would you rate Ezine Articles as a promotion technique?

SL: Writing Internet articles is one of the best promotional strategies used online. Not only will it provide you with massive free publicity, but it will also build your credibility and promote you as a trusted professional in your area of expertise.

MS: How long have you been writing Ezine Articles and what are the main topics you write about?

SL: Iกve been writing articles for the last four years and I write mainly about Internet marketing, Ecommerce, Web Design, and Web Development.

MS: Shelley, are Ezine Articles your principal web marketing technique?

SL: Yes, writing articles is my main marketing strategy, as I have found it to be highly effective.

MS: What sort of Articles have you had most success with? In your experience, what kind of Articles are most in demand?

SL: I have found that articles written to teach and inform are the most in demand.

MS: Shelley, some Ezine Writers promote a product or service in their Resource Box, while others aim only to get a subscription to their free Newsletter. What would your advice be for getting maximum results from your Resource Box?

SL: I use a combination of both. I mention my product within my bylines, however, I concentrate more on gaining new subscribers. By obtaining my readersก email addresses, I will have the opportunity to advertise my products over and over again. A longterm relationship with a subscriber is much more beneficial than trying to make a onetime sale.

MS: What have you found to be the most effective ways of getting your Articles published?

SL: I use a combination of methods. The most effective method I use is an optin list. I enable my visitors to subscribe to my publishers list to receive new articles as soon as they’re released. The second most powerful method I use is article announcement lists. Some additional methods include posting my articles on my website and submitting them to article directories.

MS: Apart from getting your Articles published in Newsletters, are there any other ways you use your Articles to promote your website? (such as turning them into a free EBook)?

SL: In addition to getting your articles published in ezines, syndication services provide a great way to gain massive free promotion. If your article is published, it will be displayed across hundreds of websites.

MS: That sounds like something every Ezine Writer should be doing. You own and operate an article syndication service yourself can you tell us more about that, Shelley?

SL: Sure, Michael. The Syndicator is a unique service that enables webmasters to publish complete articles (with the authorกs photograph) and/or just headlines on their website. These articles are available in several different categories including Business, Internet Marketing, Biz tips, Web Development, Web Design tips, Home/Family, Horoscopes and others. Each article feed displays fresh articles each week and is automatically updated.

MS: What kind of exposure could an Ezine Writer get through your syndication service?

SL: The Syndicator provides content to over 4,000 websites, including cobranded syndication sites. In addition, the syndicated content is dynamically delivered to over 10,000 ebooks circulating the Internet, with a combined audience of nearly half a million viewers each week.

Syndicator: http://www.websource.net/syndicator.htm

MS: Thatกs a huge audience! What sort of articles does the Syndicator accept?

SL: The articles selected to run in syndication should be well written in simple, everyday language that everyone can understand. They should provide our readers with quality information that teaches and informs in regard to the subject matter.

Submissions: http://www.websource.net/syndicator_submit.htm

MS: Some people say with regard to Ezine Articles that everything that could possibly be written about has already been written. What would be your response to that?

SL: Thereกs an endless number of subjects on which to write about. But even if a subject has been previously written about, every writer has their own style and their own opinion your article will have its own uniqueness.

MS: What would you say is the single most important style tip for writing a good Ezine Article?

SL: Articles should be well written in a simple, everyday language. And, provide readers with quality information that teaches and informs in regard to the subject matter.

MS: And finally, Shelley, what would be your advice to someone who wants to write Ezine Articles but has never written for the Internet before?

SL: If you really want to get published, write your articles with a sincere desire to teach and inform. Talk to your readers and share your expertise.

MS: Thank you, Shelley youกve given us some great tips.

SL: Thank you, Michael. It was my pleasure.

© 2002 by Michael Southon

About The Author

Michael Southon has been writing for the Internet for over 3 years. He has shown hundreds of webmasters how to use this simple technique to get massive free publicity and dramatically increase traffic and sales. Click here to find out more: http://www.ezinewriter.com

This Article may be freely published in its entirety exactly as it appears above. No alterations or changes to the Article are allowed, without the express permission of the Author. The Resource Box must remain with the Article just as it appears.

This article was posted on July 31, 2002

by Michael Southon

Microsoft CRM for Large Corporation – Security

Microsoft CRM for Large Corporation – Security

by: Andrew Karasev

Microsoft Business Solutions CRM proved to be reliable solution in the whole spectrum of industries and market niches: transportation & logistics, education, recruiting & placement, supply chain management, pharmaceutical, oil & gas, aerospace & defense, manufacturing, wholesale & retail. When corporation is looking into CRM application to choose from – one of the fist questions is security. In this small article we’ll try to give you the highlights on the most typical questions we are receiving in the security area.

Active Directory. Microsoft CRM uses Active Directory users and its security is built upon Windows domain security. We heard complains about this tight integration. If you compare MS CRM with Siebel, for example – you will see, that Siebel security is built on the CRM level and Siebel can be installed on Windows and Unix/Linux platforms

Vertical Security, Roles. If you are thinking about vertical security, say assign more rights to manager, versus salesperson, this should be done on the role level. We first talk about vertical security, to give you conception of the matrixtype of security, realized in MS CRM

Horizontal Security, Teams. At this moment (MS CRM 1.2, MS CRM 3.0 is due in September 2005) team can include users only, not other teams, however, if you share the object with the team – you can share it with multiple teams. This is the place where collective security begins. Imagine, you have Worldwide product line – widgets and you have several regions: Europe, Pacific, USA, Australia & New Zealand, China. In gadgets team you have product manager, who should see all the sales worldwide, also you create regional teams for European, America, Australian etc markets and then make gadgets manager as team member of all these teams

Secured Reporting. When you, as European market manager run report on the gadgets sales – you see only records in your security realm. This statement is true even if you have customization, done in MS CRM SDK: C# or VB.Net.

Presentation Level. If you use MS CRM Web or Outlook clients – these are just two types of presentation level clients. Microsoft CRM schema sits in MS SQL server database, so if you deploy MS CRM SDK to modify/customize your CRM – both presentation clients will get the custom interface

Messaging. Microsoft CRM deploys MS Exchange. However you can improve MS CRM Exchange connector to catch emails by addresser email or domain, also you can deploy Lotus Notes Domino as email server – check with Alba Spectrum Technologies

Integration with MS Great Plains. Microsoft CRM integrates with GP customers, SOP Orders & Invoices. You can have custom integration, by calling Great Plains objects (customer annual sales info, employee’s payroll summary, etc.)

Good luck and you can always seek our help in customization, implementation, integration and support. Call us: 18665280577 or 16309615918, [email protected]

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, serving Chicago, California, Arizona, Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, Australia, UK, Canada, Continental Europe, Russia and having locations in multiple states and internationally ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer

[email protected]

This article was posted on August 04

by Andrew Karasev

Interviews with WellKnown Ezine Writers #2: Joh

Interviews with WellKnown Ezine Writers #2: John Colanzi

by: Michael Southon

MS: John, you must be one of the most prolific Ezine Writers on the Web I see your articles nearly everyday in the article lists and in dozens of Newsletters. How long have you been writing Ezine Articles?

JC: I first started writing ezine articles around 1999.

MS: What are the main topics that you write about in your Ezine Articles?

JC: I mainly write two types of articles, (i) Marketing and promotion, (ii) Success and motivation.

MS: John, how important have Ezine articles been in promoting your website?

JC: I sometimes use paid advertising, but my main method of promotion is writing and submitting articles.

MS: John, what sort of Articles have you had most success with? In your experience, what kind of Articles are most in demand?

JC: I get the most feedback on articles about success and motivation

MS: Some Ezine Writers promote a product or service in their Resource Box, while others aim only to get a subscription to their free Newsletter. What would your advice be for getting maximum results from your Resource Box?

JC: I usually promote my newsletter and free ebook in the resource box. Sometimes I promote a product, but mainly the newsletter.

MS: What have you found to be the most effective ways of getting your Articles published?

JC: Persistence. Iกve set up a weekly mailing to publishers. Most publishers get a lot of submissions, so getting them to notice you article will take some time. Once they start using your articles, they are more likely to start reading your submissions.

MS: Apart from getting your Articles published in Newsletters, are there any other ways you use your Articles to promote your website? (such as turning them into a free EBook)?

JC: I created my free ebook Street Smart Secrets Of Success from a collection of my success and motivation articles: http://www.internetprofits4u.com/streetsmart.exe. I was also contacted by a publisher who read the free ebook to create a free ecourse for his ebook Autoresponder Gold. So from the articles Iกve created my ebook and the 7 Days To A Turbo Charged Mind email course: [email protected]

MS: Some people are discouraged from writing Ezine articles because it seems that everything has already been written about. Whatกs your view on that?

JC: Every writer brings their own style to a subject. You may read about it 100 times, but a certain writerกs way of presenting the information, may be the article that gets you to take action.

MS: Yes, thatกs an important point. Whatกs the single most important style tip for writing a good Ezine Article?

JC: Write to one person. Make the ideas personal to the reader.

MS: How important have Ezine Articles been in achieving your success in online business?

JC: Every good thing thatกs happened to me online has been a result of someone seeing an article.

MS: And finally John, what would be your advice to someone who wants to write Ezine Articles but has never written for the Internet before?

JC: Write the same way you would explain something to your best friend. Write to inform, don’t write a sales letter and try to pass it off as an article.

MS: Thank you John.

(c) 2002 by Michael Southon

About The Author

Michael Southon has been writing for the Internet for over 3 years. He has shown hundreds of webmasters how to use this simple technique to get massive free publicity and dramatically increase traffic and sales. Click here to find out more: http://www.ezinewriter.com

This Article may be freely published in its entirety exactly as it appears above. No alterations or changes to the Article are allowed, without the express permission of the Author. The Resource Box must remain with the Article just as it appears.

This article was posted on July 31, 2002

by Michael Southon

Microsoft Great Plains eCommerce – stored procedur

Microsoft Great Plains eCommerce – stored procedures approach

by: Andrew Karasev

Since Version 8.0 Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains & Great Plains Standard are available on Microsoft SQL Server and MSDE (which is in fact MS SQL with database size limit of 2GB). As eCommerce designer you should be aware of several options and customization tools in your disposition, when you utilize Microsoft Great Plains 8.5 (June 2005), 8.0, 7.5, Great Plains Dynamics/eEnterprise 7.0, 6.0, 5.5 or 5.0 Great Plains Dynamics C/S+. When you have old versions (7.5 and prior) we assume that you are on MS SQL Server 2000/7.0, because if you are on Ctree or Pervasive SQL/Btrieve – you should use ODBC / RDO connection tools, such as MS Access and its queries or use MS SQL Server Linked Server technique with OPENROWSET statements. So, lets assume that you are on MS SQL Server. You have basically two options eConnect (you should pay for the reg key/license and this is SDK) and custom stored procedures. We’ll only consider custom stored procedures way here:

Stored Procs. The first question is – are we allowed to create stored proc in Great Plains DYNAMICS and companies databases. The answer is Yes – opposite to such products as Microsoft CRM (where you are banned to create any custom object in MS CRM database, and instead you create your own custom database and place all your procedures and views there) – you are encouraged to create your stored procedures and place them in both DYNAMICS and Company databases. You need to know the anatomy of Great Plains tables structure

Tables Structure. If you launch Great Plains workstation and follow this way: Tools>Resource Descriptions>Tables – then you are in tables descriptor, sorting by tables Physical, Logical or Tables Group Technical names. This is all Great Plains Dexterity architecture realm and it is relatively complex and not ขdeveloperfriendlyข – but if you create sample transactions in Great Plains – you can figure out where data should be populated

Sales Order Processing. Or SOP module. This is usually the core of eCommerce development – transactions should go into SOP tables (with SOP prefix): SOP10100, SOP10200 and others. If you are selling to your existing customers, then customers are in Receivables Management module (AR) with AR prefixes: RM00101 – is Customer Master, RM00102 – customer address master, etc.

Sales Order/Invoice Allocation dilemma. Great Plains SOP module is working in concert with Inventory control, making allocation of inventoried items in IV. So, this is very challenging to replicate allocation logic. We recommend do not allocate in Orders and Invoices and do allocation by operator, who processes the internet orders batch

Sales Order transfer dilemma. If you are using eConnect – this is kind of issue, so you have to appeal to GP internal architecture and do it with the stored procs approach.

Good luck with implementation, customization and integration and if you have issues or concerns – we are here to help! If you want us to do the job give us a call 16309615918 or 18665280577! [email protected]

About The Author

Andrew is Great Plains specialist in Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ) – USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, serving clients in Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, New Orleans, Toronto, Montreal and having locations in multiple states and internationally

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 21

by Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM Development

Microsoft CRM Development

by: Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft Business Solutions.

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.

1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. MS CRM Customization tool this is rather enduser tool and we don’t describe it here read the manual. Weกve described above the options to use when this tool doesn’t do the job

7. 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.

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, based in Chicago, California, Texas, New York, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Canada, UK, Autralia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 06, 2004

by Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM Custom Development

Microsoft CRM Custom Development

by: Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft Business Solutions to traditional CRM vendors, such as Siebel, Onyx. Microsoft CRM customization techniques are very diversified and based on the whole spectrum of recent Microsoft technologies. The main terms you should know are: Microsoft CRM SDK 1.2 and Visual Studio.Net 2003. And of course you should be familiar with all the legacy internet technologies, such as HTML, XML, XSLT, JavaScript and be good C#/VB/Net developer.

If you are developer who is asked: how do we customize Microsoft CRM – read this and you will have the clues on where to look further.

1. Microsoft CRM SDK – this is software development kit with C# and partly VB.net examples – it is supported by Microsoft Business Solutions technical support. It is all web services based calls, if you are C# .NET developer – you are excellently positioned to do this type of customizations. This is the preferred customization scenarios and this should be easily upgradeable customization.

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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 make job done.

6. MS CRM Customization tool – you can feel free to use this – this is rather enduser 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

Happy customizing! if you want us to do the job give us a call 16309615918 or 18665280577! [email protected]

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, serving Chicago, Los Angeles, San Franciso, San Diego, Denver, Houston, Phoenix, New York, Atlanta, Miami, Canada, UK, Australia, Brazil, Mexico (www.albaspectrum.com), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

[email protected]

This article was posted on December 19, 2004

by Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM Integration & Customization: SharePo

Microsoft CRM Integration & Customization: SharePoint Document Gateway

by: Boris Makushkin

MS CRM is very close to document workflow automation, including Microsoft Office documents: Words, Excel, etc. The document workflow was perfectly automated about 10 years ago in Lotus Notes Domino. In this small article we describe the solution based on MS CRM integration with MS SharePoint.

Microsoft CRM is new player on CRM applications market and it is gaining its market share. Having different paradigm in its design (it stakes on Microsoft OS and technologies and completely disregards alternative platform, such as UNIX, Linux, Oracle, etc. based). Microsoft CRM market is very diversified: from small (5 users) to large (several hundred MS CRM User licenses) and it serves variety of industries: Transportation, Logistics, Lawyers, Pension Funds, HighTech, and many others. Deploying technologies, like Windows Active Directory, Microsoft Exchange 2003/2000, SQL Server, Crystal Reports Enterprise, Biztalk, Microsoft Outlook, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Great Plains and Navision in close future makes CRM a beloved system for Microsoft oriented IT departments.

Letกs go right to the topic.

Major issue with storing documents in MS CRM in the form of attachments to Activity is inability to work on these attached files in cooperation with other colleagues, who do not have to use CRM. When several service people serve requests from the same client this is required. Currently you can use alternative way when you store office documents in the folders of your file system and when modifying document, you save it and reattach to CRM. This is inconvenient, because first it requires all your editing users to have CRM licenses, which delays CRM implementation.

We seem increasing popularity of document storage systems, like Microsoft SharePoint, Oracle Files, etc. Such systems, being implemented gives you time savings, related to documents revisions and versioning, approval cycles and workflows, web access through webportals systems and the like.

The target of our product is Microsoft SharePoint integration with MS CRM for document storage. Letกs take a look at the high level technical realization details:

Main modification from the MS CRM side is standard system behavior change when you open attachment in Activity. Standard unmodified CRM suggests you to store documents in the file system. Modified version sores document in SharePoint Document Library (the required library is subject for setup by MS CRM system administrator) or keep it in MS CRM as is (for documents of minor importance). From the moment of saving the document in SharePoint Document Library it is not stored in MS CRM – CRM will now store only the link/reference to the document. Also you are given the ability to open and modify the document at the place of opening, which speeds up MS CRM user performance substantially.

Table, storing the links to the documents sits in separate database and doesn’t deal with MS CRM tables (you know that you are banned to do structure changes in MS CRM db)

Document saving into MS SharePoint process occurs in MS CRM and with its assistance – SharePoint bridge, which does addition and update for the existing document into destination Document Library with MS SharePoint Web Services calls

Upon the addition into Document Library, MS CRM – SharePoint bridge registers the document in the special table for the future data extraction or notification mechanism registration

Then, interested users can work with the documents just using MS Office 2003 or other programs/editing tools, assuming these tools have access to MS SharePoint

Feedback is provided by MS SharePoint Event Handler component. This is special handler, inspecting document change status, transferred from MS CRM to document storage (SharePoint), and report Activity owner on the changes with home page notifications (User home page in MS CRM). User in turn can review the history of the document editing who, when and where is the change

Opening Activity, where document is กattachedก, and in fact placed into MS SharePoint Document Library, and pressing opening button, MS CRM user gets live version of the data

This approach allows you seamless work with MS CRM document in the whole informational space of your company

Additional enhancements to this product might be document library management directly from MS CRM (web interface meaning remotely), administrative interface for MS Sharepoint documents revision, ability to create reports on the document storage status, rights/access management (Author, Reader, Contributor etc) from MS CRM, portal pages integration into MS CRM to name a few.

Happy programming, implementation, customization and modification! If you want us to do the job – call use 16309615918, 18665280577! [email protected]

About The Author

Boris Makushkin is Lead Software Developer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Oracle, Navision, Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, serving Chicago, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Georgia, Florida, New York, Canada, Australia, UK, Russia, Europe and internationally ( http://www.albaspectrum.com ), he is Oracle, Unix, Microsoft CRM SDK, Navision, C#, VB.Net, SQL developer.

[email protected]

This article was posted on April 10

by Boris Makushkin

Microsoft CRM Programming Techniques – overview fo

Microsoft CRM Programming Techniques – overview for developer

by: Andrew Karasev

Microsoft CRM is the CRM answer from Microsoft and it will have all the Microsoft Business Solutions muscles behind.

If you are developer who is asked: how do we customize Microsoft CRM – read this and you will have the clues on where to look further.

1. Microsoft CRM SDK – this is software development kit with C# and partly VB.net examples – it is supported by Microsoft Business Solutions technical support. It is all web services based calls, if you are C# .NET developer – you are excellently positioned to do this type of customizations. This is the preferred customization scenarios and this should be easily upgradeable customization.

2. 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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 make job done.

6. MS CRM Customization tool – you can feel free to use this – this is rather enduser 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

Happy customizing! if you want us to do the job give us a call 18665280577! [email protected]

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies – USA nationwide Microsoft CRM, Microsoft Great Plains customization company, based in Chicago, California, Colorado, Texas, New York, Georgia and Florida, Canada, UK, Australia and having locations in multiple states and internationally (www.albaspectrum.com), he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

[email protected]

This article was posted on September 11, 2004

by Andrew Karasev