| Microsoft CRM was designed to be easily | | | | Exchange event handler (ONSYNCSAVE database |
| customizable. Microsoft CRM Software | | | | event sink). This example maybe complicated |
| Development Kit (MS CRM SDK) which you can | | | | with the following requirement. Imagine that |
| download from Microsoft website contains | | | | Bill, instead of answering to your email |
| descriptions of the objects or classes, | | | | (sent from CRM and processed by CRM-Exchange |
| exposed for customization. It has sample | | | | connector) sends you new message from MS |
| code in C# and partially in VB.Net. In | | | | Outlook. Then this email will not follow |
| Visual Studio.Net you can analyze all the | | | | into MS CRM (because it doesn't have GUID in |
| classes, used by Microsoft developers to | | | | the header and so is ignored by CRM Exchange |
| create MS CRM - you will discover that most | | | | connector). If you want to capture these |
| of them are not documented in MS CRM SDK. | | | | emails - you have to do it in Microsoft |
| Microsoft will not support your customization | | | | Exchange event sink. There maybe scenario |
| if you use undocumented class or do direct | | | | when you want to capture and analyze in the |
| SQL access to CRM database.Let us describe | | | | sink all the outgoing emails - this is even |
| you - programmer, software developer typical | | | | more complex - y!ou have to place the sink on |
| cases of MS CRM Customizations.1. Integration | | | | transport event.3. ASP Application |
| with SQL Server application. If you have | | | | integration. You have legacy ASP |
| legacy system on MS SQL Server - let's say | | | | application, where you capture orders from |
| you are transportation company and have | | | | your customers and you want these orders be |
| in-house developed cargo tracking database. | | | | transferred to the CRM as activity. Here you |
| Now in MS CRM you want lookup the shipments | | | | understand that ASP doesn't deploy Active |
| for the customer (or account in CRM). This | | | | Directory security - and the best way is to |
| is SDK programming and calling SQL stored | | | | create HTTP handler and call it from your ASP |
| proc to retrieve cargo info. Instead of SQL | | | | page. This HTTP handler in turn will call MS |
| Server you can have other database (ORACLE, | | | | CRM SDK web service with predefined |
| MS Access, PervasiveSQL to name a few) - you | | | | (web.config) Active Directory |
| can access multiple Database platforms via | | | | credentials.Some cautions. Never create your |
| ADO.Net connection from your .Net | | | | custom SQL objects (like stored procedure, |
| application, which is easily integrated into | | | | SQL view, table) in MS CRM database. |
| MS CRM Account screen.2. Email capturing in | | | | Instead, create your own database and place |
| MS CRM. You have customer with email Now | | | | your objects there. When you see the first |
| you want all the emails that you receive from | | | | caution - you will never try to alter |
| domain to be attached to Bill who is account | | | | existing CRM objects, like adding new field |
| in CRM. This is more difficult customization | | | | to the table.Happy customizing! if you want |
| - you have to create MS CRM SDK web service, | | | | us to do the job - give us a call |
| that one will be creating email activity and | | | | 1-866-528-0577! |
| call it from COM+ application - Microsoft | | | | |