Connecting to SharePoint 2007 Calendar from Outlook 2007 vs. Outlook 2003

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:46:46 GMT

One more reason why upgrade to Office 2007!

Allowing CRM for Outlook to act as the e-mail agent for CRM e-mail activities

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:25:01 GMT

The way in which a user’s e-mail is sent from within the Microsoft CRM is configured on the user profile in the Microsoft CRM.
CRM -> Settings -> Administration -> Users -> User Profile Record

For both the incoming and outgoing access types, you can select to have CRM e-mail activities use the E-mail Router (if installed), or Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook to act as the sending agent. In CRM4, you can configure the CRM for Outlook to deliver standard Outlook e-mails, CRM-tracked e-mails, and e-mail activities created from within the CRM.

To allow CRM for Outlook client to send all CRM e-mail activities:

1) Navigate to CRM -> Settings -> Administration -> Users -> User Profile Record

2) Select Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook on both Incoming and Outgoing e-mail access types in the E-mail Access Configuration for each User Profile Record that should use the CRM for Outlook to send CRM e-mail activities.

Click ‘Save and Close’

3) On each Outlook profile, open the Set Personal Options by clicking CRM -> Options

4) Switch to the E-mail tab

5) Under ‘Check how CRM for Outlook should integrate e-mail with Microsoft Dynamics CRM’ check on: Allow Microsoft Dynamics CRM to send e-mail using CRM for Outlook

When an e-mail activity is created and sent by that user, this e-mail activity will be sent through Outlook on next synchronization.

Availability of the Settings module in CRM3 while running CRM for Outlook

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:20:52 GMT

Several of our clients have noticed that, and commented on, when the CRM for Outlook component is installed, and Outlook is running, the 'Settings' module in the CRM web is hidden from view.

Several of our adventerous client users have suggested overcoming the problem by clearing the Temporary Internet Files while Outlook is opened, and refreshing the CRM web page. That will work, but for a long-term solution, but good friends at East Region Microsoft CRM provide the following suggestion:

a) Close CRM web and Outlook
b) Click on Start -> Run. Type 'regedit'
c) Browse to the tree: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MSCRMClient\
d) Find 'ServerURL'
e) Change the DNS portion of your CRM servername to it's IP equivelant (e.g., from http://crm/MSCRMServices to http://11.12.13.14/MSCRMServices )

The Settings area will now be available at all times while CRM for Outlook is opened and running.

Peter

Creating a simple auditing log with CRM 4.0 Workflow

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:35:57 GMT

The much rejuvenated workflow engine in CRM 4.0 now provides you with the engine to create your own audit tracker. In CRM 4.0, the workflow engine can catch adds, updates, and deletes. So the engine is there, just waiting for you to write the workflow rule that will make use of it.

Publishing Excel 2007 file with a to OLAP Cube for BI Reporting

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:37:32 GMT

It requires following configuration 1) Active Directory for Kerberos and 2) MOSS Excel Services correctly so that Excel Services can impersonate end users account to access cube in order to get and display data.

Where's my yellow product key sticker?

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 01:52:49 GMT

With the release of CRM 4.0, Microsoft has done away with the familiar yellow-product key sticker. So where do you find your license key?

Role of SharePoint Designer 2007 integrating SharePoint and CRM User Interface

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 22:16:33 GMT

Background

After my initial end user introduction to CRM, I found that CRM provides great User Interface customization and you may know about this. You can add tabs, sections, IFRAME, fields so that you're not bound to displaying a field at a specific place in a form.

In particular, IFRAME is great as any external page can be presented in it without browsing elsewhere or opening a new window, and SharePoint page is no exception. After providing URL to SharePoint site for an IFRAME, I realized that some of UI components on SharePoint page distract users. For example, SharePoint's top navigation bar is not required if you do not expect users to navigate much. Similarly Welcome menu in SharePoint displays current user name that is already available in top-right corner of CRM page!

Such extra components on SharePoint page not only provide more (and probably unnecessary) info. than users need but also add annoying scrollbars to IFRAME. Fortunately there is an easy solution to this...

SharePoint Designer 2007

It is a great tool to customize SharePoint pages, sites without writing single line of code! I carefully customized SharePoint UI so that it looks good from CRM's IFRAME and fits with CRM UI. At high level, I updated SharePoint site's master page, removed unwanted components (without breaking SharePoint, of course!), re-structured a little bit and saved my changes! Each of this can be explained in great detail but that is beyond this post!
To learn more on SharePoint Designer 2007, visit SharePoint Designer 2007 home page

CRM now displays SharePoint sites (documents for each account, client for example) very nicely!

Key Success Factors for CRM

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:58:38 GMT

We see some common success factors with the CRM installs we have done over the past 10 years. Hopefully the factors will help companies looking at a CRM installaiton

Resetting regarding lookup when promoting an item to CRM

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:06:09 GMT

If you have found yourself in a situation in need to change the regarding on a promoted email message, but couldn't, this article is for you.

Changing Regarding on Promoted E-mails

When you initially promote an e-mail message to the CRM, you clicked 'Track in CRM', and hit the regarding button. You select a client (or another entity record) from the lookup, but realize that the selected record was not the one intended. In such a case, a closed e-mail activity is created under this client record.

To resolve ths issue, close the e-mail message, and from the main Outlook window, highlight the message, and click 'Track in CRM'. This must be done from within the Outlook main window, and not within the e-mail message. After clicking 'Track in CRM', a dialog box will appear asking if you want to create a duplicate copy of this item. Select Yes. Then, re-open the e-mail message, and select the appropriate regarding. Finally, be sure to remove the leftover activity under the previous regarding client.

CRM Split between technology and business knowledge

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:40:19 GMT

I watched a video last week by Brad Wilson, the GM for MS CRM. One of his notes was that CRM is 30% technology and 70% business knowledge. We've always believed our domain knowledge and experience in the financial services business was a big value add, but Brad confirmed it. Great to hear we're on the right road

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