Steps to upgrade Online CRM to Dynamics 365 – Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM out into the market and to use new features like field services etc, you have to upgrade online CRM to 365. Upgrading online CRM is very confusing as users have not full control over instance and have fear to lose data or customizations. To give Dynamics CRM upgrade a clear view you can refer this article.
Step1: Setup Sandbox instance of your Online CRM.
Dynamics CRM Sandbox account is useful for development and to test customizations before publishing on a production instance. It’s also useful for upgrade process from lower version to upper version.
Sandbox instance as can be purchased as add-on subscription or with 25 user’s subscription licenses. To setup, sandbox instance using production instance, select production instance and click on copy icon.
It takes to Copy instance window.
The properties you need to care about are:
Target Instance: In the current case, it will be production instance.
Copy Type: Recommended type is a Minimal copy.
Name: should be the name of Sandbox instance.
And click on Copy. It will take a while to update sandbox account copy of production.
Step 2: Test upgrade of sandbox instance
When a copy of production as sandbox instance, is ready to test CRM instance upgrade process using sandbox CRM instance.
One thing you need to know that is when production instance is ready for an upgrade, to let that know go to Admin Center > Dynamics CRM.
Instances that are eligible to update will see Update is Available. You can see along with your CRM instance.
Select updates tab and schedule upgrade for sandbox instance.
The process you have to follow for a lower version to upper version upgrade is:
To Upgrade
Dynamics Online CRM To Dynamics Online CRM Update 1
Dynamics Online CRM Update 1 To Dynamics 365 CRM
After scheduling dynamics CRM upgrade process, it will be updated on your scheduled time. It might be possible, current customizations are not supported by updated version. Upgrade process gets failed. So you have to reset sandbox back to old version and fix all those issues in sandbox instance and again follow the same process of schedule sandbox instance upgrade to the target version.
Step 3: Upgrade Production Instance
Once your sandbox instance is upgraded, approve upgrade. Same process you need to follow to upgrade production instance upgrade. Also, keep in mind your instance upgrade will not be upgraded till you approve upgrades.
Connection from PHP to Microsoft Dynamics CRMThis time we will learn how to connect Microsoft dynamics CRM using PHP code. Microsoft dynamics CRM soap service can be a way to make calls from PHP source code. A valid soap header is required to execute soap request. Let’s see how to create a valid header using PHP code:
To get valid soap request, first need to create token1, token2, and keyIdentifer which can be created using online user name and password.
Soap enavlop for getting token1, token2, ekyidentifer:
Run SQL Server 2014 Reporting Services Configuration Manager and set-up the Native Reporting Services installation.
This is should pretty much be a next, next, apply thing,
Mine fired up straight away by just using the defaults:
Figure: Reporting Services Configuration Manager Figure: Reporting Services Home Page
Step 8, Now Install CRM 2015 finally..!!
Figure: CRM Installation
Get Recommended Updates| select Get Updates (Which is optional)
Enter your license key
Accept the EULA
At this point you may have a bunch of missing required components, install them (We will take a while, also you may need to reboot system)
Figure: Install Required Components
Select Default Installation Path
Specify Server Roles| Select All Options
Figure: Server Roles
Specify Deployment Options| Enter SQL Server Hostname ie: CRM2014Demo
Select the Organizational Unit| Enter the Organizational Unit
At this point it’s probably a good idea to jump into Active Directory Users and Computersand create an OU for CRM
Figure: Create CRM OU Figure: Assign CRM OU
Specify Service Accounts, Now we’ll need to specify our service accounts for the various CRM Services, since we don’t have any accounts setup, we’ll end up jumping back and forth between Active Directory Users and Computers and the CRM Installation wizard, As this is a DEMO environment I’m going to use NETWORK SERVICE for the accounts.
Figure: Service Accounts
Select Website | Default Website
Email Router Setting | EmptyOrganization Settings| Populate with your Organisation Name and other settings
Report Server URL |Should be pre-populated check the URL
Click next wizard button and install CRM.
After installation of MS CRM it will auto start reporting in service setup.
Click Do not get updates and click next button. In next screen accept line cne and click next.
Select server server computer name and click next
Select database name
Click next wizard button and install, finally you will get finish screen.
Figure: CRM Install Finished And finally let’s start CRM 2015, wow worked first go!
Dynamics CRM 2016 – Custom plugin development – This time we are going through a process of building a custom plug-in for Microsoft Dynamics CRM and its deployment on development server. I assume that you already downloaded and setup Development Tool Kit. And make sure CRM templates are imported in Visual Studio.
Start with creating a solution using Dynamics CRM. Navigate to Settings >> Customization >> Solution. Create a new Solution “AccountPlugin” and choose any name based on project and company requirement. In case, you are going to develop plugin for any existing solution skip this steps.
Save CRM solution and publish.
In Visual Studio, Create new project using Dynamics CRM 2013 Package template. If templates are not available, make sure that you already imported development tool kit templates in Visual Studio.
Dynamics CRM package is selected instead of Dynamics CRM 2013 plugin because it will make our process easy for plugin registration and deployment using tool kit.
You will be asked to connect CRM live before Visual Studio setup package solution. CRM connection screen pops up. You can also open it from Tool >> CRM connection.
Fill out required details and connect development Dynamics CRM server.
URL: CRM URL.
User Name: Domain Administrator
Password: Domain Administrator Password
Browse all organizations and select appropriate organization and solution to hook plugin.
After a successful connection with CRM server, CRM package solution will be created in Visual Studio. Next step is to add a CRM plugin library project in solution. More plug-in projects can be added in one solution.
Now Visual Studio solution is set up and ready for plugin development. Some important file and DLLs are added in projects which are required. Let me elaborate important of these files.
RegisterFile.crmregistration is xml file contains details of all added plugins and workflows and register those in Dynamics CRM when package is deployed. Its auto created file using CRM Development Tool Kit.
Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Proxy and Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk are two very important DLLs referenced in plugin project. These DLLs contain core classes of Microsoft dynamics CRM which are used for plugin operations.
Next step is to create strong name key for plugin project. Right click on project and select properties and create new Strong Name key (SNK). SNK is system oriented and when you move this development code on another machine, SNK needs to create again.
Open CRM explorer from View>>CRM explorer and expend entities. Right click on Account entity and select create plugin. It’s popping up Create Plug-in window.
Let’s go through Create Plug-in form attributes. First one “Project” is default set to “AccountPlugin” as it’s related to a single plugin project, in case we have more than one plugin projects. It will be enabled for selection.
Next is “Primary entity” is about to entity for which plugin is being created and it “Account” entity.
Next one is “Message” is about to CRM action, it’s associated with.
Next important attribute is “Pipeline Stage” and it’s specifying execution time of plugin. In this example, we created “PostAccountcreate” plugin. So Pipeline Stage is to determine on which stage of “PostAccountCreate”, this plug-in will fire.
Next one is “Class” to specify class name for plug-in. Next important attribute is “Execution order” to specify order of plugin execution. In case of many plugins are associated with an action stage, it will be used to determine the execution order of this plug-in. Click Ok and plugin will be created.
After successful creation of “AccountPlugin”. Open “RegisterFile.crmregister” file and a new code line is added in xml for created “AccountPlugin” plugin.
“PostAccountCreate” class is added in plug-in project, where custom code will be written for operations required under this plugin. “ExecutePostAccountCreate” method is responsible for plugin operations.
Sample code lines for update Account entity Name attribute:
Sample code lines use to update Account attribute name value as John. So after an account is created in CRM, account name attribute is updated as “john”.
At the end build project and right click on package and select deploy.
Dynamics CRM 2015 – In my early post you have seen Dynamics CRM 2015 setup demo using Virtual Machine. we are done with installation of Windows Server 2012 and configured the Active Directory; it’s now time to install the SQL Server 2012 on the Virtual Machine. This blog covers the procedure to install Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2013 on a computer that does not already have Microsoft Dynamics CRM installed. Before we proceed it is important we understand the minimum hardware and the software requirements for Installing CRM Server 2013.
Pre-requirements:
Software Requirements
Windows Server 2012
Active Directory Setup
User Accounts
SQL Server Admin account
!svc.sql
Reporting Services Admin account
!svc.ssrs
Steps
Installing SQL Server is really easy to Install. When you first start the SQL Server file, you’ll be presented with a Configuration wizard where you’ll have to select Installation from Left Navigation and then New SQL Server Installation option on the right.
On the First screen of the wizard you’ll have to Accept the License Terms. Just click “I accept the license terms” check-box and press Next.
The Setup will actually scan you system for all of the pre-requisites. If you were following my step-by-step then you should be fine here with 0 Errorsand a couple of warnings, which is fine. Once the scan is completed and you see the summary, Press Next.
At this point you might see another License Terms screen, go ahead andAccept the Licenseand press Next.
Now, the important part of the whole process. You will need to select which features should be installed for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 to run successfully. Following is the list of features you should check.Database Engine Services SQL Server Replication Reporting Service – Native Management Tools (SQL Server Management Studio – Optional) Once you are through, Click Next.
This step will let you know all about Disk Space Requirements. If all is well here, you’ll see the Next button available, Click it
the Service Account Refer the following tables for the accounts to be selected.
SERVICE
ACOUNT NAME
PASSWORD
STARTUP TYPE
SQL Server Agent
domain_name\!svc.sql
“Password”
Automatic
SQL Server Database Engine
domain_name\!svc.sql
“Password”
Automatic
SQL Server Reporting Services
domain_name\!svc.ssrs
“Password”
Automatic
Where domain_nameis the name of your Domain which you setup in Part 2 of the Post (Setting up the Active Directory) and password is the password for your Service Account. Once you are done with the above steps, ClickNext.
Now, you will have to select Authentication Modeand SQL Server Administrators. Select Mixed Mode (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication). Specify the password and then add the users whom you want to give SQL Sever Administrator rights. Once you are done, go to the Next screen.
Next is Reporting Services Configuration. Select Install and Configureunder Reporting Services Native Mode and then press Next.
Next window is for Error Reporting. As of now we will leave this as is and press Next.
In the next screen, system will actually check if there will be any roadblocks while installing the product. Wait until the scan is finished and then pressNext.
Finall you will see the entire Summaryof all the steps and configurations that you have selected. Just take a look at it and press Install
Wait until the installation is over and you are good to go
Dynamics CRM 2015 Setup on Virtual Machine – With most Microsoft products this is pretty easy to setting up, but Dynamics has a more heavier requirements list.
The prerequisites include:
• Windows Server • Active Directory (yep you’ll need to setup a domain controller) • SQL Server Server 2012/2014 • Reporting Services 2012/2014
Let’s get started:
Step 1: First Install Windows 2012 R2 Standard Edition
I’m using VMware (but you could use HyperV, Virtual Box as well).
1. Create a new Virtual Machine, assign 4GB RAM, 40 GB HDD, 1 CPU (it’s only a demo environment so these specs should be fine) 2. Attach the Windows 2012 ISO and do a vanilla installation
Step 2, Run the Active Directory wizard
CRM needs Active Directory, so run the Active directory wizard:
Figure: Configure Active Directory
1. In Server Manager, select Manage | Add Roles and Feature 2. Installation Type | Roles-based or Feature-based installation 3. Server Roles | Active Directory Domain Services 4. Select Add Features 5. Proceed through the wizard and then select Install 6. Once completed, select Promote this server to a domain controller
Figure: Promote Domain Controller
7. Deployment Configuration | Add new forest and enter your Root domain name which is Demo.Local 8. Select Windows Server 2012 R2 for forest and domain functional level 9. Set Password for Directory Services Restore Mode 10. Click on Next, Install 11. Now sit back and wait, after a reboot you will be able to login in to the domain
Note: It’s a good idea to have a static IP address on this machine, but it’s only a warning at this stage.
Step 3, Windows Server Prerequisites
• Indexing Service • IIS Admin • World Wide Web Publishing
Server Manager | Manage | Add Roles and Features
Server Roles: 1. Application Server 2. Web Server (IIS)
Features: 1. .Net Framework 3.5 Features 2. .Net Framework 4.5 Features | ASP.NET 4.5
Web Server Role (IIS) | Role Services: 1. Application Development | ASP.NET 3.5 2. Application Development | ASP.NET 4.5
Instal
Step 4, Install SQL Server
I’ll be installing SQL Server 2014 Developer Edition with the following options: Feature Selection:
1. Select Mixed Mode (personal preference) 2. Specify SQL Server Administrators | select Add Current User
Step 6 ,Reporting Services Native Mode:
1. Select Install Only
Install using all other defaults.
Step 7, Configure Reporting Services Native Install Run SQL Server 2014 Reporting Services Configuration Manager and set-up the Native Reporting Services installation. This is should pretty much be a next, next, apply thing, Mine fired up straight away by just using the defaults:
Figure: Reporting Services Configuration Manager
Figure: Reporting Services Home Page
Step 8, Now Install CRM 2015 finally..!!
Figure: CRM Installation
1. Get Recommended Updates | select Get Updates (Which is optional) 2. Enter your license key 3. Accept the EULA 4. At this point you may have a bunch of missing required components, install them (We will take a while, also you may need to reboot system)
Figure: Install Required Components
5. Select Default Installation Path 6. Specify Server Roles | Select All Options
Figure: Server Roles
7. Specify Deployment Options | Enter SQL Server Hostname ie: CRM2014Demo 8. Select the Organizational Unit | Enter the Organizational Unit
1. At this point it’s probably a good idea to jump into Active Directory Users and Computers and create an OU for CRM
Figure: Create CRM OU
Figure: Assign CRM OU
9. Specify Service Accounts, Now we’ll need to specify our service accounts for the various CRM Services, since we don’t have any accounts setup, we’ll end up jumping back and forth between Active Directory Users and Computers and the CRM Installation wizard, As this is a DEMO environment I’m going to use NETWORK SERVICE for the accounts.
Figure: Service Accounts
10. Select Website | Default Website
11. Email Router Setting | EmptyOrganization Settings | Populate with your Organisation Name and other settings
12. Report Server URL | Should be pre-populated check the URL
Click next wizard button and install CRM.
After installation of MS CRM it will auto start reporting in service setup.
Click Do not get updates and click next button. In next screen accept line cne and click next.
Select server server computer name and click next
Select database name
Click next wizard button and install, finally you will get finish screen.
Figure: CRM Install Finished
And finally let’s start CRM 2015, wow worked first go!
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