CRM Templates : URL Addressable Elements

Ever wanted to access templates (views, new and existing records) as URL addressable forms and elements ?

Well, here you go. Below are the URL addressable reference through which you can access templates and embed in your custom application as needed.

Template Views:

Template	Addressable URL
Article Templates	/Tools/Templates/templates.aspx?pid=01
Contract Templates	/Tools/Templates/templates.aspx?pid=02
Email Templates	/Tools/Templates/templates.aspx?pid=03
Mail Merge Templates	/Tools/Templates/templates.aspx?pid=04

Template New Records:

Template	Addressable URL
Article Templates	/tools/kbtemplateeditor/kbtemplateeditor.aspx
Contract Templates	/tools/contracttypemanager/edit.aspx
Email Templates (Organization, Global)	/Tools/EmailTemplateEditor/emailtemplateeditor.aspx?isPersonal=0&templateTypeCode=8
Email Templates (Organization, Entity based)	/Tools/EmailTemplateEditor/emailtemplateeditor.aspx?isPersonal=0&templateTypeCode=1
Email Templates (Personal, Global)	/Tools/EmailTemplateEditor/emailtemplateeditor.aspx?isPersonal=1&templateTypeCode=8
Email Templates (Personal, Entity based)	/Tools/EmailTemplateEditor/emailtemplateeditor.aspx?isPersonal=1&templateTypeCode=1
Mail Merge Templates	/tools/mailmerge/edit.aspx

Template Existing Records:

CRM Template	Addressable URL
Article Templates	/tools/kbtemplateeditor/kbtemplateeditor.aspx?id=Guid
Contract Templates	/tools/contracttypemanager/edit.aspx?id=Guid
Email Templates	/tools/emailtemplateeditor/emailtemplateeditor.aspx?id=Guid
Mail Merge Templates	/tools/mailmerge/edit.aspx?id=Guid

Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 App for CRM

There are two Microsoft Dynamics CRM for tablets apps in the Windows store, one for Windows 8 and one for Windows 8.1

Why do we have two apps ? Whats the difference ? 

Well, here's the details..

CRM Online Spring '14 and CRM 2013 Service Pack 1 : Open records with 'No Navigation Bar Or Command Bar'

You can now open a CRM records/views with no navigation bar or command bar.

This capability was introduced with the CRM Online Spring '14 and CRM 2013 Service Pack 1 release.

All you need to do is add &navbar=off&cmdbar=false to the URL.

No more unsupported stuffs !!!.

CRM Posts (Social Panel) : URL Addressable Elements

Ever wanted to view\embed Social Posts associated to any CRM record in a separate page ? 

Well, you can do it. Here you go !!!.

CRM record's social panel post frame is also URL addressable elements. You can directly invoke, view and embed it in your custom application so that users can view information and perform actions without switching applications.

With below URL will display the record’s social panel of an account record.

https://dynamicscrmusualsuspect.dynamics.com/Webresources/msdyn_/RecordWall.htm?data=hideuserprofile%3D1&id=%7B66A58283-E4FF-E211-864B-B4B52F567D08%7D&orglcid=1033&type=1&typename=account&userlcid=1033

Below are the parameter details.

Parameter	Values	Mandatory\Optional ?
HideUserProfile	0 or 1 (Option to show\hide 'Follow' option)	Optional
ID	Record's GUID (accountid, contactid, etc..)	Mandatory
Type	Object Type Code (e.g. 1 for account, 2 for contact, etc..)	Mandatory
TypeName	Entity Type Name (e.g. account, contact, etc..)	Mandatory
OrgLcid	Organization Language code (e.g. 1033)	Optional
UserLcid	Users Language code (e.g. 1033)	Optional

* All parameters are case sensitive. Make sure to use all parameters in lowercase as shown in the above URL.

Below is the snippet of the Posts panel of an account record directly accessed via URL.

Happy hacking !!!.

CRM 2013 Unified Service Desk walkthroughs

Couple of good TechNet walkthroughs available for Unified Service Desk. Each walkthrough in this section covers an area or a combination of areas in Unified Service Desk for Microsoft Dynamics CRM. These walkthroughs are designed in increasing order of complexity so it may benefit you to do them in sequence.

Refer TechNet article for more details. 

Unified Service Desk for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013

Unified Service Desk for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 provides a configuration-based framework for quickly building agent applications for call centers. You can aggregate customer information from different areas in Microsoft Dynamics CRM into a single desktop and get a 360° view of customer interactions. 

For more information, see Unified Service Desk Administration Guide.

This download contains the setup for the following:

• Unified Service Desk client application.
• Unified Service Desk sample packages.

Download Link

Configuring Claims-based Authentication for Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server use claims-based authentication to authenticate internal users and to enable Internet access for external users not using VPN. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2011 introduced and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server 2013 continues with the use of claims-based authentication, an identity access solution designed to provide simplified user access and single sign-on access to Microsoft Dynamics CRM. This document provides information about:

1. Preparing your server environment for claims-based authentication, including configuring AD FS.
2. Installing and configuring Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server claims-based authentication for internal access, external access (IFD), or both internal and external access
3. Federation trusts, Microsoft Office Outlook connections, and other configuration considerations.

Download White Paper.