Relationships in CRM 4

This is an article which is useful for people studying the Customization and configuration exam but relationships are good to know if you using CRM.
Relationships and mappings are 20 percent of the Customization and configuration certification so it’s vital you know the different types and how they work.
This article explains the various relationship types you have in CRM 4
The relationship type defines the cascading rules for a relationship. The following table describes the possible relationship types.

 

Relationship type Description
System A parental relationship type automatically defined by Microsoft Dynamics CRM for system entity relationships. You cannot modify this kind of relationship.
Parental All operations on the parent entity instance are propagated to the child entity instances (cascade all):  

  • If the entity instance is deleted, its related entity instances will also be deleted.
  • If the entity instance is assigned to another user, its related entity instances will also be assigned to the other user.
  • If the entity instance is shared with another user, its related entity instances will also be shared with the other user.
Referential Operations are not cascaded between entities (cascade none):  

  • If the entity instance is deleted, only the link from its related entity instances is deleted.
  • If the entity instance is assigned to another user, its related entity instances are not affected.
  • If the entity instance is shared with another user, its related entity instances are not affected.
Referential, Restricted The entity instance can only be deleted if it has no related entity instances. Otherwise, this relationship type is the same as referential.
Configurable Cascading Cascading rules can be configured for most actions. For system relationships, you can select the cascading rules for all actions except merge or delete. For custom relationships, cascading rules can be selected for all actions except merge. Cascading on merge is dependent on the referenced entity. If the referenced entity is an account, contact, or lead, the action cascades. Otherwise, it does not.


This article also gives a good overview of the relationships in CRM

Finally here are a couple of well written articles with videos links

Many to Many

http://www.dynamicscrmtrickbag.com/2010/01/18/many-to-many-relationships/

Self- Referential Relationships

http://www.dynamicscrmtrickbag.com/2008/09/01/entity-relationships-in-dynamics-crm-4/

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How to format your document in visual studio

I was getting angry today because some code I pasted into Visual studio was a complete mess.

I was searching for the formatter but I couldn’t see it anywhere.

I eventually found the format document hidden in the Advanced tab!!!  what is so advanced about formatting some code I ask you

Instructions
which you will find in the menu Edit -> Advanced -> Format document.

The shortcut is Ctrl K, Ctrl D

for the whole document

or

Ctrl K, Ctrl F

for the section of code you have highlighted

How to find out how many CRM licences you are using

How to find how many licences you have in CRM

You can look in the deployment manager in the license tab

Or if you go to Settings/Administration/Users/Add Multiple.  You will see this screen

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/ukcrm/archive/2008/01/14/where-is-your-crm-4-0-license-key.aspx

I also found the this article which had a lot of useful licence information

Where Is Your CRM 4.0 License Key?

Simon Hutson

14 Jan 2008 7:48 AM

We Are Finding Who We Are…

Not a week has gone past in the last couple of years where I haven’t been asked by a customer or partner where they can obtain/find the correct license key for their CRM implementation, and quite frankly we didn’t make this particularly easy for you. I saw a licensing presentation a couple of weeks ago, which aims to de-mystify the whole process and thought this would be a particulally useful resource I could point people to whenever they asked the question.

1. Trial License Keys

Applies To: Workgroup, Professional & Enterprise Editions

You can download the media from 90-Day Trial download web site here, where you can also find trial keys. To save you time, the trial keys are as follows:

  • Workgroup Edition (5 CAL limit): V8QCJ-74RXV-FF27W-TY3V2-92MJY
  • Professional Edition (no CAL limit): P6MYC-RPKCC-QWWCM-6MTJ3-RT3DY
  • Enterprise Edition (no CAL limit): QCKXD-BDH8R-G74H8-RDYHX-R4K4T

2. MSDN Subscriber Downloads License Keys

Applies To: Workgroup, Professional & Enterprise Editions

You can download media from MSDN Subscriber Downloads and also obtain license key from the site. There are different levels of MSDN subscription available for development, test & demonstration purposes, but in order to access MIcrosoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 you will need an active MSDN Premium subscription. If you have an MSDN Operating Systems subscription or MSDN Professional subscription you will not have access to CRM 4.0

3. Microsoft Partner Programme License Keys

Applies To: Professional & Enterprise Editions

You will receive the license keys in the physical media kits. Existing partners will receive their license key on a card inserted in their monthly update kit and new partners, in the welcome kit.

  • Certified Partners will receive a CRM 4.0 Professional Edition key.
  • Gold Certified Partners will receive a CRM 4.0 Enterprise Edition key.

4. Microsoft Action Pack Subscription (MAPS) License Keys

Applies To: Workgroup Edition

If you are Microsoft Registered Partner and subscribe to MAPS, your license key will be on a Yellow Sticker on the DVD and media is shipped in your quarterly subscription kit.

5. Volume License Keys (Open, Select and EA)

Applies To: Workgroup, Professional & Enterprise Editions

Your license key is pre-configured on the media, and you no longer have to enter the key as part of the installation process. If you do need the actual license key, for example if you are upgrading from a 90-day trial key, this is on the media which you can order as follows:

  • Open License – media available through eOpen
  • Select & EA – media available through MVLS (Microsoft Volume License Services)

6. BRL (Business Ready License) License Keys

Applies To: Professional, Enterprise & Academic Alliance Editions

Before May 2008, your License Key will be on a note attached to your Microsoft Dynamics Partner Invoice. After May 2008, your Microsoft Dynamics Partner will obtain the license key(s) in VOICE (Virtual Organisation Information CEntre),

7. SPLA (Service Provider License Agreement) License Keys

Applies To: Service Provider Edition

Your license key is pre-configured on the media, and you no longer have to enter the key as part of the installation process. You use the same key for each instance of CRM you deploy, so you need to use the same media each time.

8. ISV Royalty License Keys

Applies To: Professional & Enterprise Editions

Your license key is pre-configured on the media, and you no longer have to enter the key as part of the installation process. You use the same key for each client solution you deploy, so you need to use the same media each time.

Hopefully this will clear up most of the confusion that surrounds CRM product license keys, and enable you to get the right key at the right time, every time.

This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights.

 

 

CRM 2011 Books coming out soon

I was searching for some CRM 2011 dev articles and then I came across a book which sounded great.

There are a few books being released in Feb which is good.  The first book in the list below pro Microsoft dynamics CRM 2011 development: creating CRM and XRM solutions sounds very interesting.

There are also some favourites upgraded, the unleashed CRM 4 book was excellent as was the working with, so I imagine they will both be pretty good.

So anyway I stumbled across the list of CRM 5/CRM 2011 books which are going to be released in the near future and thought I would just list them, to remind myself if nothing else

Pro Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Development: Creating CRM and XRM solutions by Justin Mathena

Publisher: Apress; 1 edition (February 15, 2011)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Administration Bible By Matthew Wittemann

Publisher: Wiley (February 8, 2011)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Step by Step by Mike Snyder

Publisher: Microsoft Press; 1 edition (February 4, 2011)

Working with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

Mike Snyder (Author), Jim Steger (Author)

Publisher: Microsoft Press; 1 edition (April 15, 2011)

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 5 Unleashed

Marc J. Wolenik (Author), Damian Sinay (Author), Rajya Vardhan Bhaiya (Author)

publisher: Sams: 1st edition (4th April 2011)