MS CRM 4 - Custom name for entity lookup link - dynamics-crm

When I have a custom entity Referral, the primary attribute is a refid and this is what shows up in associated views (as the link text that opens Referral form). I need to change this name to something that is generated from entity attributes). Something like:
Referral.ToString() { return ref.id + " " + ref.first_name + " " + ref.last_name + " "; }
instead of the default ref.id.ToString() -- or however it works.
Is this possible via the MS CRM 4? I fear it might not be (having clicked through the gui customizations for a while), but maybe I missed something.
If not, what is the most elegant way of doing this? A javascript function would need to be somewhere global (otherwise it would need to be copy+pasted to every form/view that mentions Referral). Also, the javascript function (I assume), would need to do at least one additional XmlFetch on every view.
Any suggestions, comments, ideas welcome. I've started modifying the MS CRM at work and I keep hitting issues that I feel have been solved by open source python web frameworks over and over again. Please help a poor soul at work :)

I've found the easiest way of handling this is to populate the primary attribute with the fields you want concatenated. You can do this in javascript on the form, a plugin registered to fire on create and on change of any of the attributes you want, or a combination of both.
Unfortunately, there's no (supported) way to change the primary attribute after create of an entity. You'd have to recreate the entity with something like prrfix_name as the primary attribute, and then combine your id, first_name, and last_name fields.
Trying to alter CRM's behavior re: displaying the primary attribute would be completely unsupported, and probably pretty technically daunting and take a huge chunk of time. I'd just take the time hit to recreate the entity with a new primary attribute.

Related

How to save a record with validation rule in place

I currently have a validation rule that prevents user from making changes to a record when its status is completed. Users are only allowed to make changes if the status is either draft or registered.
AND(
TEXT(Current_Status__c) <> "Draft",
TEXT(Current_Status__c) <> "Registered"
)
There is a new requirement to allow user to update only a specific picklist value field even if the record status is completed. If i remove the validation rule, user will be able to change any fields on the page layout which won't work.
Object setting for the profile is read, create, edit. This object is a child object to Opportunity, OWD is controlled by parent.
Any recommendation on how to solve this issue ?
Thanks in advance.
We can rewrite your rule as ISPICKVAL(Current_Status__c, 'Completed') for example, looks bit cleaner. Your call though, you can keep as is.
So what you'd need is something like ISPICKVAL(Current_Status__c, 'Completed') && !ISCHANGED(Some_Picklist__c). It should let the edit through if you're modifying that picklist.
The problem is it won't check if that's the only change. Usercan cheat, modify 10 fields and they'll "piggyback" and save OK as long as one of them is that picklist.
It's pain to write validation like ISPICKVAL(Current_Status__c, 'Completed') && !ISCHANGED(Some_Picklist__c) && (ISCHANGED(Field1__c) || ISCHANGED(Field2__c) || ISCHANGED(Field3__c)). You'd have to add all editable fields to it, change it every time you make new one. And eventually you'll hit length limits.
I know 3 options for this if it's a concern for you:
Ask a developer to rewrite your logic to Apex trigger, it could then go dynamic through all fields (using "describe" calls to learn field names or stuff like getPopulatedFieldsAsMap.
Another trick is to allow editing completed records only through a quick action, not normal edit page. In that action you could set some hidden checkbox in the field prepopulating step and your validation would let the save through only if that checkbox is set. But then you need to deactivate it somehow anyway or the bypass will get permamently enabled.
If you don't have too many record types on the object a common trick is to change the record type on completion (workflow, process builder etc). And have another page layout with all fields locked down except that special picklist. It works good enough for UI changes but won't protect if you have code and integrations writing to the object too.

Apply a sort to a dataset in a PowerApps component (PCF)

I’m trying to create a new dataset type Powerapps Component (PCF). For the moment I am using it to display a view of the records that are available in an entity in Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
I wish to make the view sort itself when I click on the grid column headers (in a similar way that the default CRM grid view does). I'm trying to figure out how to apply a sort to the dataset so that I can refresh it as indicated by the documentation for the dataset.refresh() function:
Refreshes the dataset based on filters, sorting, linking, new column.
New data will be pushed to control in another 'updateView' cycle.
The dataset object does have a “sorting” property, but changing its value and then refreshing the dataset doesn’t seem to have any effect. After the refresh, the sorting property reverts to the value it had before I changed it.
In short, the click handler for the grid header does something like the following bit of code. The refresh gets done and my updateView() function gets called as expected but the sorting was not applied.
dataset.sorting = [{name: 'createdon', sortDirection: 1}];
dataset.refresh();
Any help on getting the dataset sorting to work would be appreciated.
I've been experimenting with PowerApps Component Framework a little bit recently and I can confirm that the following code won't be working:
dataSet.sorting = [ { name: "columnName", sortDirection: 0 } ];
However, I managed to get this one working for me:
dataSet.sorting.pop(); // you may want to clean up the whole collection
dataSet.sorting.push({ name: "columnName", sortDirection: 0 });
I haven't really figured out the reason of this behavior. The sorting array may be implemented as some form of observable collection in the background.
I hope this will guide you to a functioning solution.
The documentation is pretty abysmal here, but here is my best guess from putting a few different pieces of information together.
TLDR: I think there is some kind of extra method that needs to be called on the .sorting property, but I can't find out what it is called. Maybe something like:
dataset.sorting.setSorting({name: 'createdon', sortDirection: 1});
I think you're going to have to try a bunch of likely method names and see what works.
Background and links:
The only reference I could find to dataset.sorting was from here:
In this preview for canvas apps, only a limited set of filtering and sortStatus methods are supported. Filter and sort can be applied to dataset on primary type columns except for the GUID. Filter and sorting can be applied in the same way as in model-driven apps.To retrieve the dataset with filtering and sorting information, call
the methods in context.parameters.[dataset_property_name].filtering
and context.parameters.[dataset_property_name].sorting, then invoke
the context.parameters.[dataset_property_name].refresh().
So it seems that the .filtering and .sorting properties are handled similarly, and that there are some methods attached to them, and only some are supported. That is about as vague as they could make it...
I did find an example of how .filtering is used:
_context.parameters.sampleDataset.filtering.setFilter({
conditions: conditionArray,
filterOperator: 1, // Or
});
There is a brief reference to .setFilter() in the docs, as well as FilterExpression
There is a SortStatus reference, but it doesn't have any corresponding methods explicitly called out. It is possible that this is not yet a supported feature in the public preview, or the documentation is lacking and the name and syntax of the method you need to call on .sorting is not yet documented.

Creating a unique ID in a form

I have a form that I have users fill out and then it gets e-mailed to me.
I am trying to get an example of how I would create an ID (based on my own conventions) that I can use to keep track of responses (and send back to the user so they can reference it later).
This is the convention I am striving for:
[YEAR]-[SERVICE CODE]-[DATE(MMDD)]-[TIME]
For example: "2012-ABC-0204-1344". I figured to add the TIME convention in the instance that two different users pick the same service on the same date rather than try to figure out how to only apply it IF two users picked the same service on the same date.
So, the scenario is that after the user goes through my wizards inputting their information and then click "Submit" that this unique ID would be created and attached to the model. Maybe something like #Model.UniqueID so that in an e-mail response I send to the user it shows up and says "Reference this ID for any future communication".
Thanks for any advice/help/examples.
In your post action
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Create(YourModel model)
{
model.UniqueId = GenerateUniqueId(serviceCode);
}
public string GenerateUniqueId(string serviceCode)
{
return string.Format("{0}-{1}-{2}", DateTime.Now.Year, serviceCode, Guid.NewGuid().ToString().Replace("-",""); //remove dashes so its fits into your convention
}
but this seems as I'm missing part of your question. If you really want unique, use a Guid. This is what we've used in the past to give to customers - a guid or a portion of one. IF you use a portion of one ensure you have logic to handle a duplicate key. You don't need to worry about this though if using a full guid. If the idea is just to give to a customer then ignore the rest of the data and just use a guid, since it can easily be looked up in the database.

Vaadin custom table header

I want to build custom filtering header for Vaadin tables.
Can you please give some examples or solution to this problem.
I want to add a combo box or check box that will refine the search in the table like Excel columns.
We faced the problem of adding custom filters for Vaadin Table in our project as well.
As a solution we added a dynamic filter form above the table. It has become flexible and agile enough to apply filters.
We created Vaadin Addon in order to share our solution - Lexaden Grid.
You can find more information by the following link:
http://www.lexaden.com/main/entry/lexaden_grid
At the moment it is quite hard to add a custom component to do filtering with to the header of a table. It would require you to make your own version of Table by inheritance/copy&paste (not sure what is enough), and that is something most people wan't to avoid at the moment if anyway possible. The current implementation of the Table component is one of the most complicated components of Vaadin. It is doable if you insist putting components in header, but prepare for some serious thinking to get things to work.
I'd suggest making the filtering of data in containers with components just next/above your table. Hiding the table header is sometimes acceptable if there's no crucial information shown there. If you want something precisely on the header, it would require some empty headers and CSS positioning components on correct place.
You can always group table and other filtering components to one CustomComponent for easier abstraction.
Book of Vaadin is a very good reference for vaadin implementation. The link consist of an example code like:
// Define the properties
table.addContainerProperty("lastname", String.class, null);
table.addContainerProperty("born", Integer.class, null);
table.addContainerProperty("died", Integer.class, null);
// Set nicer header names
table.setColumnHeader("lastname", "Name");
table.setColumnHeader("born", "Born");
table.setColumnHeader("died", "Died");
Is this what you ask for? If it isn't, can you please specify your question a bit more clearly?
edit: Vaadin Sampler also contains handful code samples.

Convert Order into custom entity 'X'

Issue is :
I have one system Entity called 'Order' and another custom entity 'X'. I am looking for some kind of same functionality as available on Quote called 'Convert into Order'. I want the same functionality on Order form that there will be some button on it and when i click on it, it will create instance of entity 'X' and not only this, it will also transfer all the mapping attributes of Order and 'X', on the 'X' form.
Can any one share his experience or step to implement this?
Many thanks.
You would have to use JavaScript and call CRM web services on click of new button.
So you don't have to map your attributes of your entities in JavaScript, you could use InitializeFromRequest to achieve same result. I have used this way to programmatically qualify/disqualify leads and convert them to contact, account and opportunities.
There is a nice sample code for this on CodePlex:
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/CRM_30___EntityMoniker.aspx
Please note, this code has a bug. Check Ronalds post for quick fix:
http://ronaldlemmen.blogspot.com/2008/09/convert-lead-to-contact-account-andor.html
Yuo could do this using an on demand triggered workflow. just create a workflow targting the order entity, have the first step create a new entity X by copying the valuses from the passed in order entity.
if you want the option to do this to show under the more actions menu instead of teh workflows one then you can edit the isv.config file.

Resources