If you have exported and edited a chart outside of Dynamics CRM, then you will need to import the chart back into Dynamics CRM before you can use it. This recipe includes the steps needed to import a chart back into Dynamics CRM.
Tip
The main part of this recipe shows how to import a System chart, and the There's more... section describes how to do the same for a user chart.
In order to export a System chart, you must be logged in as a System Administrator or have the Customizer Security Role.
Carry out the following steps in order to complete this recipe:
- Navigate to the Customization section in the Settings area of Dynamics CRM. Click on the Customize the System link to open the default solution.
- Locate the Case entity in the left navigation of the Solution Explorer dialog. View the Charts listing for the entity and click on the Import Chart option in the More Actions menu, as shown in the following screenshot:
- The Import Chart dialog will appear. Click on the Browse button to locate the XML file that was edited in the previous recipes. Once you have selected it, click the OK button to continue:
- We are importing an existing chart (versus a brand-new one perhaps from another environment), and hence, Dynamics CRM will ask you how to handle the duplicate chart. Clicking on the Replace button will overwrite the original chart, while clicking on the Keep Both option will make a new chart with a unique name. For this recipe, click on the Replace button to continue:
- Assuming there are no errors with the chart that you are importing, the next screen will say that the chart was successfully imported. If there are errors with the XML, they will be noted on this screen. You can edit the Chart XML to fix the problems and try importing again. If there are no errors, then click on the Close button to continue:
- From the listing of charts shown in the Solution Explorer, locate the imported chart and double-click on Open the Chart Designer window. You will see a preview of what the modified chart will look like.
The following section covers the steps needed to import a user chart.
If you have created user charts in the Dynamics CRM 2011 system, and you have write permissions for the corresponding entity, then you will also be able to extend and re-import them. Assuming that you have already exported and extended a user chart for the Case entity (refer to Chapter 8, Creating a Chart for more details), then this section will show you how to import the modified chart back into Dynamics CRM.
Locate your user chart and display it alongside a view in Dynamics CRM. The ribbon bar will enable the Import Chart button. Click on the Import Chart button, as shown in the following screenshot. The steps to import the chart will be the same as noted in this recipe previously regarding a System chart:
