Chapter 11. Configuring Microsoft CRM

In this chapter

Why Configure?

Configuration Tools

Deployment Manager

System Customization

Customizing Forms

Status and Status Reason

Use Case Corner—Adding Java Script to the OnChange Event of Picklist Fields

Summary

By now you've probably noticed that there is also a chapter in this book titled “Customizing Microsoft CRM” (Chapter 14). Let's start by explaining the difference between configuring and customizing so that we can clear up any potential confusion between these two chapters.

We use the term configuration to refer to changes that can be made to Microsoft CRM using the standard tools provided with the application. Specifically, configuration is anything that can be done using

• Deployment Manager— A client-server application that is installed with the CRM server.

• System Customization— A section under the Settings tab of the Microsoft CRM Web client.

• Workflow Manager— A client-server application that is installed with the CRM server.

Configuration changes for the most part require no use of code or creation of custom Web pages or programs. In this chapter we'll cover the first two of the three tools listed above. We'll go into detail about Workflow Manager in Chapter 12, “Workflow.” We use the term customization to refer to changes that require the use of code and the modification of files. Customization is generally done using development tools like Visual Studio and development languages like C#, Active Server Pages (ASP/ASP.NET), and so on.

With any change you want to make to your Microsoft CRM system, you should first investigate all possible configuration options before resorting to customization options.