A plugin is defined as a custom business logic that can be installed in Microsoft Dynamics CRM to make customizations or to enhance the standard behavior of the platform. Plugins help in

handling various events and each plugin executes a specific event. In general, the Plug-ins are written in VB or C# can run an asynchronous or synchronous mode.

The main role of workflows is to automate the various simple and complex functionalities in CRM. There are two ways to create CRM functionalities: one is using out-of-the-box functionalities and the other is for automating complex functionalities by writing custom workflows using .NET code.  Workflow processes can be run either in real-time or background.

In general, Workflows can be triggered based on specific events or conditions or events being done by the users.  The Windows Workflow Foundation is internally used in CRM to implement workflows.

Workflow refers to the Asynchronous process and requires no user input. It is a background process. Whereas dialogue works based on the asynchronous process and a user needs to give input.

E-mail router is a software application and creates an interface between Microsoft Dynamics CRM deployment and the organization’s messaging system.  This component is needed to install and configure in the supported environment. After completion of the installation and configuration process of the E-mail, Router transfers the incoming emails to the Microsoft Dynamics platform and sends the outgoing message created by various users and systems.

In Microsoft Dynamics, we have two types of solutions which are managed and unmanaged.  An Unmanaged solution is nothing but a solution that is still under development or not yet ready for distribution. If an unmanaged solution is completed and if you want to distribute it, you are required to export it and package it as a managed solution.

Following are the privileges need to create a solution:

• Read-write of solutions
• Read-write of web resources
• Publish customizations
• Read-write of Customizations
• Read-write of publishers
• Import and Export customizations

Below mentioned is the list of components that can be added to a Solutions:

• Article Template
• Chart
• Contract Template
• Email Template
• Entity Relationship
• Field Security Profile
• Mail Merge Template
• Option Set
• Process
• SDK Message Processing Step
• Service Endpoint
• Web Resource
• Business Rule
• Connection Role
• Dashboard
• Entity
• Field
• Form
• Message
• Plug-in Assembly
• Report
• Security Role
• Site Map

Managed properties will help you in identifying the components of the managed solutions that can be customized. If you wish to apply managed properties then you need to include an entity using a managed solution and download it into another environment. These settings will give the power to Solution makers to restrict or impose restrictions on the users to make customizations. If you wish to set managed properties for an entity all you need to do is select the entity from the menu bar and click on the Managed Properties.

Following are the list of new components that can be collected from a solution:

• Entity
• Web Resources
• Dashboards
• Connection Roles
• Templates (Mail merge, Email, contract, and Article)
• Option sets
• Processes
• Reports
• Security Roles
• Field security profiles

In MS CRM each solution has a publisher. The publisher component works closely with data sources to track modifications over a specific time period. The Microsoft dynamics comes with a default publisher named with “Default Publisher for”. You can also have a chance to create a customized publisher for a solution.

The web resources are nothing but components of CRM to develop HTML, JS, Images, Silverlight, and style sheet files.  Following are the various web resource we have in CRM:

• Webpage (HTML)
• Script (JScript)
• Image (PNG)
• Image (GIF)
• StyleSheet (XSL)
• Style Sheet (CSS)
• Data (XML)
• Image (JPG)
• Silverlight (XAP)
• Image (ICO)

Metadata is data about data or collection of entities. The Metadata of Microsoft Dynamics CRM contains information about entities and attributes.  For example data type of an attribute, platform name, display name, size of an attribute etc. Entity metadata acts as a controller of types you record one can create and the type of actions executed on them.

The discovery service plays an important role in identifying the users of an organization and the endpoint address URL to access organizational information.  A single Microsoft Dynamics CRM can provide hosting to various business organizations. The discovery service will help your application to find the endpoint address URL to access the data of a targeted business.

Following are the list of data types we have in CRM:

• A single line of text
• Date and Time
• Multiple lines of text
• Decimal Number
• Floating Point Number
• Option set
• Lookup
• Currency
• Whole Number
• Two Options
• Image

Following are some of the widely used tools for CRM development:

• CRM Developer toolkit
• Ribbon Workbench
• XrmToolkit
• Plugin Registration.

No, it is not possible to update the components in a managed solution.

Following are the components which need to be published when updated

• Application Ribbon
• Entity Relationship
• Form
• Option Set
• Web Resource
• Entity
• Field
• Message
• Site Map

The maximum character limit of the “Multiline textbox” is 1048576.

Product Offerings

Microsoft Dynamics CRM  is offering two products which are CRM online and CRM On-premises.

CRM Online

This is a cloud-based service offered by Microsoft in which all the services such as application servers, deployments, licensing, databases, setups, etc are managed on Microsoft owned servers. CRM online is a subscription-based service suitable for organizations who are unable to manage the technicalities involved in CRM implementation. Setting up an online CRM will take only a little time from weeks to months.

CRM On-Premise

This is the more robust and highly customizable offering from Microsoft Dynamics CRM. In this module, all the applications and databases would be deployed on client-server rather than Microsoft servers. CRM on-premises gives you overall control on things such as customizations, database, backups, deployments, licencing and a lot more other setups. This is best suitable for those who require customized CRM solutions and better integration capabilities.

Following are the multiple ways one can use to access the Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

• Mobile and Tablets
• Browser
• Outlook

An Entity in CRM helps in modelling and managing business data. Various types of entities are Cases, Contacts, Accounts, Opportunities, Leads, Activities, etc. It acts as a database table and stores the information which is organized format and easy to retrieve.

It is one among the advanced features available in Microsoft Dynamics CRM. It comes with the out-of-the-box with CRM and available as a search icon on top of the ribbon bar on your Microsoft Dynamics irrespective of your screen size and type.

A Managed Solution is a completed package that is ready for distribution and installation purpose.  You can not make any further customizations to the managed solution because of a prior definition of settings. There may be some unrestricted components of managed solutions to which you can make customizations.

It is very easy to find because each managed solution is linked with a publisher. And the Publisher is the one who has developed it.

You can access all the secured fields in CRM using System Administrator security profile filed. In Microsoft Dynamics, by default, every user has a System Administrator role. It is a system managed profile and can’t be deleted or updated.

The below procedure to changes make modifications:

• Open the settings icon on the right corner of CRM instance
• Choose the options tab
• Click on “customize” under the format tab
• Now a user can make changes the format of Currency, Numbers, Date and Time.

• Settings → Solutions
• Click on the solution that you want to export
• Select the “Export” option
• Follow the Wizard and choose the “Managed” solution type from the “Package Type” page.
• Complete the remaining steps in the wizard and click on save changes.

Remove button: This helps in releasing the components from the solution.

Delete button: This helps in removes a component from a CRM.

In general, the answers are No, but if you need the change then you have to re-install MSCRM.