The Microsoft CRM Customization eCourse examines the various ways in which you can customize the application to meet your business requirements. Customization can take on many forms – from workflow, to customizing the application and database schema, to report customization, to extended customization via the Software Development Kit (SDK). Workflow Manager allows you to automate your company’s business policies by creating workflow rules that can be automatically and/or manually applied to selected objects. Workflow Manager also includes the ability to create Sales Processes, which automate the activities associated with prospecting, qualifying, and closing sales opportunities.

The Microsoft CRM Customization tool allows you to customize the form, views, and preview panes associated with each object. Used in conjunction with the Schema Manager utility, you will learn how to modify the database schema, and then apply those customizations to the application. This course will also introduce you to the Software Development Kit, or SDK, which is a tool used by developers for creating vertical solutions that can interface with the CRM application. And finally, from a reporting standpoint, you will be introduced to the Crystal Report Designer tool, which allows you to create new reports and modify any of the existing reports that were shipped with the application.
 

By studiously working on this e-course you will Learn:

• About Microsoft CRM’s architecture and how it facilitates customization

• How Workflow rules that can automate your company’s business policies

• How sales processes created in Workflow Manager can automate the activities required to prospect, qualify, and close sales opportunities

• About Microsoft CRM’s Customization Tool that allows you to modify forms, views, and preview panes

• How Microsoft CRM’s Schema Manager tool allows you to customize the database schema by adding custom fields to each object as well as creating custom database mappings

• How to publish your customizations to your production and/or test environments

• About Microsoft CRM’s Software Development Kit (SDK), which allows you to create external customizations that leverage the platform layer’s class libraries

• How the Crystal Designer reporting tool allows you to create new reports and modify existing reports.

Who Should Take this eCourse:
Designed for customers who will be customizing the application. This typically includes implementers, consultants, developers, systems administrators, project leaders, etc.

Prerequisites:

An understanding of the Microsoft CRM application. Student should also be familiar with the Microsoft CRM Implementation Tool Kit and the various documents that can be used to plan and implement customizations.

Instructional Hour(s) - 16

Additional Hour(s) - 8

Possible CPE Hour(s) - 0

Subscription Length - 30 days

Agenda:

Architecture
This tutorial, Microsoft CRM Architecture, provides you with a foundational understanding of the CRM application so you have a base from which you can start your customization efforts.

Workflow
This tutorial is designed to provide you with an understanding of the Workflow functionality in Microsoft CRM. In this tutorial, we will discuss the definition of workflow, benefits of the Microsoft CRM Workflow tool, typical scenarios where Microsoft CRM workflow can be used, core Microsoft CRM workflow concepts, events, conditions, actions, how to work with Workflow manager, workflow monitor and Sales Process management.

View Customization
This tutorial is intended to provide you with a high-level understanding of how Microsoft CRM can be easily and efficiently customized. Then you will learn how to customize Views in particular.

Form Customization
This tutorial will examine how you can customize Forms in Microsoft CRM. This involves modifying the Forms that are used to maintain data for a given object. In addition, this tutorial will show you how you can customize Preview Panes, the preview windows that can be displayed for a record from any of the list views for an object.

Customization and Deployment Manager
This tutorial is designed to provide you with an understanding of the Customization features found in Deployment Manager, Microsoft CRM’s powerful customization tool. Used by System Administrators and value-added resellers, deployment manager can manage and customize various Microsoft CRM components.

Introduction to SDK
The Software Development Kit or “SDK” is a valuable resource for developers to customize the Microsoft CRM application and integrate applications with Microsoft CRM. This course will convey an understanding of the SDK for a non-developer audience and serve as an introduction to the SDK for a developer audience.

Customization Reporting
This tutorial is designed to introduce you to the reporting capabilities of CRM so you can plan and use reports to support your business goals.