Programming Models for MS Dynamics CRM 2011

Key programmability scenarios for MS Dynamics CRM 2011



Early-bound – MS Dynamics CRM 2011 uses an entity data model and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) Data Services technologies to provide a new set of tools that interact with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. For example: an organization service context that tracks changes to objects and supports .NET Language-Integrated Query (LINQ) queries to retrieve data from MS Dynamics CRM. Early bound classes generated directly from the metadata, which include all customizations.
CrmSvcUtil.exe - CRM Dynamics 2011 Code Generation Tool


Late-bound – Write code that accesses entities that are not yet defined.

REST – The REST endpoint for AJAX and MS Silverlight clients provides an interface that you can use to work with MS Dynamics CRM data. Rather than directly invoking the SOAP-based web service, you can execute requests using a service that is based on a URI.
[Your Organization Root URL]/xrmservices/2011/organizationdata.svc
CRM Dynamics 2011 OData Query Designer

WSDL – Develop code from non-.NET clients, and does not depend on the use of MS Dynamics CRM assemblies. For example, Write code for MS Dynamics CRM in Java/PHP.

MS Dynamics CRM 2011 no longer uses the WSDL. Instead, reference two assemblies that allow to connect MS Dynamics CRM system for both early and late bound types.

Account entity = new Account();
entity["name"] = "My Account"; //loosely typed, late binding
entity.AccountNumber = "1234"; //strongly typed, early binding

Assemblies Included in the MS Dynamics CRM SDK

Assembly name	Namespace name
Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Proxy.dll	Microsoft.Crm.Sdk	Contains enumerations of possible picklists and integer values for some attributes.
	Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Messages	Contains request and responses for business data model messages.
Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.dll Defines the core xRM methods and types.	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk	Defines the data contracts for attribute types.
	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Client	Defines classes for use by client-code, including a data context, proxy classes and the LINQ provider.
	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Discovery	Defines classes required to communicate with the Discovery Service.
	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Messages	Defines request/response classes for Create, Retrieve, Update, Delete, Associate , Disassociate, and the metadata classes.
	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Metadata	Defines the data contracts for Microsoft Dynamics CRM metadata.
	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Query	Defines query classes required to connect to Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Workflow.dll Defines types/methods required to author a custom workflow activity.	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Workflow
	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Workflow.Activities
	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Workflow.Designers
Microsoft.Crm.Tools.EmailProviders.dll Defines methods/types for developing a custom email provider component	Microsoft.Crm.Tools.Email.Management
	Microsoft.Crm.Tools.Email.Providers
Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Deployment.dll Defines types/methods for interacting with the Deployment Web Service.	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Deployment
	Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Deployment.Proxy

Client-Side Programming Reference

GetGlobalContext function - It returns the same context object found in the Xrm.Page.context.
<script type="text/javascript" src="ClientGlobalContext.js.aspx"></script>
Methods (Xrm.Page.context also)  - getClientUrl, getOrgUniqueName, getServerUrl, getUserId, getUserRoles

Xrm.Page Reference
Xrm.Page.data.entity - addOnSave, save (null | "saveandclose" |"saveandnew"), getIsDirty (any fields in the form has been modified), getEntityName
Xrm.Page.ui - close, getFormType (1 create, 2 update, 3 read only, 4 diabled, 6 bulk edit

Summary of Changes Between Versions - 4.0/2011