Using Microsoft SharePoint with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Functions (part 1) - Displaying Data in SharePoint Using the List Web Part for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

As previously stated, it is not uncommon for organizations to want to use Microsoft SharePoint as the primary application. They might want to for a number of reasons, including the following:

• CRM licensing constraints

• Existing application integration

• Portal usage

• Applications that don’t need to use the CRM interface (but want to see/work with the CRM data)

For this reason, we have included the following examples to show how to get your data out of Microsoft Dynamics CRM and into Microsoft SharePoint.

1. Displaying Data in SharePoint Using the List Web Part for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

A web part is an ASP.NET server control that is used on a web part zone located within web part pages. Web parts can be programmed and can enable users to access the content, appearance, and behavior of the web page within a browser. SharePoint out of the box comes with a few web parts that are supported by Microsoft. Administrators can also either install third-party web parts or custom develop web parts in-house.

Using the Microsoft List web part for Microsoft Dynamics CRM is a way of displaying CRM data inside a SharePoint web part page. The List web part for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 provides a subset of the Microsoft CRM data and enables users to view it in a list format in a SharePoint dashboard (as shown in Figure 1). You can connect multiple web parts together to provide a richer dashboard.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM List web part was originally released for Microsoft CRM 3.0. This version allowed users to view the data in a simple data list format only, whereas the new version offers the following new features:

• Support for Multitenancy.

• Can authenticate against CRM Internet-facing deployment (IFD).

• Supports Secure Socket Layers (SSL) connections.

• Supports both 32-bit and 64-bit SharePoint servers.

• Enables users to open the current view in CRM to perform additional actions, such as running reports, creating Quick Campaigns, and more.

• Enables field-field connections between two CRM List web parts. This enables end users to select an account and be able to view all leads related to that account in one dashboard. (The Subscriber CRM List web part can automatically filter data using the provider’s GUID).

• Allows row-row connections to provide data to third-party web parts.

You can download the List Web Part for Microsoft Dynamics CRM from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3b6eb884-ec15-4288-a2a3-d0b47e057458&DisplayLang=en.

To install web parts, follow these steps:

To place web parts on the SharePoint web part page, follow these steps:

1.	Navigate to the site where you want to display the web parts.
2.	Select Site Actions.
3.	Select Add WebPart.
4.	Select the web part you want to display (as shown in Figure 2). Figure 2. Adding the Microsoft Dynamics CRM List web part to a web part page.
5.	Click OK.