Microsoft has released the December 2012 update from Dynamics CRM Online. This optional update brings new Apple® iPad® and Yammer support to an already feature-rich product. The new iPad® features were designed with the sales representatives who need to get work done from the road, while they are on sales calls, in mind. Microsoft has eliminated pop-up windows from the user interface and made it simpler to use with the touch screen. You will log in to the online application through the web browser from the iPad® as you would from a laptop or desktop.
Functionality in the iPad®
When you look at the navigation pane on the left, you’ll only see What’s new, Account, Contact, Lead, Opportunity, and Dashboards. You may be able to navigate to other forms, but viewing them will take you to Mobile Express for Microsoft Dynamics CRM—you can make quick edits there, but it’s not meant for high-volume work. Customized forms will always open in Mobile Express. The Home and Most Recently Used buttons are removed, and the navigation pane is collapsed by default when in portrait mode.
Customized forms will show up only in a very basic layout. If you have added client scripts to any of the forms listed above, you’ll still be able to access them normally on other devices, but your customizations will not be present on the iPad®.
You won’t be able to access the process editor for sales (or service) forms.
You won’t be able to share records.
You won’t be able to access the form editor.
Most of the commands that were available in the ribbon at the top of the screen have been moved to the command bar at the bottom of the screen.
You will be able to edit records individually, but you won’t be able to edit them in bulk.
You can’t re-size a chart, but you can maximize and minimize it.
To create new records, click the select the entity name from the left navigation pane and touch +.
To find the options you want on a given control, instead of waiting for a pop-up, tap it, and select from the list that appears.
To access Help, choose the question mark icon, and topics will appear in a new tab.
Functionality for Yammer
Also, through the optional update Dynamics CRM Online, customers can also begin making use of Yammer, the enterprise social-networking technology. Dynamics CRM Online customers will need a Yammer Enterprise account. Installing Yammer is permanent and you will not be able to replace it with (Dynamics CRM’s) Activity Feeds later. Yammer and Activity Feeds cannot be used simultaneously; therefore, Microsoft suggests a trial setup for testing it before you install.
How to Install this Update
Warning
Once installed, updates cannot be uninstalled. It is best to evaluate the functionality in a trial organization and make certain that it meets your business needs.
This task requires the System Administrator or System Customizer security role or equivalent permissions.
To install Product Updates:
- In the Navigation Pane, click Settings. Then under System, click Administration.
- At the bottom of the Administration page, click Product Updates.
- As the installation begins, you’ll be asked for confirmation. To confirm your intention to install, click Yes. You’ll then see a series of status messages as the installation progresses.
- After the installation, you can manually migrate any supported customizations you might have made over to the new forms. Doing this will partially revert the appearance of the forms to the appearance they had before the update.
| Important |
| During the installation of these updates, the system will be unavailable. The system will also change for many users, so the updates are best done outside of work hours when functionality can be verified before users return to work. |
- Update the form order to make sure that the new forms appear as the default.
