To successfully integrate our products with custom entities, these custom entites either have to be part of a managed solution or the navigation configuration has to be applied manually.

• How to apply the changes manually 

To add the navigation links to the product, you will need to customize your entity form and apply the navigation links.

To do so, open CRM, navigate to the settings in the Navigation area and select Customization.

Figure 1: Select customization

Select Customize system and find the entity you want to edit in the new window.

This example is for entity Account.

Figure 2: Account > Forms

DoubleClick on the main form in order to open the form editor for this entity.

Click on the [Navigation]-button in the ribbon. The navigation area will become editable.

Figure 3: Click on the [Navigation]-button

Go to the Insert-tab and click on the [Navigation link]-button in order to bring up the new Navigation link form.

Figure 4: Insert-tab with [Navigation Link]-button

Figure 5: Navigation Link Properties

Link names and values for products

(Please note: Only insert links for products you have installed or you are currently installing, adding the link will NOT install the product)

Select the ptm_Icon16x16 as icon and switch the radiobutton to External URL.

As an URL specify the URL as defined in the Link item in the above list.

Figure 6: Insert icon and specify external URL

Now click on the [OK]-button, Save and publish the customization.

The link will now be available in your CRM

Please note: When you decide to uninstall the product, those links have to be removed manually as well. They do not harm the CRM, but will redirect to dead links, if you leave them in place.

• How to convert unmanaged custom entities to managed custom entities

Please note: This step can not be reverted without loosing data. Read carefully before continuing!

To enable the products to automatically configure your custom entities, these entities have to be converted into part of a managed solution.

This new managed solution will then be present in your CRM in the solutions list.

WARNING: If you choose to remove this managed solution you will LOOSE ALL DATA stored with the custom entities.

Do NOT DELETE this new solution, unless you are absolutely sure you want to remove the entities and all data stored with them.

The only way to restore the lost data is to restore the last SQL Server backup, loosing all other changes to data and schema applied after the last backup.

To convert your unmanaged entities to managed you need to create a new solution:

Select the [New]" href="http://mscrm-addons.com/images/blog/files/image_71.png">

Figure 7: All solutions

Select the [New]-button on the grid

Figure 8: Create a new solution

Create a new solution with your organizations default Publisher. Click on the [Save]-button.

Figure 9: Add entity

Add the entity (or entities) you want to convert.

Have a look at the webresources that might be needed by your custom entity. 

Please note: Only icons, onLoad/onSave event libraries, other resources include them in the solution.

Figure 10: Have a look at the webresources

Once you have added all entities, save the solution and export it via the export solution button in the menu.

Make sure all changes are published. The first dialog of the export wizard has a button to publish all customizations.

Figure 11: Export System Settings (Advanced)

You do not need to check any additional systemsettings in the above dialog. Simply click on the [Next]-button.

Figure 12: Export Solution - Package type

Please note: Make sure the solution is exported as managed.
IF you have accidently exported the solution as unmanaged, just repeat the process and make sure it is managed.

Save the exported file. You will need it soon again.

A managed solution cannot be imported over an existing unmanaged solution for the same entities.

Therefore, we have to delete the unmanaged solution we have just created to allow the import of the managed solution containing the same entities.

Deleting the UNMANAGED solution has no impact on the changes.

However, a deleted MANAGED solution will result in all data and schema being lost, that was defined in the managed solution.

Figure 13: Managed vs unmanaged solutions

It might take a few minutes to delete the solution.

Please note: Your customization is still present, even after deleteing the unmanaged solution.

Now we reimport the solution.

This will make all the changes part of the managed solution package.

Make sure this is the managed solution. Managed solutions usually carry the _managed suffix to the filename.

The system will inform you that some unmanaged adaptions will be migrated to the managed solution.

Figure 14: System information on solution 

The import might take a few minutes. Once it is done, you will be presented with a summary. 

Figure 15: Summary overview

Your entities are now part of a managed solution. 

Figure 16: Result - All solutions managed

Please note: From this point on REMOVING THE SOLUTION WILL RESULT IN UNRCOVERABLE DATA LOSS!!

Our products will now be able to automatically configure the entites.

That’s it! We appreciate your feedback! Please share your thoughts by sending an email to support@mscrm-addons.com.