Microsoft Dynamics CRM Tools

Ultimate Dynamics CRM Tools List

There are lots of useful Dynamics CRM tools out there, but I haven’t found any central list to list them all. So, here it is – a list of free tools that come handy when developing or just using Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0.

Microsoft

CRM Plugin Registration Tool

This is a must have if you use or develop add-ins. Without this tool registration is almost impossible. It comes with source code which can be super useful if you are creating a setup for your add-in which also takes case of registering. There is also some sample code available.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Demonstration Tools (for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0)

This is little know tool that has some interesting features that are useful when preparing for CRM presentations and also for development. Features include: Generate Data, Change the Dates and/or Times for Data, Create Dependent Picklists, Generate E-Mails, Set Icons for Entities, Change the CRM Navigation Pane, Replace Strings in CRM.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=634508DC-1762-40D6-B745-B3BDE05D7012&displaylang=en

CrmDiagTool4 for Microsoft CRM 4.0

This tool makes starting tracing and turning on DevError for CRM really easy. You don’t need to manually edit web.config files, do it by clicking a button.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/benlec/archive/2008/03/04/crmdiagtool4-for-microsoft-crm-4-0-has-been-released.aspx

Customization Comparison Utility

This utility will do side-by-side comparison between two cusomization.xml files. Useful for documenting changes, spotting bugs and much more. Same thing can be done using WinMerge or similar tool, but Customization Comparison Utility “understands” the xml and groups different kinds of customizations.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd442453.aspx

CRM 4 Deployment Job Editor

This utility will assist you in editing organization maintenance jobs in CRM 4.0. There are two types of these jobs in CRM 4.0; deletion service and re-indexing service. Out of the box you cannot modify the schedule or set the next run time, but using this utility you can re-configure the jobs. For tips hover over the “Base Time” input box and the “Job Next Run” input box to reveal a tooltip explanation.

This utility must be run a CRM server.

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/ScaleGroupJobEditor

Configuration Data Utility

Lets you easily export and import data from custom entities.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd442453.aspx

Microsoft Dynamics CRM Internet Facing Deployment Configuration Tool

Helps you configure Internet Facing Deployment stuff. Be sure to read the manual, there is a gotcha – you should copy this tool to CRM folder and run it from there!

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948779

Stunnware

As one of the most important Dynamics CRM resources on the web Stunnware offers many commercial tools.

Stunnware Tools for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

Stunnware tools are a compilation of different tools that plug into common UI. Some of the modules are free, most are not.

The Community Edition: It’s free and contains the Metadata Viewer, FetchXml Wizard and Excel Export.

The Professional Edition: A subscription-based version with access to all tools of the Community Edition plus the Code Generator for C# and VB.NET, the CRM Help File Generator, additional features of the FetchXml wizard and the Customization Comparer.

http://www.stunnware.com/default.aspx?area=products&group=swtools4&subarea=swtools4-download

CRM Trace Log Viewer

Simple but very useful tool that lets you filter and resolve users in Dynamics CRM trace files.

Patrick Verbeeten

Patrick has a nice collection of tools, I didn’t include all of them in this list, so be sure to check his site.

Microsoft CRM 4.0 Developers Tool

This tool is an entity browser which allows you to browser all the entities, their attributes and available SDK messages. Also duple as a plugin registration tool.

http://www.patrickverbeeten.com/pages/TechnicalNet/MicrosoftCrm/CrmTool.aspx?id=17

CRM 4.0 Sitemap & ISV.Config Editor aka CRM Xml Editor

Probably easiest (but not easy!) way to edit sitemap and ISV.config files. Automatically downloads, checks and save changes.

http://www.patrickverbeeten.com/pages/TechnicalNet/MicrosoftCrm/CrmXmlEditor.aspx?id=20

Event Listener

If you’re developing add-ins and struggling with messages and steps, this tool will let you see what is going on. It registers all possible events that you specify with filters and shows details about triggered events..

http://www.patrickverbeeten.com/pages/TechnicalNet/MicrosoftCrm/EventListner.aspx?id=26

Tanguy Touzard

Tanguy has more tools than listed here. Check out his CRM blog or his tools only site.

View Layout Replicator

This tool lets you copy one view definition to other views of the same entity. Great time saver and really useful tool for any CRM developer.

http://mscrmtools.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-tool-view-layout-replicator.html

Isv.config Manager

Easy ISV.config manger that let’s you edit content in a tree, not by using XML file.

http://mscrmtools.blogspot.com/2009/03/new-tool-isvconfig-manager.html

Form JavaScript Manager

If you do lots of JavaScript customizations, you know the editing of script is not easy within CRM. Form Javascript Manager is one way of solving those issue. It helps you with export/edit/import cycle of editing.

http://mscrmtools.blogspot.com/2009/03/after-few-days-weeks-of-silence-i-am.html

Ronny Van der Snickt

MS CRM Javascript Intellisense Generator

This tool will generate .js files for all entities. If you edit your JavaScript in Visual Studio, the editor can use this file for autocomplete.

Similar tools is also available to owners of book CRM as a Rapid Development Platform.

http://crm.vdsnickt.eu/ms-crm-javascript-intellisense-generator/

Scott Sewell, CustomerEffective

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Documentation Generator

Generates Excel file with all the details about your CRM organization. Great tools for documenting customizations. It lists Forms, Picklist values and Scripts for entities.

http://crm4documentation.codeplex.com/

Daniel Halan

CRM Configuration Manager

Very powerful tool. Another take on making import/export process easier with lots of bells and whistles. Also has command line interface which you can use in build scripts and other automatic processes.

http://blog.halan.se/post/CRM-Configuration-Manager.aspx

Orbit One

Bulk Update and Export tool

Simple Import/Export for CRM Data. Since Rollup 9 this tool is not needed as exported data contains ID values and CRM lets you “enrich” data when importing.

http://mscrmbulkupdatetool.codeplex.com/