Developer toolkit features
Applies To: Dynamics CRM 2013
This topic describes the features of the Developer Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. It describes the project template options, how to connect to a Microsoft Dynamics CRM server, and the CRM Package and CRM Explorer features.
In This Topic
Project template options
Connect to a Microsoft Dynamics CRM server
CRM Package project
CRM Explorer
Project template options
After you install the Developer Toolkit, in the Microsoft Visual Studio New Project dialog box you’ll have a Dynamics CRM node under Visual C#.
Note
The Developer Toolkit doesn’t support Microsoft Visual Basic .NET.
In the Dynamics CRM node, you have the project template options shown in the following table.
Project template option |
Description |
---|---|
New Visual Studio Solution Template for Dynamics CRM 2013 |
Creates a new instance of a Visual Studio solution for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013. |
Dynamics CRM 2013 Plug-in Library |
Creates a new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 plug-in class library (.dll). |
Dynamics CRM 2013 Workflow Library |
Creates a new Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 workflow class library (.dll). |
Dynamics CRM 2013 Package |
Creates a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 Package project. |
Dynamics CRM 2013 XAML Workflow Library |
Creates Microsoft Dynamics CRM workflows using the Visual Studio Workflow Designer. |
The New Visual Studio Solution Template for Dynamics CRM 2013 option includes a solution that includes a plug-in, a workflow, a Silverlight application, and a package project. It’s a good starting point for any new solution because you can remove projects from the solution if you do not plan to use them. For more information about other project options, see Create a new Developer Toolkit project.
Note
When you select the New Visual Studio Solution Template for Dynamics CRM 2013 option, you’ll be prompted to create a new Silverlight application. In the New Silverlight Application dialog box, clear Host Silverlight application in a new Web site. More information: Work with Silverlight web resources.
Connect to a Microsoft Dynamics CRM server
When you create a new project you’ll be prompted to connect to a CRM server. When connecting to your server, you must select your organization. Selecting a solution is optional. The solution you select is the one that all new solution components will be associated with. Don’t select a managed solution. If you don’t select a solution, your solution components will be added to the default solution.
Note
If you want to work in the context of a new solution, create the new solution before you connect to the server. The dialog box doesn’t provide the option to create a new solution.
CRM Package project
In your new solution, the CrmPackage project is a manifest project that contains all assets to be deployed to Microsoft Dynamics CRM combined with their deployment settings. By default, the outputs from each other project are added as references to this project in so that they can be deployed to the server.
You can add components to the package by adding projects as a reference or by adding components under the WebResources folder.
The RegisterFile.crmregister contains registration information for plug-ins and custom workflows created by the toolkit.
Deploy your solution
Deploy your solution to the server by right-clicking CrmPackage and then clicking Deploy. You can also deploy the Solution or the CrmPackage from the Build menu. More information: Deploy a solution using the developer toolkit
CRM Explorer
The CRM Explorer displays information about solution components available in the organization. You can expand each node to view specific instances of each type of solution component.
Toolbar buttons
The buttons on the toolbar are described in the following table.
Icon |
Function |
---|---|
Refreshes the whole tree. |
|
Opens the default landing page for the CRM organization. |
|
Opens the page for the solution you have chosen to connect and deploy your solution to. |
Organization tree
Use the CRM Explorer organization tree to perform tasks using context menu commands or by double-clicking a specific solution component. For those solution components that can be edited in the solution, double-clicking the item opens the definition page in the Visual Studio web browser so you can configure or view the component without leaving Visual Studio. The following table shows the actions you can perform in the organization tree.
Item |
Command or double-click action |
Description |
---|---|---|
<Organization Name> |
Refresh |
Refreshes the whole tree. |
Entities |
Generate Wrapper |
Executes CRMSVCUtil.exe to generate the strongly typed proxy classes. If you only have one plug-in project, this class is automatically added to this project; otherwise, the Generate Entity Wrappers dialog box lets you select which project to create the classes in. |
Refresh |
Refreshes entities. |
|
Entities
|
Double-click |
Opens the entity definition. |
Create Plug-in |
Opens the Create Plug-in dialog with the primary entity set to the selected entity. For more information, see Create and deploy plug-ins using the Developer Toolkit. |
|
Option Sets |
Refresh |
Refreshes option sets. |
Option Sets
|
Double-click |
Opens the option set definition. |
Web Resources |
Refresh |
Refreshes web resources. |
Add to packaging project |
Adds web resources of all types from the organization to the project. |
|
Web Resources
|
Refresh |
Refreshes web resources of this type. |
Add to packaging project |
Adds all web resources of this type from the organization to the project. |
|
Web Resources
|
Double-click |
Opens the web resource definition. |
Add to packaging project |
Adds this web resource from the organization to the project. |
|
Processes |
Refresh |
Refreshes processes. |
Processes
|
Refresh |
Refreshes dialogs. |
Add Dialog |
Opens the Create Process dialog with the Category set to Dialog. |
|
Processes
|
Double-click |
Opens the dialog definition. |
Edit |
||
Delete Dialog |
Deletes the dialog. |
|
Processes
|
Refresh |
Refreshes workflows. |
Add Workflow |
Opens the Create Process dialog box with the Category set to Workflow. |
|
Processes
|
Double-click |
Opens the workflow definition. |
Edit |
||
Delete Workflow |
Deletes the workflow. |
|
Plug-in Assemblies |
Refresh |
Refreshes plug-in assemblies. |
Plug-in Assemblies
|
Double-click |
Opens the dependencies definition for the assembly. |
Edit Assembly |
Opens the PluginAssembly Information dialog box. You can set the Isolation Mode, Source Type and a Description. |
|
Delete Assembly |
Deletes the assembly. |
|
Add Plugin |
Opens the Create Plug-in dialog box. You can select the Primary Entity. More information: Create and deploy a plug-in |
|
Plug-in Assemblies
|
Refresh |
Refreshes this plug-in. |
Add Step |
For plug-ins that exist in the current project, this option opens the Create Plug-in dialog box with the Project and Class already set so that a new step can be added. |
|
Delete Plugin |
For plug-ins that exist in the current project, unregisters the plug-in from the server without deleting the source file. |
|
Edit Plugin |
For plug-ins that exist in the current project, opens the Plugin Type Information dialog box to enable editing the plugin Friendly Name and Description. |
|
Plug-in Assemblies
|
Edit Step |
For steps that exist in the current project, opens the Create Plug-in dialog box to modify how the step is registered. |
Delete Step |
For steps that exist in the current project, deletes the step. |
|
Security Roles |
Refresh |
Refreshes security roles. |
Security Roles
|
Double-click |
Opens the security role definition. |
Field Security Profiles |
Refresh |
Refreshes field security profiles. |
Field Security Profiles
|
Double-click |
Opens the field security profile definition. |
See Also
Developer Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013
Write client application extensions
Install or uninstall the Developer Toolkit
Create a new Developer Toolkit project
Deploy a solution using the developer toolkit
Create and deploy plug-ins using the Developer Toolkit
Create and deploy workflow libraries using the Developer Toolkit
Create and deploy XAML workflows using the Developer Toolkit
Create and deploy web resources using the Developer Toolkit