Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Benefits of having the JScript Web Resource Code as a separate JS file

When I create a new JScript web resource, there are 2 ways to add code to it. 

One way is to upload the JScript file to the web resource. This will embed the "JScript file" code inside the web resource.  

 Below is the file in Visual Studio and uploaded as part of a web resource.

JS File in Visual Studio 2010

JScript File uploaded as part of a Web Resource

The other way to create an empty JScript web resource. Later open the JScript web resource and add the code through its text editor.

Web Resource Text Editor

JScript in Web Resource Text Editor

In existing JScript web resources there are 2 ways of making changes to the code. Either you make changes to the code in a corresponding file (if it exists) and then copy paste this code back into the web resource. OR you can open the web resource text editor and make changes.

The best practice is to have a separate JS file for every JScript web resource. This JS file should contain the same code as its corresponding web resource. The main benefit is that these files can be version/source controlled. 

Microsoft Dynamics CRM is not a version/source control application and hence the code inside the web resources cannot be version/source controlled. It is better to have the JS files and have these files version controlled. 

There are many version control software available. My favourite is TFS (team Foundation Server). Team Foundation Server (TFS) is a Microsoft product offering source control, data collection, reporting, and project tracking, and is intended for collaborative software development projects.

If you need to make changes to any web resources, first update the code in the corresponding JS file and then make these same changes inside the web resource. The other way is to make changes in the web resource and test these changes and at the end update the corresponding JS file in the source control.

I hope this blog about 'Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online - Benefits of having the JScript Web Resource Code as a separate JS file' was informative. Please feel free to leave your comments.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 - Microsoft Certifications

Microsoft Certifications are a great way to prove that you have the required skills. Of course this in combination with practical experience is the key.

Now-a-days companies are looking for CRM resources and they would prefer candidates with certifications. There are 3 main reasons for the companies to hire candidates with Microsoft CRM 4.0 or 2011 certifications.

• In order to maintain their Gold partner status with Microsoft, the companies need to meet some basic criteria. One of them is to have minimum number of Dynamics certifications. More the number of Dynamics CRM (or any Dynamics Product) certified employees, easier it is to maintain their Microsoft partner status.
• Having so many certified developers and business analysts looks cool on the company's resume. This helps the company to pitch for Dynamics CRM work. Certified developers raise the profile of a company in the eyes of their potential customers.
• Certifications are sort of Microsoft's official recognition of the capabilities of a Dynamics CRM professional. So the companies feel safe to hire these certified individuals.

There are 4 Microsoft certifications for each Dynamics CRM version 4.0 and 2011.

Certifications for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 

1) Exam MB2-632: CRM 4.0 Applications

This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to use and implement the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Applications modules effectively, and use the terms used in the application to adequately convey solutions to other users.

Exam Topics Covered The following list includes the topic areas covered on this exam. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Concepts Sales Marketing Service Management Service Scheduling 2) Exam MB2-633: CRM 4.0 Installation and Deployment Individuals who want to obtain a certification on Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Installation and Deployment should take this exam. This certification exam measures your ability to do the following  Understand and articulate how the components are used in a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 deployment. Understand how those components should be effectively installed and deployed to support Microsoft Dynamics CRM. This includes supporting components such as Active Directory, SQL Server, IIS, as well as the Microsoft Dynamics CRM components, which include Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server, Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Dynamics CRM E-mail Router, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM sample data. 3) Exam MB2-631 CRM 4.0 Customization and Configuration This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to configure the application’s organizational settings and customize the application using its built-in customization tools. Exam Topics Covered The following list includes the topic areas covered on this exam. Configuring Your Deployment Customizing Forms and Views Customizing Entities and Attributes Customizing Relationships and Mappings Maintaining Organizations 4) Exam MB2-634: CRM 4.0 Extending Microsoft Dynamics This certification exam measures your understanding of important skills and areas of knowledge used in the development of extensions for Microsoft CRM 4.0. Exam Topics Covered Extension Approach Web Service Programming Custom Workflow Activities Developing Plug-ins Application Programming Certifications for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

1) Exam MB2-868: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Applications
This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to use, maintain and support Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 application including managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 marketing automation applications, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 sales applications, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 service management applications, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 services scheduling applications.

Exam Topics Covered

•     Managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Marketing Automation Applications
•     Managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Sales Applications
•     Managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Service Management Applications
•     Managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Service Scheduling Applications

2) Exam MB2-867: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Installation and Deployment
This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to install and deploy Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 including planning the installation, installing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Server, installing and deploying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Email Router, installing and deploying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Client for Microsoft Office Outlook, configuring Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, and upgrading to and redeploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

Exam Topics Covered

•     Planning the Installation
•     Installing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Server
•     Installing and Deploying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Email Router
•     Installing and Deploying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Client for Outlook
•     Configuring Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011
•     Upgrading to and Redeploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

3) Exam MB2-866: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Customization and Configuration
This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to customize and configure Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 including configuring a Microsoft Dynamics CRM organizational structure, managing users & teams and security, customizing attributes and entities, customizing relationships and mappings, configuring auditing, managing forms & views and charts, and implementing a Microsoft Dynamics CRM solution.

Exam Topics Covered

•      Configuring a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Organizational Structure
•      Managing Users & Teams and Security
•      Customizing Attributes and Entities
•      Customizing Relationships and Mappings
•      Configuring Auditing
•      Managing Forms, Views, and Charts
•      Implementing a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Solution

4) Exam MB2-876: Extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011
This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to extend Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 including planning a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 deployment, performing common and advanced platform operations, creating custom workflow activities, utilizing Windows Workflow Foundation, creating plug-ins, implementing and programming application events, customizing application integration, and implementing web resources.

Exam Topics Covered

•     Planning to Deploy Microsoft Dynamics CRM
•     Performing Common Platform Operations
•     Performing Advanced Platform Operations
•     Creating Custom Workflow Activities and Utilizing Windows Workflow Foundation
•     Creating Plug-ins
•     Implementing Application Events
•     Programming Application Events
•     Customizing Application Integration
•     Implementing Web Resource

I hope this blog about 'Microsoft Certifications' was informative. Please feel free to leave your comments.

Prometric has gone an extra mile to extract dollars from certification givers!!! I don't believe to what they just did.

I recently registered for Dynamics CRM 2011 Configuration exam. From beginning and till few months back Prometric only charged SGD 225 for 1 Exam sitting. We had the flexibility to re-schedule as many times as we liked. This re-scheduling was without any penalty. Now Prometric has started charging SGD 43 for every re-scheduling.

Has anyone faced this recently? Why earn money from us?

Recently Microsoft raised the exam fees from SGD 225 to SGD 246. After this increase and paying $43 for every reschedule is too much.

Not happy at all. This is burden on my pockets with limited earnings and having to self-funding my own certifications.