Tags:Microsoft, Dynamics CRM, 3.0, Copy Exisiting CRM Record
Is it possible to copy existing CRM records? I have a custom entity that has a lot of repetitive records (it is an Equipment entity). The core equipment will always be the same but the serial numbers will change. Every time we order a new piece of equipment we have to setup the piece by hand (and sometimes there are 10-20 of the same pieces we buy at the same time). So is there a way to create a peice of equipment and then copy it to create a new one?
Serial Number is unique but not required. We setup the pieces of equipment when they are ordered but do not know the Serial numbers until they are received at one of our facilities.
I will take a look at the bulk import and let you know if that would work. We are on Dynamics CRM 3.0.
Do you know if there is any way to have a "right click -> copy" functionality?
Often the custom entity has "other" code that may or may not have that ability. You are right that CRM 3.0 doesn't have OOTB bulk import for custom entities.
I have a "Batch Import" on one of my custom entities.
MS recommends no direct changing of the SQL databases for CRM, but for Data Duplication, you could likely get away with it.
MS more than recommends not changing the databse at a SQL level it renders the product unsupported if caught. That's not saying it can't be done though of course.
I've setup many buttons that copy all the details of one instance of an entity to a new instance of an entity using JavaScript. You could alter the ISV.Config.xml file to display a button for teh custom entity which could copy everything apart from the serial number which you could leave for the user to fill in.
You are getting a lot more complex if you want to copy everything that hangs off the custom entity. You would need to do this using some form of DotNet code. You could create a custom interface that asks you how many instances of an entity you want created and when the button's pushed all of them are created based on the initial instance of that entity with all details filled in apart from the serial numbers and all related entities created as well.
This would add an extra level of complexity to it. What you'd have to do is extract all the details from the CRM database to some form of file for import such as a CSV file or database table, create the extra records you want to import including the related records then import into CRM. I've looked at this product before and I wasn't that impressed but each to their own. A far simpler approach for the user and for speed would be to create the custom web page discussed above.
