It’s quite common to use Microsoft Excel for the manipulation of data prior to it being imported into CRM.
I have found that the best format for exporting an Excel worksheet to a .CSV file ( comma-separate values ) is:
CSV (MS-DOS) *.csv
This format places extra quotes around string fields and headers and CRM seems to like it much better than the plane CSV format.
One of my new ventures will be run on Windows Azure and store data in CRM Online. This will require that I use the Microsoft.crm.sdk.dll assemblies to communicate with CRM.
Technically, there are four sets of these assemblies in the SDK:
- One set for CRM On-premise
- One set for CRM Online.
- 32-bit versions
- 64-bit versions
It turns out that Windows Azure is a 64-bit operating system. Here is how I had to configure Visual Studio to properly generate my new web site:
Platform Target
This needs to be set to Any CPU, which will create code that can be run on either 32-bit or 64-bit operating systems.
Microsoft.crm.sdk.dll Assemblies
You need to reference the 64-bit assemblies. Otherwise, you’ll end up with the yellow screen of death and a message about unable to load assembly because of an invalid format.
I hope that helps. Good luck with your own Azure development
It is really hard to believe, but 26 years ago today, I started my career as a IT professional. I was attending DeVry University at the time and found a job just down the street at a small company that provided IT services for local businesses.
Here is the conversation between me and Brook, their other technical guy:
Brook: I need you to replace a floppy drive in an Eagle.
Me: Cool. What’s an Eagle?
This is an Eagle:
Yep. Then genuine article. It ran an operating system called CP/M and had two double-sided, double-density floppy drives.
A step up from there was this monster:
This was a network server, again running CP/M and servicing semi-intelligent terminals. The top box is the server, the bottom, unless I’m mistaken, is the tape backup unit. The server had a 10 Megabyte hard drive. The terminal on the left is just a dumb terminal used for server maintenance.
Things have changed quite a bit since 1984 and the change has not always been for the good. But, I can honestly say, it’s never been boring.
Peace out.
This is always a special time of the year for me because it is when my MVP was awarded and when it renews.
Today, Microsoft renewed my MVP title for the 4th year. It is still one of the highest honors that I have ever received and I am in great company.
Happy New Year everyone.
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