Here is a good write-up on the Microsoft CRM Online Yammer setup process.

I do want to bring up a particular error message after “Log in with Yammer” that I’d encountered recently.

If you’ve received the following error message: “We have a different email address for your account than the one you used to sign in to Yammer…”:

The resolution is to ensure that your CRM Online User’s Primary E-mail OR E-mail 2 value matches exactly with your Yammer’s email login:

So far – I’m really liking this initial release of a top caliber Enterprise Social Networking firepower with Microsoft CRM Online and highly recommend anyone using CRM Online to check it out and begin adopting it ASAP.  Enterprise Social Networking can enable businesses to better serve their customers and run circles around their competition – check out this article.  So, don’t wait!

Frank Lee, Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVP since 2006
Workopia, Inc. – Cloud CRM Specialist

If you have an existing Microsoft CRM Online organization, here is how to apply the Polaris Update.  Note: I’d highly recommend creating a CRM Online test environment to assess the impact and readiness before performing the update on your production environment – it is a smart thing to do to plan this out to minimize any surprises – especially with existing CRM Form JavaScripts.

• Login to the CRM Online Client >> Settings >> System >> Administration >> click on Product Updates

• Click on “Update”

• Click “Yes”.  Note: This update cannot be uninstalled

Note: The update process takes about 5 minutes

• After the update, need to adjust the new forms.  Here is a Write-up on migrating customizations to the new forms.

There are new forms introduced with the update.  For example – a new “Account” main form is created in the Account entity.  This new form governs the new user interface.

Here are some post Polaris Update notes:

What does Enable new forms really do? 

It reset the form (if more than 1 main form available) for all CRM Online users incase they had selected the classic form previously.
Note: To keep only the classic form now – update the security role for the new form and remove the security roles from using it.

What happened to my Activity Feeds managed solution? 

Activity Feeds remain – Solution merge into Base Configuration – no longer as a operational managed solution that you import into CRM.  If you have imported it prior to the update, the update process will migrate it to the base configuration automatically and will remove the imported solution.  The Activity Feeds are still there.
Note: When you install Yammer – Activity Feeds will be replaced.  Yammer effectively replaces Activity Feeds. But you may choose not to set up Yammer, and to continue to use Activity Feeds. However, eventually Yammer will replace Activity Feeds per this Yammer FAQ.

If you are encountering some errors using the CRM forms after the upgrade, even after switching back to “classic form” – check this write-up.

Frank Lee, Microsoft CRM MVP since 2006

Workopia, Inc. – Cloud CRM

SQL Server error – SQL timeout expired.

In most cases – this SQL Server error doesn’t cause any serious issues and can be ignored.  A quick refresh of the existing Dynamics CRM record and continue your CRM operation as normal should suffice.

Now if you find that this error repeats over and over again consistently – I’d recommend opening a Dynamics CRM support ticket to further trouble-shoot the issue with a Microsoft CRM Support Engineer.

Frank Lee, Dynamics CRM MVP since 2006
Workopia, Inc. – Dynamics CRM Online Specialist

To quickly check if the December 2012 Service Update “Polaris” update has been applied to your organization.  Go to Microsoft CRM Online Client >> File menu tab >> Help >> About Microsoft Dynamics CRM.  If the version displayed is 5.0.9690.3233 or a higher value then you have the Polaris update!

As a reference, the pre-Polaris version is 5.0.9690.2747

To to enable Dynamics CRM 4.0 API support in Microsoft CRM Online. 
Note: this is only valid after the December 2012 Service Update “Polaris” update has been applied.

Microsoft CRM Online Client >> Settings >> Administration >> System Settings >> Customization tab >> select to enable “Include HTC support in Microsoft Dynamics CRM forms” under the HTML component support section and then click OK:

Note:  For all Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online organizations, the default value for HTML components support is ‘off’ after the December 2012 Service Update “Polaris” is applied.  If you have any existing script that requires HTC support or if you install a new solution that depends on HTC support you must change this setting to ‘on’.

In-addition – if you have scripts that depend on Internet Explorer (IE) features no longer supported by more recent versions of Internet Explorer – uncheck the “Load pages in the most recent version of Internet Explorer” option.  Some examples of Internet Explorer features no longer supported by Internet Explorer 10 include XML data islands and Element behaviors and HTCs.

For more details on HTML components (HTC) Support for Internet Explorer in CRM Forms – review the “HTC Support for Internet Explorer in CRM Forms” section within this article.

Bottom line is that if you are experiencing CRM Online errors after the December 2012 Service Update “Polaris” and you are unsure of what the issues could be – the immediate step I’d  suggest is to enable the “Include HTC support in Microsoft Dynamics CRM forms” and disable the “Load pages in the most recent version of Internet Explorer” options.  If the issues go away then you know that your existing customizations need to be updated.  Contact me if you need help.

Frank Lee, Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVP since 2006

Workopia, Inc. – Microsoft CRM Online

However – for existing Microsoft CRM organizations created prior – they continue to be on LiveID.  See this write-up on the benefits that Microsoft Office 365 authentication brings. 

So how can you tell if your organization is using LiveID or Office 365 for authentication?

Here is a quick way to find out if your organization is on LiveID.  Navigate to your CRM User record and check for the “Windows Live ID” field:

or if you see the “Send Invitation” and “Change Microsoft account” ribbon menu item – both indicate the use of LiveID:

Note: The transition of Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online to the Microsoft Online Services portal will occur in phases.  During the initial phase, which is currently underway, customers and their partners of record will be contacted by a Microsoft Transition Manger to schedule a transition date.  If you have not yet received notification from a Transition Manger, you will transition during another phase and there is nothing you need to do at this time.  Microsoft will announce more details about the next phase in the coming months – so stay tuned!

Here is a good reference:  Microsoft Dynamics CRM Transition Planning Guide for Enterprises

Frank Lee
Microsoft CRM MVP since 2006

So how does one goes about removing Activity Feeds?

1. Delete all the Activity Feed Configurations.  CRM Online >> Settings >> System >> Activity Feeds Configuration >> select all the entries and then delete them:

2.  Perform a “Publish All Customizations”.  CRM Online >> Settings >> Customization >> Solutions >> click on “Publish All Customizations” push the step 1. above changes

3. Lastly you can now remove the “ActivityFeeds” solution.  CRM Online >> Settings >> Customization >> Solutions >> select the “ActivityFeeds” solution and click on the “Delete” button.

On a related note, the December 2012 Service Update “Polaris” Release will offer Yammer integration.  I think it is safe to say that Yammer will be the primary enterprise social network engine for Dynamics CRM Online and I would hold off on any further investment with the current Activity Feeds solution.

Frank Lee, Microsoft CRM MVP since 2006

Workopia, Inc. – Dynamics CRM Online

• Microsoft CRM Statement of Direction (SoD) November 2012
  http://crmpublish.blob.core.windows.net/docs/CRM_SOD_November_2012_FINAL.pdf

• Microsoft CRM December 2012 Service Update “Polaris” Release Preview Guide
  http://crmpublish.blob.core.windows.net/docs/Release_Preview_Guide_December_2012_FINAL.pdf

Frank Lee
Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVP since 2006

I have the following screen shot and guess what – it is running on Microsoft CRM Online, Windows 8 and the CRM Outlook Client in Outlook 2013!

Frank Lee
Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVP since 2006

Here are the steps:

Setup the Office 365 Trial by going to this link and select the “Plan E3” Free Trial.  The “Plan P1” doesn’t offer the CRM Online option at this time.

After signing up for the Office 365 Trial, from the Office 365 Admin Portal, navigate to the Subscriptions >> Purchase area:

Look for the “Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online” plan, click on the Trial and complete the Trial request process:

Afterwards, the Microsoft Dynamics CRM entry is listed under the Admin Overview:

While Dynamics CRM is setting up – add a licensed Global Administrator user for CRM:

From the Office 365 Admin Portal, navigate to the Management >> Users >> select a user and click on edit >> select the “Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online” to assign the license to the selected user:

When Dynamics CRM setup is completed – you will see the “CRM” entry on the top portion of the Office 365 Admin Portal:

Click on the “CRM” and begin configuring your Dynamics CRM Online.

Now, if you have already started a Dynamics CRM Online trial and like to setup the Microsoft Office 365 Trial with the same CRM Online trial account – navigate to the Office 365 Admin Portal and login using the CRM Online trial administrator user account.  Then navigate to the Subscriptions >> Purchase area >> click on the Trial for Microsoft Office 365 (Plan E3) and complete Trial request process.

That’s about it to the Office 365 and CRM Online trial request process. I’d recommend the next step is to setup the CRM Online List Component for SharePoint to support document management in CRM leveraging SharePoint Online.  CRM and SharePoint work well together.

Frank Lee
Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVP since 2006

Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 with Update Rollup 10 is compatible with Internet Explorer 10 in Compatibility Mode per this KB.   IE menu >> Tools >> Compatibility View Settings >> Check the Display all websites in Compatibility View checkbox or enter the specific CRM URLs under Add this website:

For the Microsoft CRM 2011 Outlook Client Setup – need to enable Windows Identity Foundation 3.5 feature component to avoid the following error per this KB:

Cannot connect to Microsoft Dynamics CRM server because we cannot authenticate your credentials. Check your connection or contact your administrator for more help.

To enable Windows Identity Foundation 3.5 feature component go to Control Panel >> Programs and Features >> Turn Windows features on or off >> select Windows Identity Foundation 3.5.  You may need to reboot Windows 8.

Frank Lee
Microsoft Dynamics CRM MVP since 2006