Sample: Initialize a record from an existing record

 

Applies To: Dynamics CRM 2013

This sample code is for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Download the Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK package. It can be found in the following location in the download package:

SampleCode\CS\GeneralProgramming\EarlyBound\InitializeFrom.cs

SampleCode\VB\GeneralProgramming\EarlyBound\InitializeFrom.vb

Requirements

For more information about the requirements for running the sample code provided in this SDK, see Use the sample and helper code.

Full Sample – C#

Full Sample – Visual Basic .NET

Demonstrates

This sample shows how to use the IOrganizationService.InitializeFromRequest message to create new records from an existing record.

Example



#region Initialize Account from Account
Console.WriteLine();
Console.WriteLine("  Initializing new Account from the initial Account");

// Create the request object
InitializeFromRequest initialize = new InitializeFromRequest();

// Set the properties of the request object
initialize.TargetEntityName = Account.EntityLogicalName.ToString();

// Create the EntityMoniker
initialize.EntityMoniker = _initialAccount.ToEntityReference();

// Execute the request
InitializeFromResponse initialized = 
    (InitializeFromResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(initialize);

if (initialized.Entity != null)
    Console.WriteLine("  New Account initialized successfully");

Console.WriteLine();
#endregion

#region Initialize Opportunity from Lead
Console.WriteLine("  Initializing an Opportunity from the initial Lead");

// Create the request object
initialize.TargetEntityName = Opportunity.EntityLogicalName.ToString();

// Create the EntityMoniker
initialize.EntityMoniker = _initialLead.ToEntityReference();

// Execute the request
initialized =
    (InitializeFromResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(initialize);

if (initialized.Entity != null &&
    initialized.Entity.LogicalName == Opportunity.EntityLogicalName)
{
    var opportunity = (Opportunity)initialized.Entity;
    Console.WriteLine("  New Opportunity initialized successfully (Name={0})",
        opportunity.Name);
}
#endregion


'                   #Region "Initialize Account from Account"
Console.WriteLine()
Console.WriteLine("  Initializing new Account from the initial Account")

' Create the request object
Dim initialize As New InitializeFromRequest()

' Set the properties of the request object
initialize.TargetEntityName = Account.EntityLogicalName.ToString()

' Create the EntityMoniker
initialize.EntityMoniker = _initialAccount.ToEntityReference()

' Execute the request
Dim initialized As InitializeFromResponse =
    CType(_serviceProxy.Execute(initialize), InitializeFromResponse)

If initialized.Entity IsNot Nothing Then
    Console.WriteLine("  New Account initialized successfully")
End If

Console.WriteLine()
'                   #End Region

'                   #Region "Initialize Opportunity from Lead"
Console.WriteLine("  Initializing an Opportunity from the initial Lead")

' Create the request object
initialize.TargetEntityName = Opportunity.EntityLogicalName.ToString()

' Create the EntityMoniker
initialize.EntityMoniker = _initialLead.ToEntityReference()

' Execute the request
initialized = CType(_serviceProxy.Execute(initialize), InitializeFromResponse)

If initialized.Entity IsNot Nothing AndAlso
    initialized.Entity.LogicalName = Opportunity.EntityLogicalName Then
    Dim opportunity = CType(initialized.Entity, Opportunity)
    Console.WriteLine("  New Opportunity initialized successfully (Name={0})",
                      opportunity.Name)
End If
'                   #End Region

Full Sample – C#


using System;
using System.ServiceModel;

// These namespaces are found in the Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.dll assembly
// located in the SDK\bin folder of the SDK download.
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Client;

// This namespace is found in Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Proxy.dll assembly
// found in the SDK\bin folder.
using Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Messages;

namespace Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Samples
{
    /// <summary>
    /// This sample shows how to use the InitializeFrom message to create new records
    /// from existing records
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="serverConfig">Contains server connection information.</param>
    /// <param name="promptforDelete">When True, the user will be prompted to delete all
    /// created entities.</param>
    public class InitializeFrom
    {
        #region Class Level Members

        private OrganizationServiceProxy _serviceProxy;

        private Account _initialAccount;
        private Lead _initialLead;

        #endregion Class Level Members

        #region How To Sample Code
        /// <summary>
        /// This method first creates an account and a lead, then initializes a new
        /// account from the already existing account and a new opportunity from the
        /// already existing lead.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="serverConfig">Contains server connection information.</param>
        /// <param name="promptforDelete">When True, the user will be prompted to delete all
        /// created entities.</param>

        public void Run(ServerConnection.Configuration serverConfig, bool promptforDelete)
        {
            try
            {
                // Connect to the Organization service. 
                // The using statement assures that the service proxy will be properly 
                // disposed.
                using (_serviceProxy = ServerConnection.GetOrganizationProxy(serverConfig))
                {
                    // This statement is required to enable early-bound type support.
                    _serviceProxy.EnableProxyTypes();

                    CreateRequiredRecords();


                    #region Initialize Account from Account
                    Console.WriteLine();
                    Console.WriteLine("  Initializing new Account from the initial Account");

                    // Create the request object
                    InitializeFromRequest initialize = new InitializeFromRequest();

                    // Set the properties of the request object
                    initialize.TargetEntityName = Account.EntityLogicalName.ToString();

                    // Create the EntityMoniker
                    initialize.EntityMoniker = _initialAccount.ToEntityReference();

                    // Execute the request
                    InitializeFromResponse initialized = 
                        (InitializeFromResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(initialize);

                    if (initialized.Entity != null)
                        Console.WriteLine("  New Account initialized successfully");

                    Console.WriteLine();
                    #endregion

                    #region Initialize Opportunity from Lead
                    Console.WriteLine("  Initializing an Opportunity from the initial Lead");

                    // Create the request object
                    initialize.TargetEntityName = Opportunity.EntityLogicalName.ToString();

                    // Create the EntityMoniker
                    initialize.EntityMoniker = _initialLead.ToEntityReference();

                    // Execute the request
                    initialized =
                        (InitializeFromResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(initialize);

                    if (initialized.Entity != null &amp;&amp;
                        initialized.Entity.LogicalName == Opportunity.EntityLogicalName)
                    {
                        var opportunity = (Opportunity)initialized.Entity;
                        Console.WriteLine("  New Opportunity initialized successfully (Name={0})",
                            opportunity.Name);
                    }
                    #endregion

                    DeleteRequiredRecords(promptforDelete);
                }
            }

            // Catch any service fault exceptions that Microsoft Dynamics CRM throws.
            catch (FaultException<Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault>)
            {
                // You can handle an exception here or pass it back to the calling method.
                throw;
            }
        }

        #region Public methods

        /// <summary>
        /// Creates any entity records that this sample requires.
        /// </summary>
        public void CreateRequiredRecords()
        {
            _initialAccount = new Account()
            {
                Name = "Contoso, Ltd"
            };
            _initialAccount.Id = _serviceProxy.Create(_initialAccount);
            Console.WriteLine("  Created initial Account (Name={0})",
                _initialAccount.Name);

            _initialLead = new Lead()
            {
                Subject = "A Sample Lead",
                LastName = "Wilcox",
                FirstName = "Colin",
            };
            _initialLead.Id = _serviceProxy.Create(_initialLead);
            Console.WriteLine("  Created initial Lead (Subject={0}, Name={1} {2})",
                _initialLead.Subject,
                _initialLead.FirstName,
                _initialLead.LastName);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Deletes any entity records that were created for this sample.
        /// <param name="prompt">Indicates whether to prompt the user 
        /// to delete the records created in this sample.</param>
        /// </summary>
        public void DeleteRequiredRecords(bool prompt)
        {
            bool toBeDeleted = true;

            if (prompt)
            {
                // Ask the user if the created entities should be deleted.
                Console.Write("\nDo you want these entity records deleted? (y/n) [y]: ");
                String answer = Console.ReadLine();
                if (answer.StartsWith("y") ||
                    answer.StartsWith("Y") ||
                    answer == String.Empty)
                {
                    toBeDeleted = true;
                }
                else
                {
                    toBeDeleted = false;
                }
            }

            if (toBeDeleted)
            {
                _serviceProxy.Delete(Account.EntityLogicalName, _initialAccount.Id);
                _serviceProxy.Delete(Lead.EntityLogicalName, _initialLead.Id);
                Console.WriteLine("Entity records have been deleted.");
            }
        }
        #endregion Public Methods

        #endregion How To Sample Code

        #region Main method

        /// <summary>
        /// Standard Main() method used by most SDK samples.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="args"></param>
        static public void Main(string[] args)
        {
            try
            {
                // Obtain the target organization's Web address and client logon 
                // credentials from the user.
                ServerConnection serverConnect = new ServerConnection();
                ServerConnection.Configuration config = serverConnect.GetServerConfiguration();

                InitializeFrom app = new InitializeFrom();
                app.Run(config, true);
            }
            catch (FaultException<Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault> ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.");
                Console.WriteLine("Timestamp: {0}", ex.Detail.Timestamp);
                Console.WriteLine("Code: {0}", ex.Detail.ErrorCode);
                Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", ex.Detail.Message);
                Console.WriteLine("Plugin Trace: {0}", ex.Detail.TraceText);
                Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
                    null == ex.Detail.InnerFault ? "No Inner Fault" : "Has Inner Fault");
            }
            catch (System.TimeoutException ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.");
                Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", ex.Message);
                Console.WriteLine("Stack Trace: {0}", ex.StackTrace);
                Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
                    null == ex.InnerException.Message ? "No Inner Fault" : ex.InnerException.Message);
            }
            catch (System.Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.");
                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);

                // Display the details of the inner exception.
                if (ex.InnerException != null)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine(ex.InnerException.Message);

                    FaultException<Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault> fe = ex.InnerException
                        as FaultException<Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault>;
                    if (fe != null)
                    {
                        Console.WriteLine("Timestamp: {0}", fe.Detail.Timestamp);
                        Console.WriteLine("Code: {0}", fe.Detail.ErrorCode);
                        Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", fe.Detail.Message);
                        Console.WriteLine("Plugin Trace: {0}", fe.Detail.TraceText);
                        Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
                            null == fe.Detail.InnerFault ? "No Inner Fault" : "Has Inner Fault");
                    }
                }
            }
            // Additional exceptions to catch: SecurityTokenValidationException, ExpiredSecurityTokenException,
            // SecurityAccessDeniedException, MessageSecurityException, and SecurityNegotiationException.

            finally
            {
                Console.WriteLine("Press <Enter> to exit.");
                Console.ReadLine();
            }
        }

        #endregion Main method
    }
}

Full Sample – Visual Basic .NET


Imports Microsoft.VisualBasic
Imports System
Imports System.ServiceModel

' These namespaces are found in the Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.dll assembly
' located in the SDK\bin folder of the SDK download.
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Client

' This namespace is found in Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Proxy.dll assembly
' found in the SDK\bin folder.
Imports Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Messages

Namespace Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Samples
    ''' <summary>
    ''' This sample shows how to use the InitializeFrom message to create new records
    ''' from existing records
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="serverConfig">Contains server connection information.</param>
    ''' <param name="promptforDelete">When True, the user will be prompted to delete all
    ''' created entities.</param>
    Public Class InitializeFrom
        #Region "Class Level Members"

        Private _serviceProxy As OrganizationServiceProxy

        Private _initialAccount As Account
        Private _initialLead As Lead

        #End Region ' Class Level Members

        #Region "How To Sample Code"
        ''' <summary>
        ''' This method first creates an account and a lead, then initializes a new
        ''' account from the already existing account and a new opportunity from the
        ''' already existing lead.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="serverConfig">Contains server connection information.</param>
        ''' <param name="promptforDelete">When True, the user will be prompted to delete all
        ''' created entities.</param>

        Public Sub Run(ByVal serverConfig As ServerConnection.Configuration,
                       ByVal promptforDelete As Boolean)
            Try
                ' Connect to the Organization service. 
                ' The using statement assures that the service proxy will be properly 
                ' disposed.
                _serviceProxy = ServerConnection.GetOrganizationProxy(serverConfig)
                Using _serviceProxy
                    ' This statement is required to enable early-bound type support.
                    _serviceProxy.EnableProxyTypes()

                    CreateRequiredRecords()

                    '                   #Region "Initialize Account from Account"
                    Console.WriteLine()
                    Console.WriteLine("  Initializing new Account from the initial Account")

                    ' Create the request object
                    Dim initialize As New InitializeFromRequest()

                    ' Set the properties of the request object
                    initialize.TargetEntityName = Account.EntityLogicalName.ToString()

                    ' Create the EntityMoniker
                    initialize.EntityMoniker = _initialAccount.ToEntityReference()

                    ' Execute the request
                    Dim initialized As InitializeFromResponse =
                        CType(_serviceProxy.Execute(initialize), InitializeFromResponse)

                    If initialized.Entity IsNot Nothing Then
                        Console.WriteLine("  New Account initialized successfully")
                    End If

                    Console.WriteLine()
                    '                   #End Region

                    '                   #Region "Initialize Opportunity from Lead"
                    Console.WriteLine("  Initializing an Opportunity from the initial Lead")

                    ' Create the request object
                    initialize.TargetEntityName = Opportunity.EntityLogicalName.ToString()

                    ' Create the EntityMoniker
                    initialize.EntityMoniker = _initialLead.ToEntityReference()

                    ' Execute the request
                    initialized = CType(_serviceProxy.Execute(initialize), InitializeFromResponse)

                    If initialized.Entity IsNot Nothing AndAlso
                        initialized.Entity.LogicalName = Opportunity.EntityLogicalName Then
                        Dim opportunity = CType(initialized.Entity, Opportunity)
                        Console.WriteLine("  New Opportunity initialized successfully (Name={0})",
                                          opportunity.Name)
                    End If
                    '                   #End Region

                    DeleteRequiredRecords(promptforDelete)
                End Using

                ' Catch any service fault exceptions that Microsoft Dynamics CRM throws.
            Catch fe As FaultException(Of Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault)
                ' You can handle an exception here or pass it back to the calling method.
                Throw
            End Try
        End Sub

        #Region "Public methods"

        ''' <summary>
        ''' Creates any entity records that this sample requires.
        ''' </summary>
        Public Sub CreateRequiredRecords()
            _initialAccount = New Account() With {.Name = "Contoso, Ltd"}
            _initialAccount.Id = _serviceProxy.Create(_initialAccount)
            Console.WriteLine("  Created initial Account (Name={0})",
                              _initialAccount.Name)

            _initialLead = New Lead() With
                           {
                               .Subject = "A Sample Lead",
                               .LastName = "Wilcox",
                               .FirstName = "Colin"
                           }
            _initialLead.Id = _serviceProxy.Create(_initialLead)
            Console.WriteLine("  Created initial Lead (Subject={0}, Name={1} {2})",
                              _initialLead.Subject,
                              _initialLead.FirstName,
                              _initialLead.LastName)
        End Sub

        ''' <summary>
        ''' Deletes any entity records that were created for this sample.
        ''' <param name="prompt">Indicates whether to prompt the user 
        ''' to delete the records created in this sample.</param>
        ''' </summary>
        Public Sub DeleteRequiredRecords(ByVal prompt As Boolean)
            Dim toBeDeleted As Boolean = True

            If prompt Then
                ' Ask the user if the created entities should be deleted.
                Console.Write(vbLf &amp; "Do you want these entity records deleted? (y/n) [y]: ")
                Dim answer As String = Console.ReadLine()
                If answer.StartsWith("y") OrElse
                    answer.StartsWith("Y") OrElse
                    answer = String.Empty Then
                    toBeDeleted = True
                Else
                    toBeDeleted = False
                End If
            End If

            If toBeDeleted Then
                _serviceProxy.Delete(Account.EntityLogicalName, _initialAccount.Id)
                _serviceProxy.Delete(Lead.EntityLogicalName, _initialLead.Id)
                Console.WriteLine("Entity records have been deleted.")
            End If
        End Sub
        #End Region ' Public Methods

        #End Region ' How To Sample Code

        #Region "Main method"

        ''' <summary>
        ''' Standard Main() method used by most SDK samples.
        ''' </summary>
        ''' <param name="args"></param>
        Public Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
            Try
                ' Obtain the target organization's Web address and client logon 
                ' credentials from the user.
                Dim serverConnect As New ServerConnection()
                Dim config As ServerConnection.Configuration =
                    serverConnect.GetServerConfiguration()

                Dim app As New InitializeFrom()
                app.Run(config, True)
            Catch ex As FaultException(Of Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault)
                Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.")
                Console.WriteLine("Timestamp: {0}", ex.Detail.Timestamp)
                Console.WriteLine("Code: {0}", ex.Detail.ErrorCode)
                Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", ex.Detail.Message)
                Console.WriteLine("Plugin Trace: {0}", ex.Detail.TraceText)
                Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
                                  If(Nothing Is ex.Detail.InnerFault, "No Inner Fault", "Has Inner Fault"))
            Catch ex As System.TimeoutException
                Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.")
                Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", ex.Message)
                Console.WriteLine("Stack Trace: {0}", ex.StackTrace)
                Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
                                  If(Nothing Is ex.InnerException.Message, "No Inner Fault", ex.InnerException.Message))
            Catch ex As System.Exception
                Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.")
                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message)

                ' Display the details of the inner exception.
                If ex.InnerException IsNot Nothing Then
                    Console.WriteLine(ex.InnerException.Message)

                    Dim fe As FaultException(Of Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault) =
                        TryCast(ex.InnerException, 
                            FaultException(Of Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault))
                    If fe IsNot Nothing Then
                        Console.WriteLine("Timestamp: {0}", fe.Detail.Timestamp)
                        Console.WriteLine("Code: {0}", fe.Detail.ErrorCode)
                        Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", fe.Detail.Message)
                        Console.WriteLine("Plugin Trace: {0}", fe.Detail.TraceText)
                        Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
                                          If(Nothing Is fe.Detail.InnerFault, "No Inner Fault", "Has Inner Fault"))
                    End If
                End If
            ' Additional exceptions to catch: SecurityTokenValidationException, ExpiredSecurityTokenException,
            ' SecurityAccessDeniedException, MessageSecurityException, and SecurityNegotiationException.

            Finally
                Console.WriteLine("Press <Enter> to exit.")
                Console.ReadLine()
            End Try
        End Sub

        #End Region ' Main method
    End Class
End Namespace

See Also

IOrganizationService
InitializeFromRequest
Associate
Use the early bound entity classes in code
Sample: Retrieve license information