Sample: Create and update an emailable entity

 

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\Metadata\Entities\CreateUpdateEmailableEntity.cs

SampleCode\VB\Metadata\Entities\CreateUpdateEmailableEntity.vb

Requirements

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

Demonstrates

This sample shows how to create an entity that can be used in the To field of an email activity. It uses the CreateEntityRequest message.

Example


using System;
using System.ServiceModel;
using System.ServiceModel.Description;

// These namespaces are found in the Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.dll assembly
// found in the SDK\bin folder.
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Client;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Query;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Discovery;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Messages;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Metadata;

// 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
{
    public class CreateUpdateEmailableEntity
    {
        #region Class Level Members
        /// <summary>
        /// Stores the organization service proxy.
        /// </summary>
        private OrganizationServiceProxy _serviceProxy;

        private const String _customEntityName = "new_agent"; 

        #endregion Class Level Members

        #region How To Sample Code
        /// <summary>
        /// Create a custom entity that can be used in the To field of an email activity.
        /// Update the custom entity.
        /// Optionally delete the custom entity.
        /// </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();



                    // Create the custom entity.
                    CreateEntityRequest createrequest = new CreateEntityRequest
                    {
                        // Define an entity to enable for emailing. In order to do so,
                        // IsActivityParty must be set.
                        Entity = new EntityMetadata
                        {
                            SchemaName = _customEntityName,
                            DisplayName = new Label("Agent", 1033),
                            DisplayCollectionName = new Label("Agents", 1033),
                            Description = new Label("Insurance Agents", 1033),
                            OwnershipType = OwnershipTypes.UserOwned,
                            IsActivity = false,

                            // Unless this flag is set, this entity cannot be party to an
                            // activity.
                            IsActivityParty = true
                        },

                        // As with built-in emailable entities, the Primary Attribute will
                        // be used in the activity party screens. Be sure to choose descriptive
                        // attributes.
                        PrimaryAttribute = new StringAttributeMetadata
                        {
                            SchemaName = "new_fullname",
                            RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
                            MaxLength = 100,
                            FormatName = StringFormatName.Text,
                            DisplayName = new Label("Agent Name", 1033),
                            Description = new Label("Agent Name", 1033)
                        }
                    };

                    _serviceProxy.Execute(createrequest);
                    Console.WriteLine("The emailable entity has been created.");

                    // The entity will not be selectable as an activity party until its customizations
                    // have been published. Otherwise, the e-mail activity dialog cannot find
                    // a correct default view.
                    PublishAllXmlRequest publishRequest = new PublishAllXmlRequest();
                    _serviceProxy.Execute(publishRequest);

                    // Before any emails can be created for this entity, an Email attribute
                    // must be defined.
                    CreateAttributeRequest createFirstEmailAttributeRequest = new CreateAttributeRequest
                    {
                        EntityName = _customEntityName,
                        Attribute = new StringAttributeMetadata
                        {
                            SchemaName = "new_emailaddress",
                            RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
                            MaxLength = 100,                            
                            FormatName = StringFormatName.Email,
                            DisplayName = new Label("Email Address", 1033),
                            Description = new Label("Email Address", 1033)
                        }
                    };

                    _serviceProxy.Execute(createFirstEmailAttributeRequest);
                    Console.WriteLine("An email attribute has been added to the emailable entity.");

                    // Create a second, alternate email address. Since there is already one 
                    // email attribute on the entity, this will never be used for emailing
                    // even if the first one is not populated.
                    CreateAttributeRequest createSecondEmailAttributeRequest = new CreateAttributeRequest
                    {
                        EntityName = _customEntityName,
                        Attribute = new StringAttributeMetadata
                        {
                            SchemaName = "new_secondaryaddress",
                            RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
                            MaxLength = 100,                            
                            FormatName = StringFormatName.Email,
                            DisplayName = new Label("Secondary Email Address", 1033),
                            Description = new Label("Secondary Email Address", 1033)
                        }
                    };

                    _serviceProxy.Execute(createSecondEmailAttributeRequest);

                    Console.WriteLine("A second email attribute has been added to the emailable entity.");

                    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;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Deletes the custom entity that was 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 deleteEntity = true;

            if (prompt)
            {
                Console.WriteLine("\nDo you want this custom entity deleted? (y/n)");
                String answer = Console.ReadLine();

                deleteEntity = (answer.StartsWith("y") || answer.StartsWith("Y"));
            }

            if (deleteEntity)
            {
                DeleteEntityRequest request = new DeleteEntityRequest()
                {
                    LogicalName = _customEntityName,
                };
                _serviceProxy.Execute(request);

                Console.WriteLine("The records have been deleted.");
            }
        }

        #endregion How To Sample Code

        #region Main
        /// <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();

                CreateUpdateEmailableEntity app = new CreateUpdateEmailableEntity();
                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

    }
}

Imports System.ServiceModel
Imports System.ServiceModel.Description

' These namespaces are found in the Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.dll assembly
' found in the SDK\bin folder.
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Client
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Query
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Discovery
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Messages
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Metadata

' 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
 Public Class CreateUpdateEmailableEntity
#Region "Class Level Members"
  ''' <summary>
  ''' Stores the organization service proxy.
  ''' </summary>
  Private _serviceProxy As OrganizationServiceProxy

  Private Const _customEntityName As String = "new_agent"

#End Region ' Class Level Members

#Region "How To Sample Code"
  ''' <summary>
  ''' Create a custom entity that can be used in the To field of an email activity.
  ''' Update the custom entity.
  ''' Optionally delete the custom entity.
  ''' </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()



     ' Create the custom entity.
     Dim createrequest As CreateEntityRequest = New CreateEntityRequest With {.Entity = New EntityMetadata With {
       .SchemaName = _customEntityName,
       .DisplayName = New Label("Agent", 1033),
       .DisplayCollectionName = New Label("Agents", 1033),
       .Description = New Label("Insurance Agents", 1033),
       .OwnershipType = OwnershipTypes.UserOwned,
       .IsActivity = False, .IsActivityParty = True},
       .PrimaryAttribute = New StringAttributeMetadata With {
        .SchemaName = "new_fullname",
        .RequiredLevel = New AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
        .MaxLength = 100,
        .Format = StringFormat.Text,
        .DisplayName = New Label("Agent Name", 1033),
        .Description = New Label("Agent Name", 1033)
        }
       }
     ' Define an entity to enable for emailing. In order to do so,
     ' IsActivityParty must be set.
     ' Unless this flag is set, this entity cannot be party to an
     ' activity.
     ' As with built-in emailable entities, the Primary Attribute will
     ' be used in the activity party screens. Be sure to choose descriptive
     ' attributes.

     _serviceProxy.Execute(createrequest)
     Console.WriteLine("The emailable entity has been created.")

     ' The entity will not be selectable as an activity party until its customizations
     ' have been published. Otherwise, the e-mail activity dialog cannot find
     ' a correct default view.
     Dim publishRequest As New PublishAllXmlRequest()
     _serviceProxy.Execute(publishRequest)

     ' Before any emails can be created for this entity, an Email attribute
     ' must be defined.
     Dim createFirstEmailAttributeRequest As CreateAttributeRequest = New CreateAttributeRequest With {
      .EntityName = _customEntityName,
      .Attribute = New StringAttributeMetadata With {
       .SchemaName = "new_emailaddress",
       .RequiredLevel = New AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
       .MaxLength = 100,
       .Format = StringFormat.Email,
       .DisplayName = New Label("Email Address", 1033),
       .Description = New Label("Email Address", 1033)
      }
     }

     _serviceProxy.Execute(createFirstEmailAttributeRequest)
     Console.WriteLine("An email attribute has been added to the emailable entity.")

     ' Create a second, alternate email address. Since there is already one 
     ' email attribute on the entity, this will never be used for emailing
     ' even if the first one is not populated.
     Dim createSecondEmailAttributeRequest As CreateAttributeRequest = New CreateAttributeRequest With {
      .EntityName = _customEntityName,
      .Attribute = New StringAttributeMetadata With {
       .SchemaName = "new_secondaryaddress",
       .RequiredLevel = New AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
       .MaxLength = 100,
       .Format = StringFormat.Email,
       .DisplayName = New Label("Secondary Email Address", 1033),
       .Description = New Label("Secondary Email Address", 1033)
      }
     }

     _serviceProxy.Execute(createSecondEmailAttributeRequest)

     Console.WriteLine("A second email attribute has been added to the emailable entity.")

     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

  ''' <summary>
  ''' Deletes the custom entity that was 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 deleteEntity As Boolean = True

   If prompt Then
    Console.WriteLine(vbLf &amp; "Do you want this custom entity deleted? (y/n)")
    Dim answer As String = Console.ReadLine()

    deleteEntity = (answer.StartsWith("y") OrElse answer.StartsWith("Y"))
   End If

   If deleteEntity Then
    Dim request As New DeleteEntityRequest() With {.LogicalName = _customEntityName}
    _serviceProxy.Execute(request)

    Console.WriteLine("The records have been deleted.")
   End If
  End Sub

#End Region ' How To Sample Code

#Region "Main"
  ''' <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 CreateUpdateEmailableEntity()
    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 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 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

 End Class
End Namespace

See Also

Extend the metadata model
Customize entity metadata
Sample: Dump entity metadata to a file
Create and update an entity than can be emailed