Is the CRM Outlook Client Doctor In?

Since I’ve been successful correcting many Dynamics CRM Outlook issues, some with the help of my friends at Microsoft Support (you peeps rock!), I frequently get asked to assist when clients encounter an unexpected issue.  I recently ran into a new issue so I thought I would share the resolution.

The Issue was that the client was unable to install the CRM Outlook Client.  The installation would fail at the Prerequisite step which is basically the first step in the process.  Following is the error message with screenshot:

The error message from the log file was:

Microsoft Online Services Sign-in Assistant did not download successfully.  To try again, ensure your internet connection is working, then try again.

Since the internet connection was working, I first tried the suggestion from the CRM Wiki which was to run a repair on the Windows Live ID Sign-in assistant.  I also downloaded the Microsoft Online Services Sign-in Assistant in hopes that it would not need to look for it and download it if it was already present.  Unfortunately, in this scenario neither solution worked.  Since I had already burned a few hours troubleshooting the issue, I decided to try my fallback solution which is to download the RTM version of the product then apply updates.  If you don’t have a link to that version then you can contact Microsoft Support and see if they have one that they can give to you.

Cheers

Have you visited CodePlex lately?

I dropped by CodePlex the other day and was amazed to find no less than 73 CRM 2011 related projects available.  The site has tools and utilities to fit needs from the simple to complex. 

Here is a list of a few that I’ve used and pointed others to as well as some that fill a need that I often here people request

SiteMap Editor for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

SiteMap Editor for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 helps developer and customizers to configure the Site Map in a graphical way. You’ll no longer have to create solution, add component, export, update Xml and reimport the solution to update the SiteMap.

Metadata Document Generator for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

Metadata Document Generator makes it easier for Dynamics CRM 2011 integrators to generate documentation about entities and attributes metadata. You’ll no longer have to write “by hand” these awful tables full of metadata information. It’s developed in C#.

CRM 2011 Visual Ribbon Editor

Visual Ribbon Editor is a tool for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 that lets you edit CRM ribbons. This ribbon editor shows a preview of the CRM ribbon as you are editing it and allows you to add ribbon buttons and groups without needing to fully understand the ribbon XML schema.

Diagnostics Tool for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

Diagnostics Tool for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 helps CRM developers and administrators to enable trace and dev Errors on CRM server. It also generates an HTML report file with information about the CRM deployment.

View Layout Replicator for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

View Layout Replicator make it easier for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 customizers to copying the layout of a view and paste it to the layout of other views in the same entity

If you haven’t visited CodePlex lately, you might want to drop by and spend some time perusing the many useful tools.  If nothing else, add the site to your favorites and drop by monthly to discover what is new.

Cheers

What are Richard Knudson, Matt Wittemann, and John Gravely doing next week?

What do you get when you bring together two really smart Microsoft Dynamics MVP’s and one awesome Marketing Automation solution?  You get the right ingredients for a lively and enlightening discussion on how to effectively leverage marketing automation in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM application.

If you have a desire or need to learn about how to more effectively use Microsoft Dynamics CRM for sales, marketing and service then the “What Works in CRM & Marketing Automation” is the right Webinar for you.  Who better to learn from than a couple of Dynamics CRM MVP’s and a marketing solution expert; Matt Wittemann, Richard Knudson, John Gravely.

The webinar date is fast approaching so get registered today!