Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011: Field Formats

This is my first post in a series titled "Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011". I'll post issues and how I resolve them as I work on a CRM project I'm managing. Oh, and rants as well.

The field data types and formats are rather limited in MS CRM. As a programmer, I'm accustomed to having my cake and eating it too. One of the unfortunately frustrating aspects of using a solution framework is needing to work outside the borders. Things the framework handles natively, are inherently easy to do and a great time saver. Once you move out of that box, it can get dodgy. 

What I need is a positive decimal integer, not a number. What's the difference? A decimal number, in it's simplest form, is expressed only with digits - no group or decimal separators or signs. The Whole Number format in MS CRM uses the global number format settings and cannot be overridden at the field level. 

The workaround is to use a single line text field (the normalized database guru in me cringes) with a client side function that strips out anything other than digits from the form field. I don't care for it, but it's the best solution I've found so far.

At least in 2011 there is a mechanism in place to support function libraries. Schnell Kontakt, from Dynamics Consulting München, blogged how to call a function from a library of common JavaScript functions on the change event of a form field to handle this:

Re-usable JScript Libraries in Dynamics CRM 2011 Introduction: Web Resources and JScript Libraries 

JavaScript Frameworks: Still looking...

So many choices!

There are so many MV* frameworks and libraries available for client side JavaScript application development it’s nearly impossible to give them the proper amount of time to investigate them.

I’ve looked at Backbone.js, Knockout.js, Spine.js, Ember.js, Zappa, Express, JavaScriptMVC, Require.js, jQuery, jQuery Mobile, Handlebars.js, Jasmine, Angular.js, the list goes on.

For the server side I’m looking at Node.js and possibly MongoDB or CouchDB. Not sure…

I’ve also learned just how much I don’t know about JavaScript and how far it’s come. I had no idea what a REPL was until someone mentioned jsFiddle on Twitter.

Then there’s the whole JavaScript or CoffeeScript thing. I think it’s important to learn JavaScript before jumping into CoffeeScript, but it sure looks inviting…

At the moment, entirely subject to change, it looks like either Knockout.js or Backbone.js. I like the MVVM-like nature of Knockout.js data binding. But, Backbone.js has a very active community behind it. I’m nearing the point where I’ll just have to bite the bullet and pick one or I’ll never get going.

More examples soon. I promise!

I’m cursed, but I love it. May you live in interesting times or something like that…

Javascript Frameworks: turing.js

While looking for resources for learning Javascript I ran across a great series by Alex Young at dailyjs.com called "Let's Make a Framework." In it, he creates a framework deliberately designed for learning Javascript and frameworks called turing.js. 


On the second post, Let's Make a Framework: Classes, Inheritance, Extend he mentions Douglas Crockford's excellent discussion of the classical and prototypal inheritance models. 


These are really great references for someone learning Javascript and why the language is the way it is. There is a long and dramatic history to Javascript. It's been tested by fire and made stronger for it. I think I'm going to really enjoy learning it.

New Year Resolutions

It's that time of year again...


What is my quest: To update my software development skills.
What to study: Phone app development
What kind of apps: Eventually games, but let's start with something simple... 
Possible technologies: Native, Web, Cross platform?


Where to start? Well, I started by poking around the web for a few weeks looking at possible development frameworks and stacks. 


I have an iPod Touch and a Macbook so native Xcode was an obvious starting point. Although I still want to develop native apps with Objective-C, I'd also like to update my web development skills.


HTML5 web apps look pretty good. The cross platform issue is solved by using a web based app, but you run into issues with offline use. Client side HTML5 solves this, but how do you market it?


PhoneGap to the rescue. I can wrap client side HTML5 into a native app wrapper that can target iOS, Android, Windows Phone, etc.


There are a lot of frameworks available. SpineJS is still in the running but I think it needs a bit more work on the mobile side. I really like coffeescript, but as a "classically" educated developer (code for "get off my lawn") I feel it's necessary to understand the foundation layers. So, I'm starting with javascript.


To learn javascript, I'm going to follow a great series written by Alan Young at DailyJS.com called "Let's Make a Framework". 


Here's what my preliminary framework looks like. It's subject to change of course.

• PhoneGap/Apache Callback - native cross platform phone wrapper
• Javascript/Coffeescript - code
• BackboneJS/UnderscoreJS - MVC framework
• Jasmine - TDD/BDD
• Eco - coffeescript template markup
• Stylus - CSS markup
• Brunch - scaffolding (possibly)