In Dynamics 365 CRM implementations, subgrids are used extensively to show related records within the main form. But what if you want Subgrid B to automatically refresh whenever a new record is added to Subgrid A, especially when that record triggers some automation like a Power Automate flow or a plugin that creates or updates related data? In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to make one subgrid refresh when another subgrid is updated — a common real-world scenario that enhances user experience without needing a full form refresh. Let’s say you have two subgrids on your form: Whenever a new record is added in the Chargeable Categories subgrid, a Power Automate flow or backend logic creates corresponding records in Order Line Categories. However, these new records are not immediately visible in the second subgrid unless the user manually refreshes the entire form or clicks on the refresh icon. This can be confusing or frustrating for end-users. Solution Overview To solve this, we’ll use JavaScript to listen for changes in Subgrid A and automatically refresh Subgrid B once something is added. Here’s the high-level approach: Implementation Steps 1. Create the JavaScript Web Resource Create a new JS web resource and add the following code: How It Works To conclude, this simple yet effective approach ensures a smoother user experience by reflecting backend changes instantly without needing to manually refresh the entire form. It’s particularly helpful when automations or plugins create or update related records that must appear in real-time. By combining JavaScript with Dynamics’ form controls, you can add polish and usability to your applications without heavy customization. I hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

Dynamics 365 CRM provides an Out-of-the-Box (OOB) Business Closures feature to define non-working days across your organization. However, in many real-world scenarios, we often face limitations with the default interface in terms of customization, UX/UI control, or extensibility. In this blog post, I’ll Walk you through how you can replace the OOB Business Closures using a custom HTML + CSS + JavaScript web page embedded in Dynamics 365. This custom page will interact with a custom Dataverse table that stores your closure dates and related details. Why Replace the OOB Business Closures? Some of the common limitations of OOB Business Closures: What We’ll Build A custom web resource embedded in a Dynamics 365 CRM dashboard or form tab that: Step-by-Step Implementation 1. Create a Custom Table in Dataverse 2. Create the HTML Web Resource 3. Upload as Web Resource in CRM Benefits of this Approach – Fully customizable UI -Supports additional metadata (reason, region, team) -Extensible for APIs, workflows, Power Automate, etc. -Better UX for users with real-time interactivity To conclude, by using a simple HTML, CSS, and JavaScript front end, we can extend Dynamics 365 CRM to manage business closures in a much more flexible and modern way. It not only overcomes the limitations of the OOB feature but also gives us complete control over the user experience and data model. I hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com.

Asynchronous programming is essential for building responsive applications, especially when dealing with time-consuming operations like API calls, file I/O, or database queries. Both C# and JavaScript provide powerful tools to handle asynchronous code: Promises in JavaScript and Tasks in C#. However, managing these manually can lead to complex, nested code. Enter async/await—a syntactic sugar that makes asynchronous code look and behave like synchronous code, improving readability and maintainability. Async/Await in JavaScript JavaScript relies heavily on Promises for asynchronous operations. While Promises are powerful, chaining them can lead to callback hell. Async/await simplifies this by allowing us to write asynchronous code in a linear fashion. Scenario: Fetching User Data from an API Instead of chaining .then() calls, we can use async/await to make API calls cleaner. Without Async/Await (Promise Chaining) With Async/Await (Cleaner Approach) Benefits:✅ Easier to read – No nested .then() chains.✅ Better error handling – Structured try/catch blocks. Scenario: Sequential vs. Parallel Execution Sometimes we need to run tasks one after another, while other times we want them to run in parallel for efficiency. Sequential Execution (One After Another) Output: Parallel Execution (Faster Completion) Output: Async/Await in C# C# uses Tasks for asynchronous operations. Before async/await, developers relied on callbacks or .ContinueWith(), leading to complex code. Scenario: Downloading Files Asynchronously Instead of blocking the UI thread, we can use async/await to keep the app responsive. Without Async/Await (Blocking UI) With Async/Await (Non-Blocking UI) Benefits:✅ UI remains responsive – No freezing during downloads.✅ Clean error handling – try/catch works naturally. Scenario: Running Multiple Database Queries If we need to fetch data from multiple sources, async/await makes it easy to manage. Sequential Database Queries Parallel Database Queries (Faster Performance) Key Takeaways ✔ Use async/await to avoid callback hell in JavaScript and blocking calls in C#.✔ Sequential execution (await one by one) vs. parallel execution (Promise.all / Task.WhenAll).✔ Error handling is simpler with try/catch instead of .catch() or .ContinueWith().✔ Improves performance by keeping UIs responsive while waiting for I/O operations. By adopting async/await, you can write cleaner, more maintainable asynchronous code in both JavaScript and C#. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com

Maintaining optimal performance in Dynamics 365 (D365) requires proactive storage management. Running out of space can slow down your system, so it’s crucial to monitor storage usage and act before reaching capacity. Ideally, you should receive an alert when storage hits 80%, giving you time to take corrective action. How to Reduce Storage Consumption in D365 If your D365 environment is nearing its storage limit, here are some effective ways to reclaim space: When Documents Are the Culprit If storage remains tight after these steps, documents and attachments are likely the issue. Studies show that 70% of D365 storage is often consumed by files—especially if your organization stores emails within the CRM. Unfortunately, traditional cleanup methods may not be enough to free up space efficiently. A Better Approach: Integrate External Storage Solutions Since D365 is designed for customer relationship management—not document storage—relying on it for file storage can be costly. Instead, consider migrating documents to dedicated storage systems that offer: Popular options include: By offloading documents to these platforms, you can reduce D365 storage costs while improving efficiency. To encapsulate, proactive storage management ensures smoother D365 performance and avoids unnecessary expenses. Clean up unused data, then explore external storage solutions for long-term efficiency. Would you like recommendations on the best storage migration strategy for your business? Let us know in the comments! We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

In this blog, we will explore the use of the XrmToolBox and different tools present in the store. XrmToolBox is free to use tool that connects with the Dataverse environment and provide you with various tools that allow performing heavy management task very easily. Many developers have contributed to XrmToolBox store by creating a tool/library which is beneficial in the regular development and management work of Dynamics 365 CRM Consultants/Developers. You can find the Installation and setup guidance from a website that you can follow as we directly going to start exploring different types of tools available. Home Page: https://www.xrmtoolbox.com/ Connection Setup with Dataverse Environment: https://www.xrmtoolbox.com/documentation/for-users/manage-connections/ Tool #1: “Security Role Sync” created by Bharath Sheelam The tool is created to sync the security roles between two users. I have two users present in the Dataverse environment and I have requirement to sync roles from one user to another. If we need to sync the roles from “Richie Jacob” to “Siddhi Patekar” so we need to select “Richie Jacob” in Source and “Siddhi Patekar” in Destination. Once you select the user and you need to click on Sync Security roles it will start syncing and notify you once it is completed. Use Case and Key Benefits: We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

When working with arrays in Power Automate, it’s common to need to filter or select a specific item based on certain attributes. Whether you’re handling JSON data from an API, processing records from a list, or managing dynamic content within a flow, efficiently identifying the right item is key. In this blog, we’ll explore a simple yet effective method to extract the desired item from an array using expressions in Power Automate. By the end, you’ll have a clear strategy to streamline your workflows and enhance the intelligence of your automation. In case you need to select an item from an array in Power Automate based on the value of a certain attribute, here’s how you can do it. Scenario You have an array of objects, and each object has a specific attribute. You want to efficiently select the object(s) where this attribute matches a particular value. As you see, the array of objects have different structure – All of them have an attribute called “key” and that’s the one you want to select and then process further. Let’s see how we do it. Filter Array Let’s see how you can select the item from the array based on the value of the “key” attribute instead of looping through all the items and matching. To encapsulate, by using this approach, you can efficiently select specific items from an array based on the value of a particular attribute, making your Power Automate flows more dynamic and tailored to your specific needs. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

As a Dynamics 365 developer, I spend a lot of time customizing and extending the platform to fit the specific needs of my clients. While the built-in tools are powerful, there are times when you need something a little more…well, magical. That’s where the XRM Toolbox comes in. Think of the XRM Toolbox as a developer’s Swiss Army Knife. It’s a collection of free, open-source tools that can supercharge your productivity and make your life a whole lot easier. Let’s dive into some of my favorite functionalities: 1. WebResource Manager: Say Goodbye to Tedious File Management Managing web resources in Dynamics 365 can be a real pain. You’re constantly uploading, updating, and deleting files, and it’s easy to lose track of changes. The Web Resource Manager from MscrmTools is a game-changer. It provides a user-friendly interface for managing all your web resources in one place. No more wrestling with folders and file paths! This tool has saved me countless hours, and I can’t recommend it enough. 2. SiteMap Editor: Editing the Sitemap Without Breaking Everything The thought of editing a Dynamics 365 Sitemap directly in XML sends shivers down my spine. One wrong keystroke, and you could bring your entire CRM system to its knees. The SiteMap Editor from MscrmTools is a lifesaver. It allows you to visually edit your sitemap components, create and manage areas, and update properties like icons and titles. It’s like having a magic wand for your Sitemap woes! 3. Ribbon Workbench 2016: Effortless Ribbon Customization Customizing the Dynamics 365 ribbon used to be a complex and error-prone process that involved manually editing XML files. Thankfully, those days are over! The Ribbon Workbench by Scott Durow lets you edit the ribbon and command bar directly within the XrmToolbox. You can add buttons, menus, and custom commands with just a few clicks. It’s a fantastic tool that makes ribbon customization a breeze. 4. FetchXML Builder: Crafting Powerful Queries Without Breaking a Sweat FetchXML is a powerful language for querying data in Dynamics 365, but it can be tricky to master. The FetchXML Builder by Jonas Rapp is an invaluable tool that simplifies the process. It provides a user-friendly interface for building complex queries, including aggregates, outer joins, and even queries that can’t be created in Advanced Find. Plus, it can generate C# code and OData strings from your FetchXML, making it a true developer’s companion. 5. Metadata Document Generator: Documenting Your Data Like a Pro Documenting your Dynamics 365 data can be a time-consuming chore. The Metadata Document Generator from MscrmTools automates this process by generating Word and Excel documents that contain detailed information about your entities and attributes. No more manually creating tables and copying data – this tool does the heavy lifting for you. These are just a few of the many amazing tools available in the XRM Toolbox. With its extensive functionality and ever-growing collection of plugins, the XRM Toolbox is an essential part of any Dynamics 365 developer’s toolkit. It’s a treasure trove of time-saving utilities that can make your development experience smoother, faster, and more enjoyable. So, if you’re a Dynamics 365 developer who wants to work smarter, not harder, I highly recommend checking out the XRM Toolbox. You won’t be disappointed! We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

Let’s delve into the concept of Resource Roles and how to incorporate them into your Price Lists. Understanding Resource Roles Resource Roles represent the specific functions or responsibilities assigned to individuals within a project. For example, “Project Manager,” “Software Engineer,” “Consultant,” “Marketing Specialist,” etc. These roles provide a structured framework for managing resources and defining their contributions to project deliverables. Accessing Resource Roles Let’s see how we can add Resource Roles – Add Role in Cost Price List Now, we want to assign a Cost Price to the Consulting Lead role (which is of type Chargeable). Let’s see below on how we can do this – Add Role in Sales Price List Let’s also add the same Consulting Lead role to the Sales Price List as well – We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

Low-code development has revolutionized the way businesses build software applications. By providing a visual, drag-and-drop interface, low-code platforms enable developers to quickly create complex applications without writing much code. However, even with the power of low-code platforms, there may be times when you need to extend their capabilities to meet specific business requirements. This is where low-code plugins come into play. Low-code plugins are small pieces of software that can be added to a low-code platform to extend its functionality. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of using low-code plugins, the steps involved in creating them, and some tips for successful development. Benefits of Using Low-Code Plugins Low-code plugins offer a number of benefits for businesses, including: Steps in Creating a Low-Code Plugin The process of creating a low-code plugin typically involves the following steps: Tips for Successful Low-Code Plugin Development Here are some tips for developing successful low-code plugins: Example Use Cases Low-code plugins can be used to solve a variety of business problems. Here are some examples: Conclusion Low-code plugins offer a powerful way to extend the capabilities of low-code platforms and create custom solutions that meet specific business needs. By following the steps outlined in this blog post and incorporating the tips for successful development, you can effectively leverage low-code plugins to drive innovation and achieve your business objectives. Later we will see working of the Low-Code Plugin in Dynamics 365 CRM with an example. We hope you found this blog useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfonts.com.

Are you looking for a cost-effective way to set up a development and testing environment for Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations (D365FO)? If Azure expenses are a concern, deploying a local Virtual Hard Drive (VHD) is a practical alternative. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process to get started. Why This is ImportantA local VHD setup provides a robust environment for developers to test and build without incurring cloud costs. With sufficient technical planning, you can have a fully functional Dynamics 365 instance running locally. Step 1: Download the VHD Step 2: Set Up the Virtualization Environment Step 3: Configure the Virtual Machine Step 4: Finalize Setup Step 5: Launch D365FO Environment Tips for Maintenance By following these steps, you can set up a robust development environment for D365FO without relying on Azure. We hope you found this article useful, and if you would like to discuss anything, you can reach out to us at transform@cloudfronts.com