Some of the Good CRM 2011 Tools with comments

Reading Materials

CRM 2011 SDK - Download: The tool of any CRM developer - Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 SDK. 

Best Development Helpers Resource 

• Developer Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM: The Developer Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is included in the SDK download package at SDK\Tools\DeveloperToolkit.The Developer Toolkit is a Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 integration focused on accelerating the development of custom code for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. The Developer Toolkit supports creation and deployment of plug-ins, custom workflow assemblies, XAML workflows and Web resources. A developer can write custom code within Visual Studio and deploy the code to an unmanaged solution on a Microsoft Dynamics CRM server.

Problems:

1. When you copy the code from one system to other system (Developer tool kit extension installed) it’ll not show you the CRM Explorer (You need to create the Package from Scratch).
2. If you want to add the more than one event associated with Plug-in then you manually enter the second event entry to Plug-in Class. Example I wanted to add the Create and Update event associated with account entity then tool will not enter the bellow Point 2nd in class. 

• base.RegisteredEvents.Add(new Tuple<int, string, string, Action<LocalPluginContext>>(40, "Create", "account ", new Action<LocalPluginContext>(ExecutePostAccount)));

• base.RegisteredEvents.Add(new Tuple<int, string, string, Action<LocalPluginContext>>(20, "Update", "account", new Action<LocalPluginContext>(ExecutePostAccount)));

• JScript IntelliSense for Form Script Libraries: Use this solution to enjoy full IntelliSense and in-line documentation about the Xrm.Page object methods when writing form scripts. This is a combination of a CRM solution and a Visual Studio extension that captures a snapshot of the structure and data in a given form. You can test your scripts in Visual Studio as you write them. This solution is part of the Microsoft CRM 2011 SDK.
• 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 easily modify the ribbon without needing to completely understand the underlying XML schema. It is written by Erik Pool.

Problem:

•  I used this tool find that some of the typical menus that will go into deep hierarchy. It will not able to show you the preview as well as you will not able to create example flyouts menu and many more.

• CRM 2011 Skype Connector : Skype Connector Tool for organizations that are looking to integrate Skype and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.  

Features:  

• Make calls to phone numbers or Skype Names from a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Contact Record.

• No third party plug in or Internet Explorer toolbar needed on the client computers, just import the solution and your users will be able to make Skype calls immediately.

• The Skype drop down button will generate the options depending on data available on the CRM Contact record. 

Problems

• The Skype client must be installed and running on the client computer for the functionality to work.