In addition to query and data region filtering supported by Radius for c360, Microsoft CRM supports data pre–filtering through the CRM Advanced Find feature. In general, this feature is available for all entities in Microsoft CRM, although some entities can be set to not be searchable using Advanced Find. Reports designed with the following concepts in mind can be filtered within the CRM application using the results of queries built using the CRM Advanced Find feature, allowing users to quickly and easily select only the information that is important to them.

Filtering Data using CRMAF_FilteredEntity
One method to enable a report for filtering is to alias entity tables using an alias name in the format "CRMAF_FilteredEntity".

For example, to alias a table name through code in an SQL query, use the following SQL statement:

SELECT column1, column2, columnN
FROM FilteredAccount AS CRMAF_FilteredAccount

When any entity table names are aliased, the Advanced Find user interface is automatically included in the deployed report when run from within Microsoft CRM.

There are two methods you can use in Radius90 to add the CRMAF_ alias to a Filtered View:

The first is to use the table alias feature of the Query Wizard in Radius90 for c360, V1.5. With the select tables window open in the Query Wizard, right-click on the Filtered View(s) you intend to use and choose “Create Alias” from the local menu that appears beneath your mouse pointer. You will be presented with a dialog that allows you to add the correct alias for your view, as described above.

Once you have created the correct alias for each of the Filtered Views you intend to use in your query, you can then select the appropriate fields from the aliased views and proceed to build your query as normal.

To manually add this functionality on reports created using Radius90, simply click the Data tab on the Ribbon, click the Report Queries button and click on the name of the query you would like to amend with the CRMAF_ prefix.

With the Edit Query dialog open, you need to perform the following edit:

Add the alias name to your SQL view using the CRM-recognized syntax of CRMAF_”FilteredEntity” so that a view called FilteredOpportunity will also have an alias name in the query of CRMAF_FilteredOpportunity.

Adding a recognized alias for your Filtered Views ensures that Microsoft CRM will be able to dynamically filter your reports at runtime, based on your use of Advanced Find.



Craig Todd
Director of PreSales
90 Degree Software