Sample: Create a custom activity
Applies To: Dynamics CRM 2013
This sample code is for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online. Download the Microsoft Dynamics CRM SDK package. It can be found in the following location in the download package:
SampleCode\CS\metadata\Entities\CreateCustomActivityEntity.cs
SampleCode\VB\metadata\Entities\CreateCustomActivityEntity.vb
Requirements
For more information about the requirements for running the sample code provided in this SDK, see Use the sample and helper code.
Demonstrates
The following code example demonstrates how to create a custom activity using the CreateEntityRequest and CreateAttributeRequest messages.
Example
using System;
using System.ServiceModel;
using System.ServiceModel.Description;
// These namespaces are found in the Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.dll assembly
// found in the SDK\bin folder.
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Client;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Query;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Metadata;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Messages;
// This namespace is found in Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Proxy.dll assembly
// found in the SDK\bin folder.
using Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Messages;
namespace Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Samples
{
/// <summary>
/// This sample shows how to create a custom activity.
/// </summary>
public class CreateCustomActivityEntity
{
#region Class Level Members
/// <summary>
/// Stores the organization service proxy.
/// </summary>
private OrganizationServiceProxy _serviceProxy;
#endregion Class Level Members
#region How To Sample Code
/// <summary>
/// Create the custom entity.
/// Optionally delete the custom entity.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="serverConfig">Contains server connection information.</param>
/// <param name="promptForDelete">When True, the user will be prompted to delete all
/// created entities.</param>
public void Run(ServerConnection.Configuration serverConfig, bool promptForDelete)
{
try
{
// Connect to the Organization service.
// The using statement assures that the service proxy will be properly disposed.
using (_serviceProxy = ServerConnection.GetOrganizationProxy(serverConfig))
{
// This statement is required to enable early-bound type support.
_serviceProxy.EnableProxyTypes();
// The custom prefix would typically be passed in as an argument or
// determined by the publisher of the custom solution.
String prefix = "new_";
String customEntityName = prefix + "instantmessage";
// Create the custom activity entity.
CreateEntityRequest request = new CreateEntityRequest
{
HasNotes = true,
HasActivities = false,
PrimaryAttribute = new StringAttributeMetadata
{
SchemaName = "Subject",
RequiredLevel = new AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
MaxLength = 100,
DisplayName = new Label("Subject", 1033)
},
Entity = new EntityMetadata
{
IsActivity = true,
SchemaName = customEntityName,
DisplayName = new Label("Instant Message", 1033),
DisplayCollectionName = new Label("Instant Messages", 1033),
OwnershipType = OwnershipTypes.UserOwned,
IsAvailableOffline = true,
}
};
_serviceProxy.Execute(request);
//Entity must be published
// Add few attributes to the custom activity entity.
CreateAttributeRequest fontFamilyAttributeRequest =
new CreateAttributeRequest
{
EntityName = customEntityName,
Attribute = new StringAttributeMetadata
{
SchemaName = prefix + "fontfamily",
DisplayName = new Label("Font Family", 1033),
MaxLength = 100
}
};
CreateAttributeResponse fontFamilyAttributeResponse =
(CreateAttributeResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(
fontFamilyAttributeRequest);
CreateAttributeRequest fontColorAttributeRequest =
new CreateAttributeRequest
{
EntityName = customEntityName,
Attribute = new StringAttributeMetadata
{
SchemaName = prefix + "fontcolor",
DisplayName = new Label("Font Color", 1033),
MaxLength = 50
}
};
CreateAttributeResponse fontColorAttributeResponse =
(CreateAttributeResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(
fontColorAttributeRequest);
CreateAttributeRequest fontSizeAttributeRequest =
new CreateAttributeRequest
{
EntityName = customEntityName,
Attribute = new IntegerAttributeMetadata
{
SchemaName = prefix + "fontSize",
DisplayName = new Label("Font Size", 1033)
}
};
CreateAttributeResponse fontSizeAttributeResponse =
(CreateAttributeResponse)_serviceProxy.Execute(
fontSizeAttributeRequest);
Console.WriteLine("The custom activity has been created.");
DeleteCustomEntity(prefix, promptForDelete);
}
}
// Catch any service fault exceptions that Microsoft Dynamics CRM throws.
catch (FaultException<Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault>)
{
// You can handle an exception here or pass it back to the calling method.
throw;
}
}
/// <summary>
/// Deletes the custom entity that was created for this sample.
/// <param name="prompt">Indicates whether to prompt the user
/// to delete the entity created in this sample.</param>
/// </summary>
public void DeleteCustomEntity(String prefix, bool prompt)
{
bool deleteEntity = true;
if (prompt)
{
Console.WriteLine("\nDo you want this custom entity deleted? (y/n)");
char answer = Convert.ToChar(Console.ReadLine().Substring(0, 1));
deleteEntity = (answer == 'y' || answer == 'Y');
}
if (deleteEntity)
{
DeleteEntityRequest request = new DeleteEntityRequest()
{
LogicalName = prefix + "instantmessage",
};
_serviceProxy.Execute(request);
Console.WriteLine("Entity has been deleted.");
}
}
#endregion How To Sample Code
#region Main
/// <summary>
/// Standard Main() method used by most SDK samples.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="args"></param>
static public void Main(string[] args)
{
try
{
// Obtain the target organization's Web address and client logon
// credentials from the user.
ServerConnection serverConnect = new ServerConnection();
ServerConnection.Configuration config = serverConnect.GetServerConfiguration();
CreateCustomActivityEntity app = new CreateCustomActivityEntity();
app.Run(config, true);
}
catch (FaultException<Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault> ex)
{
Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.");
Console.WriteLine("Timestamp: {0}", ex.Detail.Timestamp);
Console.WriteLine("Code: {0}", ex.Detail.ErrorCode);
Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", ex.Detail.Message);
Console.WriteLine("Plugin Trace: {0}", ex.Detail.TraceText);
Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
null == ex.Detail.InnerFault ? "No Inner Fault" : "Has Inner Fault");
}
catch (System.TimeoutException ex)
{
Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.");
Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", ex.Message);
Console.WriteLine("Stack Trace: {0}", ex.StackTrace);
Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
null == ex.InnerException.Message ? "No Inner Fault" : ex.InnerException.Message);
}
catch (System.Exception ex)
{
Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.");
Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
// Display the details of the inner exception.
if (ex.InnerException != null)
{
Console.WriteLine(ex.InnerException.Message);
FaultException<Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault> fe =
ex.InnerException
as FaultException<Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault>;
if (fe != null)
{
Console.WriteLine("Timestamp: {0}", fe.Detail.Timestamp);
Console.WriteLine("Code: {0}", fe.Detail.ErrorCode);
Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", fe.Detail.Message);
Console.WriteLine("Plugin Trace: {0}", fe.Detail.TraceText);
Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}",
null == fe.Detail.InnerFault ? "No Inner Fault" : "Has Inner Fault");
}
}
}
// Additional exceptions to catch: SecurityTokenValidationException, ExpiredSecurityTokenException,
// SecurityAccessDeniedException, MessageSecurityException, and SecurityNegotiationException.
finally
{
Console.WriteLine("Press <Enter> to exit.");
Console.ReadLine();
}
}
#endregion Main
}
}
Imports System.ServiceModel
Imports System.ServiceModel.Description
' These namespaces are found in the Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.dll assembly
' found in the SDK\bin folder.
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Client
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Query
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Metadata
Imports Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Messages
' This namespace is found in Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Proxy.dll assembly
' found in the SDK\bin folder.
Imports Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Messages
Namespace Microsoft.Crm.Sdk.Samples
''' <summary>
''' This sample shows how to create a custom activity.
''' </summary>
Public Class CreateCustomActivityEntity
#Region "Class Level Members"
''' <summary>
''' Stores the organization service proxy.
''' </summary>
Private _serviceProxy As OrganizationServiceProxy
#End Region ' Class Level Members
#Region "How To Sample Code"
''' <summary>
''' Create the custom entity.
''' Optionally delete the custom entity.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="serverConfig">Contains server connection information.</param>
''' <param name="promptForDelete">When True, the user will be prompted to delete all
''' created entities.</param>
Public Sub Run(ByVal serverConfig As ServerConnection.Configuration, ByVal promptForDelete As Boolean)
Try
' Connect to the Organization service.
' The using statement assures that the service proxy will be properly disposed.
_serviceProxy = ServerConnection.GetOrganizationProxy(serverConfig)
Using _serviceProxy
' This statement is required to enable early-bound type support.
_serviceProxy.EnableProxyTypes()
' The custom prefix would typically be passed in as an argument or
' determined by the publisher of the custom solution.
Dim prefix As String = "new_"
Dim customEntityName As String = prefix & "instantmessage"
' Create the custom activity entity.
Dim request As CreateEntityRequest = New CreateEntityRequest With {
.HasNotes = True,
.HasActivities = False,
.PrimaryAttribute = New StringAttributeMetadata With {
.SchemaName = "Subject",
.RequiredLevel = New AttributeRequiredLevelManagedProperty(AttributeRequiredLevel.None),
.MaxLength = 100,
.DisplayName = New Label("Subject", 1033)},
.Entity = New EntityMetadata With {
.IsActivity = True,
.SchemaName = customEntityName,
.DisplayName = New Label("Instant Message", 1033),
.DisplayCollectionName = New Label("Instant Messages", 1033),
.OwnershipType = OwnershipTypes.UserOwned,
.IsAvailableOffline = True}}
_serviceProxy.Execute(request)
'Entity must be published
' Add few attributes to the custom activity entity.
Dim fontFamilyAttributeRequest As CreateAttributeRequest = New CreateAttributeRequest With {
.EntityName = customEntityName,
.Attribute = New StringAttributeMetadata With {
.SchemaName = prefix & "fontfamily",
.DisplayName = New Label("Font Family", 1033),
.MaxLength = 100}}
Dim fontFamilyAttributeResponse As CreateAttributeResponse = CType(_serviceProxy.Execute(fontFamilyAttributeRequest), CreateAttributeResponse)
Dim fontColorAttributeRequest As CreateAttributeRequest = New CreateAttributeRequest With {
.EntityName = customEntityName,
.Attribute = New StringAttributeMetadata With {
.SchemaName = prefix & "fontcolor",
.DisplayName = New Label("Font Color", 1033),
.MaxLength = 50}}
Dim fontColorAttributeResponse As CreateAttributeResponse = CType(_serviceProxy.Execute(fontColorAttributeRequest), CreateAttributeResponse)
Dim fontSizeAttributeRequest As CreateAttributeRequest = New CreateAttributeRequest With {
.EntityName = customEntityName,
.Attribute = New IntegerAttributeMetadata With {
.SchemaName = prefix & "fontSize",
.DisplayName = New Label("Font Size", 1033)}}
Dim fontSizeAttributeResponse As CreateAttributeResponse = CType(_serviceProxy.Execute(fontSizeAttributeRequest), CreateAttributeResponse)
Console.WriteLine("The custom activity has been created.")
DeleteCustomEntity(prefix, promptForDelete)
End Using
' Catch any service fault exceptions that Microsoft Dynamics CRM throws.
Catch fe As FaultException(Of Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault)
' You can handle an exception here or pass it back to the calling method.
Throw
End Try
End Sub
''' <summary>
''' Deletes the custom entity that was created for this sample.
''' <param name="prompt">Indicates whether to prompt the user
''' to delete the entity created in this sample.</param>
''' </summary>
Public Sub DeleteCustomEntity(ByVal prefix As String, ByVal prompt As Boolean)
Dim deleteEntity As Boolean = True
If prompt Then
Console.WriteLine(vbLf & "Do you want this custom entity deleted? (y/n)")
Dim answer As Char = Convert.ToChar(Console.ReadLine().Substring(0, 1))
deleteEntity = (answer = "y"c OrElse answer = "Y"c)
End If
If deleteEntity Then
Dim request As New DeleteEntityRequest() With {.LogicalName = prefix & "instantmessage"}
_serviceProxy.Execute(request)
Console.WriteLine("Entity has been deleted.")
End If
End Sub
#End Region ' How To Sample Code
#Region "Main"
''' <summary>
''' Standard Main() method used by most SDK samples.
''' </summary>
''' <param name="args"></param>
Public Shared Sub Main(ByVal args() As String)
Try
' Obtain the target organization's Web address and client logon
' credentials from the user.
Dim serverConnect As New ServerConnection()
Dim config As ServerConnection.Configuration = serverConnect.GetServerConfiguration()
Dim app As New CreateCustomActivityEntity()
app.Run(config, True)
Catch ex As FaultException(Of Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault)
Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.")
Console.WriteLine("Timestamp: {0}", ex.Detail.Timestamp)
Console.WriteLine("Code: {0}", ex.Detail.ErrorCode)
Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", ex.Detail.Message)
Console.WriteLine("Plugin Trace: {0}", ex.Detail.TraceText)
Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}", If(Nothing Is ex.Detail.InnerFault, "No Inner Fault", "Has Inner Fault"))
Catch ex As TimeoutException
Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.")
Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", ex.Message)
Console.WriteLine("Stack Trace: {0}", ex.StackTrace)
Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}", If(Nothing Is ex.InnerException.Message, "No Inner Fault", ex.InnerException.Message))
Catch ex As Exception
Console.WriteLine("The application terminated with an error.")
Console.WriteLine(ex.Message)
' Display the details of the inner exception.
If ex.InnerException IsNot Nothing Then
Console.WriteLine(ex.InnerException.Message)
Dim fe As FaultException(Of Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault) = TryCast(ex.InnerException, FaultException(Of Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.OrganizationServiceFault))
If fe IsNot Nothing Then
Console.WriteLine("Timestamp: {0}", fe.Detail.Timestamp)
Console.WriteLine("Code: {0}", fe.Detail.ErrorCode)
Console.WriteLine("Message: {0}", fe.Detail.Message)
Console.WriteLine("Plugin Trace: {0}", fe.Detail.TraceText)
Console.WriteLine("Inner Fault: {0}", If(Nothing Is fe.Detail.InnerFault, "No Inner Fault", "Has Inner Fault"))
End If
End If
' Additional exceptions to catch: SecurityTokenValidationException, ExpiredSecurityTokenException,
' SecurityAccessDeniedException, MessageSecurityException, and SecurityNegotiationException.
Finally
Console.WriteLine("Press <Enter> to exit.")
Console.ReadLine()
End Try
End Sub
#End Region ' Main
End Class
End Namespace
See Also
CreateEntityRequest
CreateAttributeRequest
Sample code for activity entities
Custom activities
Helper code: ServerConnection class
Sample: Create, retrieve, update, and delete an email attachment