Cannot configure CRM for Outlook: Fix uninstall the Plug-In Profiler

We've been struggling with CRM for Outlook issues for weeks. Our problem seemed to appear with all of our users who have Outlook 2010. Suddenly, each of them experienced errors with CRM for Outlook that crashed Outlook, and forced them to disable the add-on. Then, we noticed that we weren't able to configure new instances of CRM for Outlook.

For any new attempt at configuring CRM for Outlook, we were met with two error messages. I'll insert the full downloaded text of the error at the end of this post, but the general messages were typical troubleshooting errors:

“There is a problem communicating with the Microsoft Dynamics CRM server. The server might be unavailable. Try again later. If the problem persists, contact your system administrator.”

“Cannot configure the organization for Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook. Try to configure the organization again. If the problem persists, contact your system administrator.”

The problem was that the solutions I was able to find did nothing to fix the configuration errors, even though PowerObjects has provided a great troubleshooting list here, and Microsoft has their own CRM for Outlook Configuration Troubleshooting Wizard. It wasn't until I started searching other parts of the detailed error message that I was able to come across something that was useful to answering my problem. Specifically, I searched for "A duplicate value cannot be inserted into a unique index." I came across this detailed and seemingly complicated community post. The comments discuss several possibilities and fixes as this issue relates to sitemap issues for many, but the final two comments (as of the time of this blog) stated that uninstalling the plugin profiler fixed the issue.

After finding that the PluginProfiler, Plug-In Profiler, was a solution, I uninstalled the solution without any problems. Then, I tested configuring CRM for Outlook on my own machine and one of the troublesome Outlook 2010 machines. CRM for Outlook configured properly! Problem solved.

Note: after trying to post this with the full text of the error messages, I had some trouble publishing. The most important part seems to be:

10:23:28|  Error| Exception : Cannot configure the organization for Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Outlook. Try to configure the organization again. If the problem persists, contact your system administrator.    at Microsoft.Crm.Application.Outlook.Config.ConfigEngine.Execute(ActionCommand command, ServerInfo serverInfo)

   at Microsoft.Crm.Application.Outlook.Config.ServerForm.<InitializeBackgroundWorkers>b__4(Object sender, RunWorkerCompletedEventArgs e)

10:23:28|  Error| Exception : |NativeError:61b8 HResult 80040e2f Message: A duplicate value cannot be inserted into a unique index. [ Table name = MetadataSchema.EntityClientStatistics,Constraint name = PK__MetadataSchema.EntityClientStatistics__00000000000007A9 ]|    

Stop workflow with a status of Succeeded, not Canceled

I learned a valuable lesson when working with a workflow recently. There is a difference between Stop workflow with status of: Succeeded and Stop workflow with status of: Canceled. (scroll to the final paragraph if you just want a sentence-long description of each status)

Based on what I had seen elsewhere, the difference in these two workflow statuses was in name only.

In my scenario, I have a workflow set up to create some cases at the creation of an opportunity (or when certain fields change), unless the user who created the opportunity is a particular user. I thought by selecting a status of canceled, I would be able to easily distinguish between instances where the workflow went through all of the steps and instances where the workflow stopped itself on the first step. However, I had a misunderstanding of what changing the status of canceled would do.

Setting the status as canceled was causing business process errors when this users was trying to create opportunities, and it was causing errors for a plug in that we have installed. Changing the workflow to a status of canceled not only stopped the workflow, but it also stopped the event that triggered the workflow. For me, this was unintended behavior.
Essentially, using the status of canceled is a way to cause an error that can be tracked when a certain condition is met. Using the status of completed will stop the workflow from moving any further, but will not prohibit the event that triggered the workflow in the first place.

Workflow Waiting Error on Email Creation Step

I ran into an issue while doing some testing today. I had a workflow that I had modified, and I changed the email notification that is created by the workflow to email me. The workflow stayed in a waiting status, and it was stuck at the email creation step. When I opened the system job I found the following error in the details section:

Cannot create the given type without the required parameters.Plugin Trace:[Microsoft.Crm.Workflow: Microsoft.Crm.Workflow.Activities.EvaluateExpression][EvaluateExpression] 

Error Message:Unhandled Exception: Microsoft.Crm.CrmException: Cannot create the given type without the required parameters.   at Microsoft.Crm.Workflow.Services.ExpressionServiceBase.CreateCrmType(WorkflowPropertyType type, Object[] values)   at Microsoft.Crm.Workflow.Services.ExpressionServiceBase.EvaluateExpression(ExpressionOperator expressionOperator, Object[] parameters, Type targetType)   at Microsoft.Crm.Workflow.Activities.EvaluateExpression.Execute(CodeActivityContext context)   at System.Activities.CodeActivity.InternalExecute(ActivityInstance instance, ActivityExecutor executor, BookmarkManager bookmarkManager)   at System.Activities.Runtime.ActivityExecutor.ExecuteActivityWorkItem.ExecuteBody(ActivityExecutor executor, BookmarkManager bookmarkManager, Location resultLocation)

I found this blog post by Simon Harvey that gives one cause for the error with a fix that worked for me.

Fix: Microsoft.Crm.CrmException: Cannot create the given type without the required parameters.

Basically, this error comes after changing the recipients of an email created by a workflow. Delete all values in the to, cc, and bcc, save (possibly save and close) the email, and add the proper values back into it. 

This worked great for me! Thanks, Simon.

IE crashing on CRM and SharePoint Sites (due to add-ons)

I recently had an issue on my machine where the following add-ons were crashing IE on my machine when visiting our CRM and SharePoint online sites respectively. I've disabled both add-ons for IE and the crashing has stopped.

Add-on:

NameCtrl Class. Caused IE to crash on many pages of CRM online. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ms455335(v=office.14).aspx

Sharepoint Stssync Handler. Caused IE to crash instantly on SharePoint online. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/ms456225(v=office.14).aspx

Israel ReddenCRM Administrator

I posted this as a question in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM Community. If you have information more knowledge or experience about what else disabling these add-ons will affect, or why these add-ons have started breaking CRM/SharePoint lately please comment here or on the community at:

https://community.dynamics.com/crm/f/117/p/149077/339522.aspx#339522

Locating the ClickDimensions Subscription Page Link in CRM 2013

Sometimes as the administrator of CRM, not a marketer, I need a reminder on tasks I don't perform often. I haven’t dived hard into ClickDimensions. As such, any time I need to access ClickDimensions’ entities I have to relearn how to find what I’m looking for. That’s why I have created this very simple, one screenshot instruction on how to locate the link for a subscription page. For my purposes, I needed this link to pass to our website developers for placing the subscription page on the live website.

How to get a link for a subscription page form in CRM.

• Navigate to the required subscription page:
• In the navigation bar go to Settings/Web Content
• Select the subscription page or click the new button in the command bar to create and design a new subscription page
• Click the design button in the command bar
• Click the embed button on the ribbon
• Choose embed as link for a direct link
• The link will be populated in the field on the form.

As a note, I plan to become very familiar and comfortable with ClickDimensions. Expect deeper and richer posts on ClickDimensions in the future, including walkthroughs with screenshots, short videos, and deep dives into ClickDimensions features and functionality. These will be in addition to CRM/xRM how-to and informational posts.

Additional Help for the Chrome Modal Dialogs Workaround

I personally use Google Chrome as much as possible. Lately, it's been getting more difficult to complete administrative tasks with Chrome, but I still prefer it to IE. A new issue has surfaced, and there is a workaround. Below is a document I created, because I found following Microsoft's directions for fixing this issue to be difficult. In essence, I have supplemented and reworked their help steps on this issue to make it easier to work through.

Modal Dialogs Workaround

Error message when using Google Chrome browser

The issue:

After updating to Google Chrome 37, an error is received when attempting to add a new status reason, or when editing an existing status reason, in Microsoft Dynamics CRM

 

How to fix the problem:

Navigate to the Local Group Policy editor on your machine. NOTE: Local Security Policy is NOT the same thing. Below is how to navigate to the Local Group Policy Editor.

1) Type gpedit.msc in your start menu search function, and press enter.

or 1a) Open the “Run” command box (Windows+R), and enter gpedit.msc. Click OK.

or 1b) Search the Start Menu for the word “policy” 

2) Once open, it should look like this:

3) Download the ADM Policy Templates (Click here for just the EN-US version.)

4) Right-click Administrative Templates and select Add/Remove Templates 

5) Locate and add the downloaded chrome.adm template. (For Windows users in the US, it will be in policy_templates\windows\adm\en-US.)

6) Now folders have been created under Classic Administrative Templates (ADM) for Google/Google Chrome.

7) Double-click the “Enable deprecated web platform features for a limited time”, or right click and choose "Edit".

            a) Select the “Enable” radial button. Then click “Show”.

 

b) Click in the text area, and paste in the following string value:

ShowModalDialog_EffectiveUntil20150430

 

c) Click OK on the Show Contents dialog

d) Click Apply and OK on the Enabled Deprecated Webplatform Features dialog

8) Restart the Google Chrome browser and type chrome://policy in the address bar

a) You should observe that this deprecated feature is now enabled.

Resources:

1. An error occurs in Microsoft Dynamics CRM when adding or editing Status Reasons using Google Chromehttp://support.microsoft.com/kb/3000002

2. The Chromium Projects http://www.chromium.org/administrators/policy-templates 

3. Open the Local Group Policy Editor http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc731745.aspx

4. How Do I Enable the Group Policy Editor in Windows 8?  http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1650667/enable-group-policy-editor-windows.html

5 Tips to Get Better at CRM

No one wants their performance to be mediocre. We all want to be outstanding performers. We want to be MVPs...but we're busy, overworked, and doing our best to stay ahead of our inboxes. CRM is a behemoth, but it can be tamed. Here's some advice on staying ahead of the curve, being a CRM superstar, and bringing your organization along with you.

1. Get involved in the community. 

You  could spend your time reading and researching on your own, but there are thousands of other people in your same position. Reach out to them. Ask questions. You may be surprised by the quality of the responses. Many of us are going through the same issues, or have already found and implemented a solution to the problem you're facing. Going it alone is like refusing to use a web search. You can get by without it, but you'll get answers much quicker by tapping into the free resources out there. A few communities, blogs, and twitter feeds are referenced below to help you find information relevant to you.

2. Share your knowledge.

Contributing what you know through posts, answering others' questions, providing walkthroughs with screenshots, creating videos, writing a blog, tweeting, or even hosting webinars will empower other users. Even telling others how you perform your day-to-day tasks can make an impact on others. 

3. Go beyond your comfort level.

A great way to advance your skills is by experimenting in as of yet untouched areas. CRM is a robust warehouse of data and there are many aspects to explore. If you're untested in creating or modifying one of the many components, create or access a sandbox and try your hand at something new. 

4. Train, Train, Train.

Create a training schedule for yourself or your team. Discuss the topics that are relevant to your skill set and in line with both where your company is today and where the company's vision and needs are for the future. Find upcoming and recorded webinars, training aids, PowerPoints, and onsite or online training sessions. Then put them in the budget and on a timeline. With a plan for training yourself and other users in your organization, you'll experience wider adoption and greater communication among your users.  

5. Get and give feedback.

There will always be new features you and your users willl want to add. Have a mechanism for supplying and receiving user requests. Prioritize and make these requests available for dispersion among your team and users. Keep everyone educated about the feature and development timeline for your organization's CRM. By making this information and process widey available, users will know what to expect and when to expect it. And when new features are added, ensure that anyone affected by the changes is given proper, detailed training on its use.

Below are a few of the resources to get you started. Dive in and find the right mix for you. 

Communities:

CRM User Group (CRMUG)

http://www.crmug.com/

Microsoft Dynamcs CRM Commmunity

https://community.dynamics.com/crm/

Blogs:

CRMguru

http://blog.crmguru.co.uk/

Jason Lattimer's Blog

http://jlattimer.blogspot.com/

The Microsoft Dynamics Team Blog

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/crm/

Microsoft Dynamcs CRM Blogs

https://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/default.aspx

Training:

CRMUG Academy

http://www.crmug.com/academy

Microsoft Dynamics Training

https://community.dynamics.com/crm/b/default.aspx

Twitter:

Mark Smith

https://twitter.com/nzCRMguy

Carsten Groth

https://twitter.com/carsten_mscrm

CRMUG

https://twitter.com/CRMUG

Microsoft Dynamics

https://twitter.com/MSFTDynamics