{"id":13025,"date":"2017-12-26T09:30:44","date_gmt":"2017-12-26T14:30:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sherweb.com\/blog\/?p=13025"},"modified":"2020-07-29T14:26:25","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T18:26:25","slug":"virtual-entities-dynamics-365","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sherweb.com\/blog\/microsoft-ecosystem\/dynamics-365\/virtual-entities-dynamics-365\/","title":{"rendered":"How to leverage virtual entities in Dynamics 365"},"content":{"rendered":"

Smart business solutions play an important part in big enterprises. When a business gets large enough, it needs a system to handle HR, customers, payroll, and other processes. Dynamics 365<\/a> is Microsoft\u2019s solution for all businesses. It\u2019s a one-size-fits-all product built in a very dynamic way (pun intended). It supports many customizations and configurations, with the help of virtual entities, to handle every part of the business.<\/p>\n

When customers express interest in Dynamics 365, they often have one question: How can this integrate with our current system? How can the two systems communicate to unify the experience? Dynamics 365 third-party integrations have been around for a long time (by a long time we mean well before Dynamics 365, with separate dynamics products). \u00a0Dynamics 365 has now corrected a long-standing issue with integrations\u2013they previously were programmed within the software. They needed custom code and external libraries to send and receive data to and from Dynamics 365.<\/p>\n

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Click here to download our free ebook on Dynamics 365 and get answers to your questions!<\/a><\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you closely watch the path Microsoft is taking with Dynamics 365<\/a>, some features are clear. They\u2019re pushing for cloud versions more than on-premises versions. They are dividing their apps based on functionality allowing customers to purchase only the parts they want without having to buy an entire suite of features they will never touch. Finally, they are trying to reduce customization needs by creating new and unique ways to configure systems.<\/p>\n

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Customization vs. Configuration<\/h2>\n

Customization: <\/strong>Applications can be extended by writing custom code or implementing in other ways. In theory, most requirements that cannot be met by out-of-the-box functionality are possible with customization.<\/p>\n

Configuration:<\/strong> Change system settings by using native, out of the box tools to without the need for deep technical expertise.<\/p>\n

With each integration of Dynamics 365, Microsoft creates new ways that avoid writing custom code in favor of configuration. We saw this with the introduction of business rules replacing JavaScript code, real-time workflows replacing synchronous plugins, PowerApps replacing custom mobile applications, and finally, virtual entities make third-party integrations easier than ever.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

What are virtual entities?<\/h2>\n

To simplify integration with external systems, Microsoft came up with a new idea first introduced in Dynamics 365 v9 July Update (released in October…I know, right?)<\/em><\/p>\n

Virtual entities store data from external services. As you can guess from the name, they are virtual<\/strong>. The data does not reside in your Dynamics 365 database and avoids data duplication. Instead, as data is requested, the model builds at runtime without creating any physical instances.<\/p>\n

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Learn more on how to manage your business with Dynamics 365<\/a><\/h3>\n

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How are Virtual Entities used?<\/h2>\n

First Steps:<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Obtain the URL address of the external service you\u2019re using<\/li>\n
  2. Get set up for a Dynamics 365 Organization<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Steps in Dynamics 365<\/h3>\n

    Create the Data Source<\/h4>\n
      \n
    1. Go to Settings<\/li>\n
    2. Go to Administration<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \"How<\/p>\n

      3. Choose Virtual Entity Data Source<\/p>\n

      \"How<\/p>\n

      4. Click New<\/strong> on the top left<\/p>\n

      5. Choose OData v4 Data Provider<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \"How<\/p>\n

      6. Click OK<\/strong><\/p>\n

      7. Fill in the Name <\/strong>(This can be anything of your choosing), <\/em>URL <\/strong>(the web service URL<\/em>), and the Timeout <\/strong>(The number of seconds Dynamics 365 will wait for a response from the web service before failing)<\/em><\/p>\n

      8. Click Save and Close<\/strong><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      Create the Virtual Entity<\/h4>\n
        \n
      1. Go to Settings<\/strong><\/li>\n
      2. Choose Customizations<\/strong><\/li>\n
      3. Click on Customize the system<\/strong><\/li>\n
      4. Create a new entity (as you would a regular Custom Entity)<\/li>\n
      5. Check the Virtual Entity<\/strong> checkbox<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        \"How<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        6. You will automatically see some changes (Data Source appears, Define as an activity<\/em> is disabled with other options like auditing and duplicate detection)<\/p>\n

        7. Choose the Data Source<\/strong> created earlier<\/p>\n

        8. Fill in the required information (Display name, Plural name)<\/p>\n

        9. Save<\/strong><\/p>\n

        When the Virtual Entity is created, two fields automatically add: ID and Name.<\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        You\u2019ll need to go to the fields of the newly created entity and map these fields to the fields from your service.<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Click on Fields<\/strong><\/li>\n
        2. Double click the ID<\/strong> field<\/li>\n
        3. Make sure the External Name <\/strong>property matches the attribute name in your Data source (it\u2019s case sensitive)<\/li>\n
        4. Do the same for the Name<\/strong> field<\/li>\n
        5. You can add as many fields as desired as long as they map correctly to the attribute names in your data source<\/li>\n
        6. Create a Form<\/strong> with the created fields<\/li>\n
        7. Create a View<\/strong> with the attributes you\u2019d like to display.<\/li>\n
        8. Go to the Navigation Bar<\/strong> and select your entity\u2013TADA!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          You should be able to see the view of the records fetched from the Data Source. Double-clicking a row will open the form you created.<\/p>\n

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          <\/div>\n
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          Guide: Resell Microsoft Dynamics 365 With CSP Program<\/h3>\n

          You\u2019ve heard all about Microsoft\u2019s Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program and how it will make life easier for resellers like you. But when it comes right down to it, do you really understand how it works?<\/p>\n

            \n
          • Exactly what the CSP is and how it works<\/li>\n
          • How to get started as a CSP partner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n
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