Best Software Act! is very popular CRM for small and mid-size organization. This system attracts business owner by its low price, plus system is very easy to use. However if your business is growing you should reach the moment to implement more advanced CRM solution. Natural question is ? how do we convert the data from Act! to new CRM solution and the mapping of your objects for conversion. You would probably like to avoid operator data entry with potential numerous errors and mistypes. Assuming that you are IT specialist, we'll give you technical side of Act to MS CRM data migration:
? First you need to download Act! SDK from Best Software website
? Install Act! SDK on the computer, where you plan to do programming
? We'll use asynchronous data export/import model, this means that we'll design the system, containing two parts: export into XML and this XML file import into the CRM
? Lets code Act! data export application, we'll use C# to address Act Framework classes, we'll need these libraries:
using Act.Framework;
using Act.Framework.Activities;
using Act.Framework.Companies;
using Act.Framework.ComponentModel;
using Act.Framework.Contacts;
using Act.Framework.Database;
using Act.Framework.Groups;
using Act.Framework.Histories;
using Act.Framework.Lookups;
using Act.Framework.MutableEntities;
using Act.Framework.Notes;
using Act.Framework.Opportunities;
using Act.Framework.Users;
using Act.Shared.Collections;
? To connect to Act! database:
ActFramework framework = new ActFramework();
framework.LogOn("Act Username", "password", "SERVER", "Database");
? Now we need Act field names to map them with the fields in the MS CRM:
private void ShowContactsFieldsDescriptions(ActFramework framework) {
ContactFieldDescriptor[] cFields = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptors();
ContactFieldDescriptor cField;
for(int x = 0; x < cFields.Length; x++)
{
cField = cFields[x];
Console.WriteLine("Table Name: {0}", cField.TableName);
Console.WriteLine("Column Name: {0}", cField.ColumnName);
Console.WriteLine("Display Name: {0}", cField.DisplayName);
Console.WriteLine("ACT Field Type: {0}", cField.ACTFieldType);
Console.WriteLine("");
}
}
? Let's get contact list and create the file for import instructions to MS CRM:
ContactList cList = framework.Contacts.GetContacts(null);
FileInfo t = new FileInfo("Contacts.xml");
StreamWriter stw = t.CreateText();
? Now we form export data:
for (int i = 0; i < cList.Count; i++) {
string strContactXml = "";
ContactFieldDescriptor cField;
Object oValue;
// First Name
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.FIRSTNAME");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
// Last Name
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.LASTNAME");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
else
strContactXml += "" + "N/A" + "";
// Salutation
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.SALUTATION");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + oValue.ToString() + "]]";
// Job Title
cField = framework.Contacts.GetContactFieldDescriptor("TBL_CONTACT.JOBTITLE");
oValue = cField.GetValue(cList[i]);
if (oValue != null && !(oValue.ToString().Trim().Equals("")))
strContactXml += "[CDATA[" + Regex.Replace(oValue.ToString(), " ", "
") + "]]";
? This is only portion of the data, that could be transferred into CRM, the whole list of fields is too long for small article, but your could design the whole list of desired fields. Please, pay special attention to replace
HTML tag ? this is required for text data transfer into CRM
? Next is import application creation. We will not describe here connection to MS CRM details ? please read Microsoft CRM SDK if you need this examples. We'll concentrate on the nature of the import.
The XML export file should look like this:
[CDATA[John]][CDATA[Smith]][CDATA[John]][CDATA[1234 W. Big River]][CDATA[Chicago]][CDATA[IL]][CDATA[123456]][CDATA[Toy Corporation]]{4F1849C3-9184-48B5-BB09-078ED7AB2DAD}
? Reading, parsing and MS CRM object creation look is relatively simple:
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.BizUser bizUser = new Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.BizUser();
ICredentials credentials = new NetworkCredential(crmUsername, crmPassword, crmDomain);
bizUser.Url = crmDir + "BizUser.srf";
bizUser.Credentials = credentials;
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CUserAuth userAuth = bizUser.WhoAmI();
// CRMContact proxy object
Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CRMContact contact = new Microsoft.Crm.Platform.Proxy.CRMContact ();
contact.Credentials = credentials;
contact.Url = crmDir + "CRMContact.srf";
CorrectXML("Contacts.xml", userAuth.UserId);
StreamReader reader = File.OpenText("Contacts.xml");
string input = null;
while ((input = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
{
string strContactId = contact.Create(userAuth, input);
Console.WriteLine("Contact {0} is created", strContactId);
log.Debug("Contact " + strContactId + " is created");
}
? Just consider in more details CorrectXML function ? it places OwnerId into XML contact tree:
private void CorrectXML(string fileName, string userId) {
File.Move(fileName, fileName + ".old");
StreamReader reader = File.OpenText(fileName + ".old");
FileInfo t = new FileInfo(fileName);
StreamWriter writer = t.CreateText();
string input = null;
while ((input = reader.ReadLine()) != null)
{
input = Regex.Replace(input, "{_REPLACE_ME_}", userId);
writer.WriteLine(input);
}
reader.Close();
writer.Close();
Fi le.Delete(fileName + ".old");
}
? Finally, we are launching export, import, opening MS CRM and looking at the contact list, transferred from Act!
? Separate task would be Sales data from Act!, Notes etc. ? we plan to describe them in the future articles
Good luck with integration! If you want us to do the job - give us a call 1-630-961-5918 or 1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com
Andrew Karasev is Lead Software Developer in Alba Spectrum Technologies ? USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, serving clients in Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Miami, Denver, UK, Australia, Canada, Europe and having locations in multiple states and internationally ( http://www.albaspectrum.com )
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
Many reasons made GBM a unanimous choice for experts, one... Read More
Programming Help for BeginnersWe write programs to instruct computers. When... Read More
I like my software simple. If it's too complex or... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is one of three Microsoft Business Solutions... Read More
I have yet to see a business that, sometimes in... Read More
It's not very often I get excited about a software... Read More
If you have Microsoft Great Plains and support it for... Read More
The stakes are high when considering security, privacy, and savings,... Read More
In part III of this ISDN primer, we learned that... Read More
Spyware and Adware infest over 90 percent of computers in... Read More
Disclaimer: All the thoughts expressed are my views only! Your... Read More
In 2004 Oracle, Inc. made its new step toward J2EE... Read More
You might think you don't need a firewall... Read More
Have you noticed WordPerfect is gearing up for a comeback... Read More
Small can be beautiful! Working with Knoppix for the past... Read More
In this small article we will show you the possible... Read More
Great Plains Accounting, accounting package for mid-size and small companies... Read More
Creating a new markup language.Introduction.General Reuse Markup Langauge, or GRML,... Read More
You probably didn't casually invite, or extend a formal attendance... Read More
An integral part of any quality CRM system is lead... Read More
Does Microsoft care for WebmastersIt's always been a problem with... Read More
Are Spreadsheets Robbing your Enterprise of Competitive Advantage?'90% of "average"... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions ? Great Plains is designed to meet... Read More
In the Clinton era the status quo was simple: you... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM is present several years on the... Read More
Fortunately one of the most common reasons cited for the... Read More
If you have Microsoft Great Plains and support it for... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains might be considered as ERP platform to... Read More
The destruction of the Soviet Union about 15 years ago,... Read More
Manufacturing in the USA is far away down from mid... Read More
Microsoft CRM is CRM answer from Microsoft Business Solutions. If... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains and Microsoft Retail Management System (Microsoft RMS)... Read More
With the advent of 'Service Pack 2' for Windows XP... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains serves the wide spectrum of horizontal markets.... Read More
When you need a phone number, you do a quick... Read More
Task Manager is a Windows system utility that displays thetasks... Read More
Microsoft-Outlook is a pretty amazing program. So much more than... Read More
Around the same time Microsoft made its move with .Net... Read More
In the Clinton era the status quo was simple: you... Read More
In our case ? we serve Microsoft Business Solutions ERP... Read More
Former Great Plains Software Dynamics/eEnterprise and currently Microsoft Business Solutions... Read More
Icons are used everywhere; right from software applications, to internet... Read More
GroupwareEfforts are continually made to manage the unavoidable ad hoc... Read More
Our company, Novaprof Inc., developed unique software - DB Integration.... Read More
This article is the fourth of a series of articles... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has several options to enable... Read More
eStore Advantage allows front-office applications to communicate with back-office business... Read More
This article is for advanced Microsoft CRM SDK C# developers.... Read More
The Software 2005 conference is now a wrap. This conference,... Read More
I've been active in the Cisco Certification track for four... Read More
Today's business world is fast-paced. No matter what it is... Read More
Stop the Runaway MouseWhat's the "runaway mouse?" You've seen it...you... Read More
Usually workflow & messaging is realized in CRM and then... Read More
As you probably know, when Microsoft purchased Great Plains Software... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains was purchased from Great Plains... Read More
Document Management or Enterprise Information Management is perhaps one of... Read More
There are certain pluses and minuses in both cases and... Read More
When Great Plains Software was designing and developing Great Plains... Read More
Collaboration SoftwareCollaboration Software, also known as group collaboration software or... Read More
While Adobe is the most known maker of PDF tools,... Read More
There are many commands that are used in linux on... Read More
In 2004 Oracle, Inc. made its new step toward J2EE... Read More
There are several kinds of software piracy. The bottom line... Read More
It's no secret that software companies operate in a very... Read More
MSN messenger is a pretty cool invention. I mean I'm... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions CRM proved to be reliable solution in... Read More
Software |