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 )
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
|
![]() |
I provide, here clear explanations and a count of function... Read More
... Read More
This short paper will expand on two key reasons to... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains may be recommended for international freight forwarding... Read More
Microsoft bought Navision, Denmark based software development company, along with... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is now targeting large and midsize businesses... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, former Great Plains Software Dynamics... Read More
With so many Microsoft Windows related viruses, errors, and other... Read More
IBM Lotus Notes Domino and Microsoft CRM (Client Relation Management)... Read More
During the years of our consulting practice, which comes back... Read More
Once upon a time not so long ago, there was... Read More
ERP Consulting industry is on the way to serve clients... Read More
The major reason I recommend getting your hands on real... Read More
Make-or-Break Factors in Success and ProfitabilityFor quick printers, estimating can... Read More
This is a short article, written in question/answer/FAQ style to... Read More
There are certain pluses and minuses in both cases and... Read More
In our opinion, traditional approach when you select ERP/MRP system... Read More
Healthcare facilities such as clinics, hospitals, and biomedical laboratories can... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains, Navision, Solomon and Axapta are Microsoft Business... Read More
Microsoft Office program is a programming tool called Visual Basic... Read More
We would like to give you pluses and minuses of... Read More
Having from five to ten and more favorite screensavers is... Read More
In a previous article, I wrote about OpenOffice... Read More
Currently Microsoft Business Solutions is on the way of creating... Read More
Former Great Plains Software Dynamics/eEnterprise and currently Microsoft Business Solutions... Read More
Table of Contents1) Introduction 2) Related Work 3) Framework 4)... Read More
There are several kinds of software piracy. The bottom line... Read More
Today's business world is fast-paced. No matter what it is... Read More
Spyware and malware are large problems for Internet users today... Read More
When you first think about multicurrency ? you probably have... Read More
Executive SummaryAn effective plan for entering, cleaning and updating the... Read More
Shareware has been fighting the stigma of being misunderstood for... Read More
When making a decision to buy any piece of software... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very generic accounting application... Read More
Considering whether or not your software company should hire a... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is very good fit for... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains is marketed for mid-size companies... Read More
Great Plains Software Dynamics, Dynamics C/S+, eEnterprise were written on... Read More
If you copy something from a Web site or elsewhere...... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions products: Great Plains, MS CRM, Navision, Axapta,... Read More
Before being able to choose a secure Internet communication system,... Read More
Does Microsoft Have any Real Competition? Copyright (c) 2003 Gregory... Read More
I suggest that you do not spend a lot of... Read More
If your company has regional and worldwide operations, you might... Read More
We don't think about mainframe software pricing anymore, we just... Read More
Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains and MS CRM (client relation... Read More
Not all of us have the luxury of working both... Read More
Current Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains has more that 10... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains and Microsoft Retail Management System (Microsoft RMS)... Read More
How many steps does it take you to locate and... Read More
When it comes to running an office, the SOHO entrepreneur... Read More
Hey Guys! Don't raise your eyebrows or fear by hearing... Read More
This article is the fourth of a series of articles... Read More
Former Great Plains Software Dynamics/eEnterprise and currently Microsoft Business Solutions... Read More
Looking at all the ads which promise to get rid... Read More
TikiWiki is open source software - it is written in... Read More
If you have Microsoft Great Plains and support it for... Read More
Linux essentials:It's free for download but you have to pay... Read More
Disclaimer: All the thoughts expressed are my views only! Your... Read More
Microsoft Great Plains is main Microsoft Business Solutions accounting package... Read More
Spyware is like the new technological nuclear weapon on the... Read More
Think of this, first we had the HAM Radio, then... Read More
Language development computer: Computer-based method for aiding language development seems... Read More
Today's business world is fast-paced. No matter what it is... Read More
Every day millions of new web documents emerge on the... Read More
While I was preparing some personal background information for a... Read More
Software |