Dynamics Fortnight Fridays Episode for 2019-03-01


Show Notes

What’s New:

* CE Omni-Channel Engagement Hub Preview turns on (Insider Portal on experience.dynamics.com) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/business-applications-release-notes/october18/service/customer-service-omni-channel-release-notes/omni-channel-engagement-hub-overview
* CE USD 4.1 Preview available supporting Edge and Chrome browsers (Insider Portal on experience.dynamics.com) – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/usd/2018/12/17/public-preview-of-the-edge-process-for-unified-service-desk/
* Solution Checker (PowerApps Checker) for CE to help you find ways to improve your performance and maintainability – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/use-powerapps-checker
* Guidance in troubleshooting Server Side Sync mailbox errors – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2019/02/14/how-to-read-the-dynamics-365-mailbox-details-file-for-troubleshooting/
* Using documents as part of Sales Playbooks – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/sales-enterprise/associate-documents-playbook-activities
* Check out all these sample PowerApps reusable components – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/powerapps-ten-reusable-components/
* April 2019 Release Notes Updates (quite a few of them!) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/business-applications-release-notes/April19/index
* Introducing Dynamics 365 Guides – https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/mixed-reality/guides/ and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/business-applications-release-notes/April19/dynamics365-mixed-reality/microsoft-dynamics365-guides/
* CE Virtual Agents – https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/customer-service/ and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/business-applications-release-notes/April19/artificial-intelligence/customer-service/virtual-agent/
* CE Customer Insights – https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/customer-insights/ and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/ai/customer-insights/overview
* Dynamics 365 CE Solution Lifecycle Management (DevOps) whitepaper – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=57777
* Core CDS for Apps platform update to 9.1.0.1847 in NA weekend of 2-8 –
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4486657/service-update-18-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1-0
* Core CDS Platform update to 9.1.0.2057 in NA on weekend of 2-15 –
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4487586/service-update-20-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1
* Core CDS Platform update to 9.1.0.2251 in NA on weekend of 2-22 –
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4488161/service-update-22-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1-0
* Core CDS Platform update to 9.1.0.244 in NA expected on weekend of 3-1 – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4488855/service-update-24-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1-0
* Field Service solution update to 8.4.0.338, then 8.5.0.343 – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2019/02/11/release-notes-for-field-service-version-8-4-0-338/
* Project Service solution update to 3.4.0.37 – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2019/02/13/release-notes-for-project-service-automation-update-release-4/
* Universal Resource Scheduling update to 3.4.0.141 – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2019/02/20/release-notes-for-universal-resource-scheduling-february-2019/
* Talent Solution Upgrade to 9.152.0
* CE AI for Sales solution update to 9.0.1.7043
* CE Voice of the Customer update to 9.0.1438.4 (remember to update via
Applications) – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2019/02/21/whats-new-in-voice-of-the-customer-version-9-0-1438-3-9-0-1438-4/

How do I operationalize this?

* New Solution History tile in CE instances to get telemetry on Solution
Import/Upgrade failures
* Solution Checker demo
* Components Demo PowerApp

Dynamics Fortnight Fridays Episode for 2019-02-15


Show Notes

What’s New:

* Complex Conditions, Remind Me, peek at your code JSON while designing, and new security graph connector in Flow – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/build-more-powerful-conditions-in-flows-and-more/
* Beautiful symmetry in Canvas PowerApps using CDS as data source; relate and unrelate records in many-to-many relationships – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/relate-records-in-many-to-many-relationships/
* Make Flows from Visio – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/beginner-flow-of-the-week-generating-flows-from-visio/
* Business Events Developer – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/business-events/business-events-dev-doc
* What’s New in Talent – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/whats-new-talent-february-7 and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/whats-new-talent-feb14
* Data integration options for Talent – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/data-integration
* Talent for UK Released – https://community.dynamics.com/365/talent/b/dynamics365fortalent/archive/2019/01/25/provision-talent-in-united-kingdom
* Talent solution update to version 6.149.0
* New Documentation for Integrations and Integration Testing – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/data-entities/odata and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/data-entities/third-party-service-test
* Enable Change Management Tracking for F&O Entities – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/data-entities/entity-change-track
* Personalize Product Recommendations in Retail Using Azure AI – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/retail/personalized-product-recommendations
* Lifecycle Services February Update – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2019/02/05/lcs-february-2019-release-1-release-notes/
* PowerApps Tree view has an “App” item to make app building easier – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/tree-view-has-an-app-item-to-make-app-building-easier/
* Easier sharing of PowerApps with multiple users – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/sharing-powerapps-with-multiple-users/
* Microsoft Business Applications YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaxGoD1whB0A-MGxevef2fg

How do I operationalize this?

Featured Content:

* Cognitive Services Face Detection in PowerApps

Dynamics Fortnight Fridays Episode for 2019-02-01


Show Notes

What’s New:

* Canvas PowerApps using CDS connector get lots of goodies now by default – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-cds-capabilities-for-canvas-apps-enter-preview/
* Go BIG in Canvas PowerApps with SaveData and LoadData improvements – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/savedata-and-loaddata-unleashed/
* Canvas PowerApps start getting reusable “Components” (in Preview instances) – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/components-available-in-preview/
* Power Platform Data Gateway Management in Admin Center – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/on-premises-data-gateway-management-in-the-power-platform-admin-center/ or https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/on-premises-data-gateway-management-in-the-power-platform-admin-center/
* Upgrade your previous version Common Data Service database, apps, and flows – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/upgrade-your-previous-version-common-data-service-database-apps-and-flows/
* Nice Flow enhancement to generate Word documents or PDFs of them – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/generate-word-documents-in-your-flows/
* It’s even easier to share your work with others now when you send a Flow as a copy – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/send-a-flow-as-a-copy/
* Big step forward in governance capabilities in Flow (pay attention to warning at bottom of blog post) – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-http-and-custom-connector-support-for-data-loss-prevention-policies/
* First release of an Azure DevOps task in the Visual Studio Marketplace to support F&O ALM processes – https://community.dynamics.com/365/financeandoperations/b/newdynamicsax/archive/2019/01/18/first-azure-devops-task-released#pi62366=2
* Environment monitoring changes in LCS – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2019/01/24/lcs-january-2019-release-2-release-notes/
* What New in Talent (Core HR) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/whats-new-talent-january-23
* Career Sites for Talent (Attract) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/career-site
* Talent Solution upgrade to 6.144.0
* F&O Platform Update 24 – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/fin-and-ops/get-started/whats-new-platform-update-24 or for Version 10.0 – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/fin-and-ops/get-started/whats-new-changed-10
* Business Central Enhanced Cash Flow – https://community.dynamics.com/business/b/financials/archive/2019/01/25/enhanced-cash-flow-forecasting
* Business Central and Office 2019 – https://community.dynamics.com/business/b/businesscentraldevitpro/archive/2019/01/25/dynamics-365-business-central-and-office-2019
* F&O Business Events – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/business-events/home-page
* Retail Open URL in POS – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/retail/open-url-in-pos
* F&O Automated Entity store refresh – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/analytics/automated-entity-store-refresh
* Wicked easy sign in finally for CE IOS apps (in preview) – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2019/01/30/preview-email-based-sign-in-for-dynamics-365-for-phones-app/
* Scheduling rooms or facilities of rooms with URS in CE – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/field-service/facility-scheduling
* Core CDS for Apps platform update to 9.1.0.1471 happened last weekend in NA – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4481953/service-update-14-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1-0
* Core CDS for Apps platform update to 9.1.0.1661 expected this weekend in NA – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4484669/service-update-16-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1-0
* CE AI for Sales solution update to 9.0.1.7041, now 9.0.1.7042 as of this
morning
* CE Partner Portal solution update to 9.0.12.11 (fixes issue with geolocation zeroing out some lat and long info)
* CE Portal Host code update for early upgrade instances (GA happening next Tues, Fed 5) to 9.1.1.22 – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4488241/portal-capabilities-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-version-9-1-1-22-relea
* CE CafeX Solution update to 3.3.1.8
* Community webinars – https://community.dynamics.com/365/b/webinars/archive/2018/09/13/dynamics-365-release-and-update-cadence

How do I operationalize this?

* Guidance for CE to prepare your organization for next release (how to think about new preview functionality lighting up today (Feb 1) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/preview-april-2019-updates
* Enable Power BI for Workspace in F&O – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/analytics/embed-power-bi-workspaces?toc=/fin-and-ops/toc.json

Featured Content:

1 Have a Sandbox environment as a copy for the Production environment

We strongly recommend enabling the April 2019 release first in a Sandbox environment which is a replica or copy of the existing Production environment. This is to make sure that a customer has validated the updates in another environment prior to impacting the current Production apps and environment.

Also, once April 2019 updates are enabled for an environment, they cannot be turned off like any other setting. Learn more about it in #3 below.

Create a copy of the Production environment into a Sandbox environment

If you don’t have a Sandbox copy of your Production environment, you can create a copy in the Dynamics 365 admin center

Create a backup of the Production environment

For restoration, if needed.

2 Enable the April 2019 opt-in from the Power platform Admin center

Starting February 1, 2019,  you will be able to enable the April 2019 release for the environment. This option will be available in Environment > Settings > Previews and updates. Once enabled for an environment, you cannot turn this off for the environment. To remove the April 2019 updates for your environment, you will have to either reset the environment or restore the environment to a previously backed up version. We do not recommend doing any of those options unless necessary. It’s important to try the April 2019 updates in your Sandbox environment first prior to enabling it in your Production environment.

3 Any Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement apps installed on the environment?

If you have any Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement apps on your environment like Sales, Service and Marketing, then they need to be explicitly upgraded to the April 2019 version.

4 Update the applications from Dynamics 365 admin center

Once you have enabled the April 2019 updates for your environment, you can update your apps from Dynamics 365 admin center > Applications. For example, if you have the Dynamics 365 for Sales application installed on your environment, then the option to Upgrade will be visible in the admin center. Please note that upgrading the app might take a few hours and you might see a downtime for your applications going through the update process.

5 We recommend testing out all the scenarios exhaustively in this step.

If you have any Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement apps in your environment like Sales, Service and Marketing, then they need to be explicitly upgraded to the April 2019 version.

6 & 7 Report any issues found

As you verify the experience in your preview environment, if you find any regressions, functional, or performance issues related to the April 2019 updates that could impact your business, report them to Microsoft by opening a support ticket or through the Dynamics 365 forum.

8 Enable the April 2019 updates in your Sandbox environment

You should:

a. Update customizations to leverage or respond to new capabilities.

b. Update internal readiness materials based on new features or UX.

c. Prepare internal change management to run in April (training, communications, etc.)

9 Enable the April 2019 updates in your Production environment

We recommend enabling these updates during business downtime after you have validated your key scenarios are working as expected. Please note, once the April 2019 update is enabled this cannot be reversed. However, you can restore to a prior backup version of the updated environment if needed.

Dynamics Fortnight Fridays Episode for 2019-01-18


Show Notes

What’s New:

* Timers in Model-Driven Apps and CE – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/customize/timer-control-legacy
* Controlling Grid and List behavior across form factors in Unified Interface in Model-Driven Apps and CE – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/customize/specify-properties-for-unified-interface-apps
* Optimize Form Load Performance in Model-Driven Apps and CE – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/customize/optimize-form-performance
* LCS January Update – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2019/01/10/lcs-january-2019-release-1-release-notes/
* Power Platform Data Integrator Improvements – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/data-integrator-updates-new-features-with-an-intuitive-user-interface-providing-a-fluent-experience/
* New F&O features in 8.1 and 8.1.2: Derived dimensions – https://community.dynamics.com/365/financeandoperations/b/financials/archive/2018/11/26/new-features-in-8-1-and-8-1-2-deriveddimensions
* Cumulative Update 03 for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has been released – https://community.dynamics.com/business/b/businesscentraldevitpro/archive/2019/01/16/cumulative-update-03-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-business-central-has-been-released
* Even more Dataflow goodness to make it easier to get your data into your data lake or the PowerBI service – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-dataflows-january-updates/
* PowerApps gets a facelift when working with data sources and fields on forms – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/improved-datasource-and-field-selection-in-canvas-apps/
* Delegation improvements in PowerApps using CDS connector – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/delegation-of-aggregate-functions-for-cds/
* PowerApps is now fully audited in Office 365 Security and Compliance Center – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-powerapps-audit-events-now-available-in-office-365-security-compliance-center/
* Good news for Flow users who leverage the Planner or Outlook connectors – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/january-connector-improvements-and-new-releases/
* Talent Solution Upgrade to 6.140.0
* Sales Insights (AI for Sales) Solution Upgrade to 9.0.1.7040
* Field Service Solution Upgrade to 8.3.1.0
* If you were attempting to upgrade Voice of the Customer (per earlier
episode) from the solutions list in the admin center and it failed, please
try again but trigger the upgrade from the applications area instead (twice if it fails the first time).
* Power Platform User Group has formed in Minneapolis – Join at https://www.powerplatformug.com/communities/community-home?CommunityKey=19c2ac73-92c9-48bb-a26a-0eb83c7f7714
* Spring Release (Apr 2019) Notes should be available on Monday (Jan 21) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/business-applications-release-notes/index
* Signup for Spring Release Virtual Launch Event (April 2, 2019 at 8am CDT) – https://info.microsoft.com/Microsoft-Business-Applications-Virtual-Launch-Event-April-19-Registration.html?lcid=en-us
* Talent Webinar Series – https://info.microsoft.com/IntroductionToDynamics365forTalent-Registration.html

How do I operationalize this?

* Enable Punchouts in F&O
* Embed a Canvas PowerApp to show credit card info in a Model-Driven (D365CE) Contact Form

Dynamics Fortnight Fridays Episode for 2019-01-04


Show Notes

(click to download PDF)

What’s New:

* CE Platform Update expected this weekend in North America and Europe to 9.1.0.1115 (or higher) – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4477415/service-update-10-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1-0
* CE Portals Solution upgrade to 9.0.12.12 – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4477061/portal-capabilities-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-version-9-0-12-12-relea
* CE Gamification solution upgrade to v2019.1.4 (remember to go to Gamification > Gamification Settings, and then click “Configure App” after doing solution update to update all dependencies to the latest version) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/gamification/release-notes
* F&O Update 23 Notes – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/fin-and-ops/get-started/whats-new-platform-update-23
* F&O Data Entities available in your Data Lake – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/data-entities/entity-store-data-lake
* F&O Maintenance Mode Preview – https://experience.dynamics.com/insider/campaign/?id=5ce01053-5ffe-e811-a95c-000d3a4f33c1
* F&O Insider Community Public Preview – https://experience.dynamics.com/insider/campaign/?id=d0918014-57ca-e711-8180-e0071b6ac181

Featured Content:

* Prospect to Cash Integration tips and tricks between F&O and CE
* Dataflows tied to Azure Data Lake Gen 2 storage tips and tricks, including CE integration

Link to Screenshots of ACL settings

Dynamics Fortnight Fridays Episode for 2018-12-21


Show Notes

(Click for PDF)

What’s New:

* CE Core Platform update to 9.1.0.996 (looks like it updated again to
9.1.0.1006 just last night) – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4474073/service-update-9-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1-0
* CE Portals Solution upgrade to 9.0.12.11
* CE Field Service Woodford solution update to 11.3.0.0 (provides much better experience in HTML5 than before)
* CE Sales Insights Solution upgrade to 9.0.1.7039
* CE Voice of the Customer Solution upgrade to 9.0.1371.8
* CE Dynamics for Marketing solution upgrade to 1.33.1023.0 (remember this one has to be done from the Applications tab in Admin Center) – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/12/17/announcing-the-dynamics-365-for-marketing-december-2018-update-is-now-available/
* CE Field Service Solution upgrade to 8.3.0.225 – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/12/21/release-notes-for-field-service-version-8-update-release-3/
* CE Project Service Solution upgrade to 3.3.0.258 –
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/12/17/release-notes-for-project-service-automation-update-release-3/
* CE Field Service mobile app update in Windows, IOS, and Android that supports version 11.1.103.X or lower versions (have to re-download and it’s called “Field Service Mobile” with an icon that looks like a clipboard with a wrench on it). Corresponding new mobile Woodford solution can be downloaded from – https://aka.ms/fsmobile-project (first import must be from Silverlight version of Woodford)(make sure you’ve also updated the “Enabled for Field Service Mobile” flag on your Bookable Resources)
* CE App for Outlook Part 6 – Working with Contacts – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2018/12/10/dynamics-365-app-for-outlook-part-6-working-with-contacts/
* CE App for Outlook Part 7 – Helpful tips for using the App – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2018/12/11/dynamics-365-app-for-outlook-part-7-helpful-tips-for-using-the-app/
* CE App for Outlook Part 8 – Email Governance – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2018/12/12/dynamics-365-app-for-outlook-part-8-email-governance/
* If you’re using Unified Service Desk for CE, pay attention to this for better performance and reliability – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/usd/2018/12/17/public-preview-of-the-edge-process-for-unified-service-desk/
* CE Channel Integration Framework (CIF) goes GA – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/12/10/dynamics-365-channel-integration-framework-bring-your-own-channel-provider-with-ease/
* Next steps in making the Open Data Initiative more robust –
https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-bi-dataflows-and-azure-data-lake-storage-gen2-integration-preview/
* Organize Contacts under Accounts in Org Charts with LinkedIn integration – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/sales-enterprise/live-org-chart
* CE (and model-driven PowerApps) new WYSIWYG form designer (Public preview) (arriving in US/Europe early January) – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-the-new-wysiwyg-model-driven-form-designer-public-preview/
* More intuitive new PowerApps view designer for model-driven apps (soon to hit CE also) – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-the-new-view-designer-for-model-driven-apps/
* Add Canvas PowerApps to CE forms (coming soon) – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/enrich-your-model-driven-forms-with-embedded-canvas-apps-public-preview/
* Talent and Ceridian Dayforce Integration – UK Public Preview – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/configure-payroll-integration
* Offer & Adobe sign integration is now live – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/offer-setup and https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/dynamics365/2018/12/12/accelerate-time-to-hire-with-adobe-sign-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-for-talent/
* Offer management capabilities are available as part of the Comprehensive Hiring Add-On – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/offer-setup
* What’s new or changed in Talent Core – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/whats-new-talent-december-14
* LCS – Manual Environment Upgrade At Maximum Capacity – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/12/
* LCS – Start/Stop buttons will not be available during an ongoing servicing operation – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/11/30/lcs-november-2018-release-2-release-notes/
* LCS – Issues when syncing to BPM using a custom Azure DevOps (VSTS) process template – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/11/28/issues-when-syncing-to-bpm-using-a-custom-azure-devops-vsts-process-template/
* LCS – Refresh Database Self-Service Action Available – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/11/13/refresh-database-self-service-action-available/
* Self-Service deployment for D365 F&O – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/12/14/self-service-deployment-for-dynamics-365-for-finance-and-operations/
* New barcode scanner control for canvas PowerApps – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-barcode-scanner-control/
* PowerApps Canvas App Coding Standards and Guidelines Whitepaper – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/powerapps-canvas-app-coding-standards-and-guidelines/
* December updates for Microsoft Flow – more button inputs, admin improvements, and more – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/december-2018-updates/
* CDS Option Sets and Many-to-Many Relationships for Canvas apps are WAY better – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/option-sets-and-many-to-many-relationships-for-canvas-apps/
* Starting Feb 1, ability to preview and test upcoming functionality in CE – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/12/12/previewing-april-2019-release-functionalities-and-updates-for-dynamics-365-for-customer-engagement/
* April 2019 (Spring Release) Timeline and Overall Guidance for all Business Applications – https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/dynamics365/2018/12/12/announcing-the-dynamics-365-april-19-release-timeline/
* What’s New in F&O – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/business-applications-release-notes/october18/dynamics365-finance-operations/planned-features
* Platform Update 22 for F&O is GA v8.1.2 – https://lcs.dynamics.com/V2/SharedAssetLibrary
* What’s new or changed in F&O Platform Update 22 – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/fin-and-ops/get-started/whats-new-platform-update-22
* Prerelease F&O Platform Update 23 – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/fin-and-ops/get-started/whats-new-platform-update-23
* F&O Roadmap – https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/roadmap/finance-and-operations/
* Business Central Roadmap – https://community.dynamics.com/business/b/financials/archive/2018/12/20/happy-holidays-business-central-and-the-road-ahead-of-us and https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/roadmap/business-central/
* Retail Roadmap – https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/roadmap/retail/
* Talent Roadmap – https://dynamics.microsoft.com/en-us/roadmap/talent/

Dynamics Fortnight Fridays Episode for 2018-12-07


Show Notes

(click to open as PDF)

What’s New:

* CE Talent Anchor solution upgrade to 6.96.0, then again to 6.100.1
* Versium Predict solution upgrade from 6.0.3.0 to 7.0.0.0
* Sales Navigator for Dynamics 365 Unified Interface Solution Upgrade to 1.0.1.233 (if you tried before and the install failed, this one should succeed)
* Portals Solution version upgrade to 9.0.12.12 as portal host and 9.0.12.10 as solution in Dynamics – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4477061/portal-capabilities-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-version-9-0-12-12-relea
* CE Core Platform Updates were applied to version 9.1.0.646 –
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4469744/service-update-6-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1
* I expect another CE Core Platform Update to happen this weekend to 9.1.0.876 – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4471116/service-update-8-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1-0
* CE Field Service solution upgrade (v8.2.0.286 then again to .287) that allows older web UI versions to upgrade to UCI ones – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/11/08/release-notes-for-field-service-version-8-update-release-2/  (as a spoiler, you have to opt in to allow the upgrade at https://experience.dynamics.com/insider/)
* CE Project Service solution upgrade to v3.2.0.246 for UCI version of that app (again, must opt-in to upgrade) – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/12/06/release-notes-for-project-service-automation-update-release-2/
* CE Field Service solution upgrade to v7.5.5.48 for web UI-only version –
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/12/05/release-notes-for-field-service-version-7-update-release-11/
* CE Project Service solution upgrade to v2.4.8.47 for web UI-only version
* Sales Insights (AI for Sales) Solution update to 9.0.1.7036 (If you’ve struggled getting these to install correctly, please go into Sales AI area inside the CE application and make sure you’ve consented to privacy agreement before attempting upgrade)
* Canvas App Sharing Experience updates – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-canvas-app-sharing-experience/
* Friendly Display Names for fields are moving from experimental features to Public Preview for Canvas PowerApps – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/display-names-enters-preview-for-canvas-apps/
* Flow Tab in Teams and new Teams’ Flow triggers – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-the-flow-tab-in-teams-and-new-teams-triggers/
* SQL and CDS for Apps better supported in Canvas PowerApps with GUIDs as first-party data types – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/fun-with-guids/
* Rich text editing in Microsoft Flow – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/rich-text-editing/
* Working with Time columns in PowerApps using the SQL Server connector – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/working-with-time-columns-in-sql-server/
* Advanced Flow example to convert any document into a PDF on demand (and view it in PowerApps) – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/convert-pdf-with-microsoft-flow-nov-2018/
* Announcing Enterprise Asset Management for D365 F&O – https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/dynamics365/2018/11/13/enterprise-asset-management-in-dynamics-365-for-finance-and-operations/
* New documentation for process guide framework (extending WMS mobile with X++) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/supply-chain/warehousing/process-guide-framework
* Nifty trick to enable new navigation experience in CE for UCI – https://www.magnetismsolutions.com/blog/jaredjohnson/2018/11/27/dynamics-365-v9-1-enable-unified-interface-ui-updates-on-upgraded-organizations
* Real-Time Customization/Configuration checks in CE Apps and Model Driven PowerApps with Solution checker – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/make-higher-quality-apps-with-solution-checker/
* Updated documentation on enabling Teams/CE integration – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/basics/teams-install-app (hint – must enable SharePoint server to server integration to enable preview of Teams integration)
* Best practices around “Sync items with Exchange from this Dynamics 365 org only, even if Exchange was set to sync with a different org check box” in CE – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/admin/when-would-want-use-check-box
* Great Part 1 of a multi-post series dedicated to best practices with CE App for Outlook – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2018/12/03/dynamics-365-app-for-outlook-part-1-the-basics/
* CE App for Outlook Part 2 – What is supported? – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2018/12/04/dynamics-365-app-for-outlook-part-2-what-is-supported/
* CE App for Outlook Part 3 – Settings that affect tracking and correlation – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2018/12/05/dynamics-365-app-for-outlook-part-3-settings-that-affect-tracking-and-correlation/
* CE App for Outlook Part 4 – Working with Emails – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2018/12/06/dynamics-365-app-for-outlook-part-4-working-with-emails/
* CE App for Outlook Part 5 – Working with Appointments – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crminthefield/2018/12/07/dynamics-365-app-for-outlook-part-5-working-with-appointments/
* NAV and Business Central Docker images now available for Windows Server 2019 – https://community.dynamics.com/business/b/freddysblog/archive/2018/11/30/nav-and-business-central-docker-images-now-available-for-windows-server-2019
* F&O Platform update 22 – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/fin-and-ops/get-started/whats-new-platform-update-22
* What’s new in F&O update 8.1.2 – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/fin-and-ops/get-started/whats-new-changed-8-1-2
* What’s new or changed in Talent – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/talent/whats-new-talent-november-27
* Be a Dynamics 365 for Talent Influencer: Participate in Upcoming Research Studies and Provide Feedback – https://community.dynamics.com/365/talent/b/dynamics365fortalent/archive/2018/11/08/be-a-dynamics-365-for-talent-influencer-participate-in-upcoming-research-studies-and-provide-feedback
* Provide Feedback for the Business Central Engineering Team – https://community.dynamics.com/business/b/financials/archive/2018/12/04/find-the-right-resources-and-provide-feedback

Events/Webinars/Videos:

* Financial Management: Leverage the Digital transformation to drive corporate performance webinar – https://info.microsoft.com/D365-Corporate-Performance-through-Digital-Transformation_OnDemandRegistration.html
* Fast Track Architect Bootcamp – https://community.dynamics.com/365/b/partnerevents/archive/2018/11/08/dynamics-365-fasttracks-bootcamp
* BizApps Partner Bootcamp – https://community.dynamics.com/365/b/partnerevents?c=BizApps%20Bootcamps
* F&O How to videos – https://community.dynamics.com/365/financeandoperations/b/howtovideos

Featured Content:

* How to enable the Teams integration with CE
* How to find what’s in the updates for F&O

DFF on 11-23-2018 (no live show today)

Enjoy your Thanksgiving weekend!  We’ll be back in a fortnight on 12-7. In the meantime, here are some Dynamics happenings you can click through (we’ll cover some, but not all, in the next episode)

What’s New:
(click to open as PDF)

Dynamics Fortnight Fridays Episode for 2018-11-09

Show Notes

(click to open as PDF)

What’s New:

* Announcement – NO DFF SHOW on Nov 23 – Black Friday (one fortnight from now) – we’ll be back on Dec 7
* Update to core CE platform happened last weekend to 9.1.0.288 – https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4469114/service-update-2-for-microsoft-dynamics-365-9-1
* Another update to CE platform happened in last 24-36 hours to 9.1.0.294 (fixed a bug that was preventing AI for Sales features from installing correctly)
* Upgrade of CafeX LiveAssist from 3.2.0.4 to 3.3.0.4 (enabling use on UCI in CE)
* Sales Application Solution upgrade available from 9.0.1810.5012 to 9.0.4.791 (you get playbooks with this) – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/sales-enterprise/whats-new
* Social Selling Assistant solution upgrade from 1.0.28.0 to 1.0.33.0
* URS (and Field/Project Service) solution updates for UCI – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/11/06/release-notes-for-universal-resource-scheduling-september-2018-dynamics-365-v-9-1/
there were also updates for older web UI instances – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/11/06/release-notes-for-universal-resource-scheduling-september-2018-dynamics-365-v-9-0/ and
https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/11/08/release-notes-for-field-service-version-7-update-release-10/ (another update is imminent that will allow upgrading from Web UI version to UCI compatible version – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/11/08/release-notes-for-field-service-version-8-update-release-2/)
* Fall release of CE Marketing went live Oct 30 – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/10/30/announcing-dynamics-365-for-marketing-october-2018-update/
* Make Dynamics Marketing emails more secure and deliverable – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/11/05/dynamics-365-for-marketing-set-up-dkim-for-your-sending-domain-to-keep-up-with-recent-office-365-changes/
* CE Lookups on forms will soon start using quick find views in UCI – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/11/02/unified-interface-lookup-now-leverages-quick-find-view/
* CE Unified Service Desk Performance Analyzer – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/usd/2018/10/29/introducing-unified-service-desk-performance-analyzer/
* LCS Release Update – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/10/30/lcs-october-release-2-release-notes/
* If you do not have extension point for F&O Request through LCS – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/extensibility/extensibility-changes-811
* F&O 8.0 to 8.1 binary update package is generally available – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/11/ and https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/migration-upgrade/appupdate-80-81
* Three new FnO Insider programs available – https://experience.dynamics.com/insider/?page=1
* Cleanup routines in Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/axsa/2018/09/05/cleanup-routines-in-dynamics-365-for-finance-and-operations/
* AI for Sales is generally available – https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/dynamics365/2018/11/02/dynamics-365-ai-for-sales-is-now-available/   (sales manager experience is in public preview)
* Enabling Who Knows Whom – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/dynamics-365-ai-sales-enabling-who-knows-whom-rojy-thomas/
* GDPR Optout for Contacts/Leads/Users who want to prohibit their records from having AI applied – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/ai/sales/optout-relationship-analytics-gdpr
* AI for Customer Service went live (in public preview) – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/10/31/dynamics-365-ai-for-customer-service-is-now-available-in-public-preview/
* AI for Market Insights went live (in public preview) – https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/dynamics365/2018/10/31/dynamics-365-ai-for-market-insights-public-preview-is-now-available/
* PowerBI Dataflows leveraging Common Data Model (powering Open Data Initiative) hit public preview – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-power-bi-data-prep-wtih-dataflows/
* PowerApps and Flows take big step forward in Dev/Ops story – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/apps-and-flows-lifecycle-management-just-got-easier/ and https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/solutions-in-powerapps/ and https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/solutions-in-microsoft-flow/
* Power Platform “Trial Environments” will start expiring 30 days after
creation – tips on retaining things created in those before they expire –
https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/retain-your-resources-and-data-in-trial-environments/
* Canvas PowerApps update makes surfacing relational data WAY easier – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/one-to-many-relationships-for-canvas-apps/
* Flow Analytics Improvements – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-platform-analytics-connectors/
* Nice Flow UI updates – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-flow-navigation-actions/
* Flow can now be managed by MAM solutions like Intune – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/mam-flow-mobile/

How do I operationalize this?

* On Oct 15, 2018, we changed the email address notifications come from to admins. Please check spam filters and junk folders to make sure you’re getting all of the notifications we’re sending. They now come from msdynamics365@microsoft.com for CE and msdyn365finops@microsoft.com for F&O.
* How to set up a Preview Instance of AI for Customer Service
* How to set up a Preview Instance of AI for Sales Managers
* How to set up Connection Graph and Who knows Whom
* How to set up Playbooks

Featured Content:

Operational content mentioned above

Dynamics Fortnight Friday Episode for 2018-10-26


Show Notes

(click to open as PDF)

What’s New:

* USD for CE fix for non-functioning command bar buttons – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/usd/2018/10/15/fix-for-the-non-functioning-buttons-present-in-dynamics-365-command-bar-after-usd-solutions-are-installed/
* Extensibility changes in F&O version 8.1.1 – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/unified-operations/dev-itpro/extensibility/extensibility-changes-811
* Nice update for CE RSO, Field Service, and Project Service – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2018/10/16/whats-new-for-dynamics-365-resource-scheduling-optimization-v2-8-release/
* Set up CE Marketing’s Event Management module to accept online payments – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/marketing/event-payment-gateway
* Add webinar providers to CE Event Management other than On24 –
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dynamics365/customer-engagement/marketing/developer/extend-event-management
* Event and simulcast webinar on Tuesday, Oct 30, on Dynamics 365 and Teams best practices – https://aka.ms/D365plusTeams
* Flow gets really helpful repair tips – https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/repair-tips-south-america/
* LCS Sandbox to Production Request – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/10/23/lcs-october-2018-release-notes/
* Develop and Test environments have moved to Managed Premium Disks in Azure – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/lcs/2018/10/22/develop-and-test-sandbox-environments-have-moved-to-managed-premium-disks-please-redeploy-today/
* Fast Track Tech Talk covering the F&O 7.X to 8.X upgrade process – https://aka.ms/DYN519PAL-register
* Login link for Fast Track Portal – https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/fasttrack/dynamics-365?rtc=1
* Time to Upgrade Extensions V1 in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central – https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/nav/2018/09/14/extensions-v1-and-microsoft-dynamics-365-business-central/

How do I operationalize this?

* Talent Solution Updates (in CDS for Apps)
* Mixed Reality Remote Assist App Dynamics Integration – 1) make sure you have a Support Contact populated on your Work Order that’s being worked on for the record to show in the app 2) make sure your Field Service solution is current

Featured Content:

* Fall updates for Talent – https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/business-applications-release-notes/October18/dynamics365-talent/planned-features