Using Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Installing Live Writer 2012 Back to My Upgraded Windows 10

Have been playing with Windows 10 Preview for a little while, finally got it upgraded to the Production and Professional version a few days ago. Very happy. The upgrade happened by itself and ran smoothly. Although there is still a little bit untidiness from the old preview builds, I am rather happy with Windows 10. Today, I tried to install Live Writer again. I just think it’s unreasonable and not logical Live Writer is gone, especially if someone told me Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 are similar code base. I tried to download Windows Essential from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-hk/windows-live/essentials , it saved a file wlsetup-web.exe to my download drive and when I ran it, it gave me an error…Couldn’t install programs. Please try installing Windows Live programs again. Error: OnCatalogResults: 0x80190194. Next Steps: An unknown error occurred.

This is really helpful, unknown error! After a little bit more research into the issue, found the following download link to download the full (offline) Windows Live Essential 2012 installation package and ran the install successfully!

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-AU/windows-live/essentials-install-offline-faq#

I selected the English language, and downloaded wlsetup-all.exe file. Run the installation, only selected “Live Writer” and it went off and install, no error. Smooth and I am now blogging using Live Writer 2012 on my Windows 10 desktop! Happy!

Monday, April 6, 2015

Just found out Live Writer May Be Gone, Hoping for a Better Desktop Blogging App

Although I haven't been managed to write many blogs over the past few years, I did find Windows Live Writer to be an excellent tool to my blogging experience.

I first learnt blogging with Word 2007 and SharePoint 2007, found it to be interesting. But soon found you don't actually contribute much by publishing a blog to SharePoint where not many users within the same company share similar interests or issues. So I created my first Blogger blog later, this one here. I was later found to be rather unhappy about it has no default image provider for "Upload URL" and "Source URL".

It was not nice. What do you mean I can't copy, paste pictures and then publish directly? After googling a little bit, found no answer but an alternative product Live Writer!!! It's actually easy and cool! Have been using for a little while before stopped blogging a few years ago.

Recently I decided to continue to write a few blogs, especially about my experience with Windows 10 RTP, found myself unable to install Live Writer on Window 10 RTP. It maybe gone for Windows 10! What do you guys use to blog on desktop?

Sunday, April 5, 2015

.Net Framework 4.5.2 on Windows 10 RTP 10049

I have been playing with Windows 10 RTP on my laptop for a few weeks now. It is not recommended to install it on a production laptop, but I thought installing it on a virtual machine will not give me much chance to test it, so yeah… had a few problems here and there, like virtual box installation causing black login screen, audio plays up a little bit, unable to install Live Writer anymore, but so far nothing really major causing me cannot work until today…. .Net Framework 4.5.2 won't install!!!!!

I was playing inside Visual Studio 2013, checking my console target framework, found it to be 4.5.1, so went down to select 4.5.2, nothing! So I click on Install Other Frameworks. Visual Studio 2013 brought me to download .Net Framework 4.5.2 web installer - NDP452-KB2901954-Web. Attempted to install it, had an error message saying .Net Framework 4.5.2 or later version has already been installed. Attempted to download the offline version NDP452-KB2901907-x86-x64-AllOS-ENU, still had the same error. Eventually, managed to find this Developer Pack (NDP452-KB2901951-x86-x64-DevPack) found here http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42637 , installation went successful and I can continue my work.

Friday, December 19, 2014

Top 10 Enterprise CRM - without Siebel

Read an interesting article by business-software recently where Oracle Siebel CRM is NOT listed in the Top 10 Enterprise CRM! Here is what they think top 10 enterprise CRMs are:

- SalesForce

- NetSuite CRM+

- C2CRM

- Workbooks CRM

- Microsoft Dynamics CRM

- Aptean Pivotal CRM

- Soffront CRM

- SAP CRM

- Info Epiphany

- TrackerRMS

Thursday, October 18, 2012

CRM2011 vs SuperOffice

Today, we were talking to an Europe company about Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011. During the demonstration, we were asked “so, what is the differences between your product and SuperOffice”? This is really the first time I heard of SuperOffice. If you are a serious CRM person, you must know SuperOffice! It is one of the most popular CRM products in Europe!

Anyway, I ended up to do a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 and SuperOffice comparison chart and here is my finding. Due to time constraint, I could not locate all the fine details I needed. Should anyone has any information or spotted any incorrect info below, please do leave a comment, so I can update this!

Cheers!

	Microsoft Dynamics CRM	SuperOffice
Deployment Option
- On-Premise (Server)
- Online
- Mobile

Cloud Service Detail
- Online Coverage	Over 80 Countries	Online option only available in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, UK, Benelux, Germany and Switzerland
- Online Service Guarantee	99.9% Money Back Garantee	99.8%
- Backup Offsite
- Subscription Fee Monthly/ User	US$44	€37 (Standard) €49 (Professional)*

Mobile Service Detail
- Included in the user CAL
- Supports Android
- Supports Blackberry
- Supports iPad
- Supports iPhone
- Supports Win Mobile
- Supports Symbian
- Mobile sync
- Offline Capability	via 3^rd Party	?

Product Features – Contact Management
- Separate Company List
- Separate Contact List
- Relationships
- Outlook contact integration		?
- Communication Tracking
- Documents
Product Features – Sales Management
- Sales Dashboard
- Opportunities & Sales Management
- Activities tracking

Product Features – Marketing Management
- Lead Management
- Static Marketing List
- Dynamics Marketing List
- Campaign Management
- Email Marketing		Not available for online yet
- Auto Campaign Response		Not available for online yet
- Advance Email Templates	via 3^rd Party add-ons	Not available for online yet
- Email Campaign Reporting	via 3^rd Party add-ons	Not available for online yet
- Online scripting for tele marketing
- Bulk call list distribution for tele marketing
- Bulk fax distribution	via 3^rd Party fax integration
- Word Mail Merge

Product Features – Service Management
- Included in User CAL	Included	Only for Professional License
- Request/ Case Management
- Social network integration	via 3^rd Add-on	Not available for online yet
- Convert email to case	via workflow	via setup
- Auto Case Numbering
- Team Management	via Team or Queue	via Group
- Email notifications
- Personalized email templates
- Knowledge Base
- Calendar Scheduling
- Goal Management
- Contract Management
- Nice to have OOB features (Split request, publish to FAQ, Add to hotlist)

Product Features – Other Features
- Dashboard
- Inline Charting
- Import
- Export to Excel
- Document Management	via SharePoint Doc Library version control, check in/out	via Office Add-on
- Outlook Integration
- Duplicate checking		?
- Customer Portal	via 3^rd Party
- Dynamics Excel Reporting
- Report Wizard		via Professional License


Third Party Solutions
- Data Integration and Management Add-ons		?
- Download Stores	Market Place
- eMarketing Add-on	EngageB2B, MailChamp, InsideView, etc	eMarketeer





Scalability and Expendability
- SDK
- UI Customization
- Solution Management		?
- Multi-tenant Support		?
- Multi-currency Support

Licensing (indication only, not a formal listed price)
- Server	HK$45 000	?
- User CAL	HK$8 800	Std: Prof:

Training and Support
- E-Learning
- Help File
- Managed User Forum
- Online Support	24x7	Business Hours
- Regular Service Packs	Every 2Month	?
- Regular Email Tips
- Published Books		?
- Classroom Training	via many IT training centre	only supported countries
- Webinars

Back-ground Information
Manufacturer	Microsoft	SuperOffice
First Released	2003	1990
Product Team	600~	200~
Languages Supported	41	11 Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, UK, Benelux, Austria, Switzerland, USA, and Japan
Partners Count	2000 over 80 Countries	14 over 6 Countries
Customer Count	33 000 ~	12 000 ~
User Count	2.25 million	?
Selling Point	Native Outlook Integration Native SharePoint Integration Scalable and Extendable Reasonable Price Fastest growing CRM product	Intuitive and easy to use Great support in Europe