As I revise for the MB2-710 exam I’m creating posts covering all aspects of my revision. Hopefully collectively they may help others prepare for the MB2-710 certification. (Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016 Online Deployment.)

In this post I will look at configuring mobile access.

Specifically, the skills measured statement for management of mobile apps says;

• Install and use mobile device apps
  
  • Identify the mobile apps for phones and tablets; describe requirements for mobile apps; identify supported mobile device hardware and software; install mobile apps; configure security privileges; describe restrictions for working offline; create draft records
    
• Configure entities for mobile
  
  • Identify entity types that can be accessed from mobile apps; hide form components; enable dashboards for mobile apps
    

Mobile devices include phones and tablets. Either of which can run the mobile CRM app. Plus we have a CRM App for Outlook. (Note the CRM App for Outlook can be used with Exchange online mailboxes from mobile devices or PCs.)

On phones you can run the CRM for Phones app. If using CRM Online 2015 Update 1 online or later. (Or CRM on premise 2016 or later)

On tablets you can run the CRM for tablets app, if using CRM 2013 (fall) online or later. (Or CRM 2013 on premise or later.)

There is also a phone app called “Phone Express”. This was previously known as “CRM for phones”. (Confusingly!) This is available with any version of CRM since CRM 2013. Whilst Phone Express still exists the new CRM for Phones app has all but replaced it. As Phone Express offers limited functionality.

CRM for Phone app or CRM for Tablets App both use the same forms as the CRM web application.

Note: There is no additional cost / license for any of the mobile applications. But you will need a CRM license to use them.

Supported Platforms

Before installing an app, you will need to be aware of supported devices / operating systems. You can review full details on technet, here.

For phones, you can run the phone app on Apple iPhones (iOS 8.1 and above), Andriod (4.4,5.0 & 6.0), Windows phones (8.1 and 10).

For Windows tablets, you can run the tabletapp on any Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 tablet. With a screen resolution 1366×768 (or better).

For ipads, you need an iPad of third generation or later. (9-inch screen), iOS 7 or later with CRM 2015 or CRM 2016 (online or onpremise). Or iOS 8.1 or later for CRM 2016 Update 1 Online.

For Andriod tablets, you need andriod version 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5.0 or 6.0. With a screen size of 7″ or larger.

CRM Web Application on mobile devices, you should also be aware that you can run the CRM web application on any supported tablet. This will give a similar experience to using the web client on a desktop browser. There are however some limitations. Including the following features NOT being available;

• Pinch and zoom
• Yammer
• Reports
• Customization editors
• System settings
• Advanced find
• Process dialogs
• Skype for business presence
• Adding attachments to notes when using Apple iPad with CRM on premise.
• Entities that use classic forms. (These include articles, bulk delete operations, connections, goals etc. You can see a full list here.)

Installing a mobile app.

You will find the mobile apps in the app stores for your applicable device. I have shown a screen shot from the Windows app store below. Notice that two versions of the tablet app exist. But one is listed as being for Windows 8.1.

Actually downloading and installing the app will be the same as any other app from whichever store you are using.

Then once loaded you will need to configure it. Firstly this will involve entering the url of your CRM server. (This will be the same url used to access CRM in the web browser.)

And then enter your login credentials.

The first time you access the app, or after downloading changes you will see a screen like this as “things” are prepared.

Offline Access

It is possible to configure the mobile application for off line access. This gives access to recently used records. They, however, cannot be edited.

New records can be created whilst off line, these are called drafts. Drafts are then uploaded when you go online. And can be edited at that point.

• You can’t edit existing records
• You can’t link a draft record to another draft record. (e.g. A new opportunity to a new account.)
• Drafts are NOT available in Phone Express App. (But are available le in latest versions of the tablet and phone apps.)
• You cannot go offline with a trial CRM or sandbox CRM instances.
• To go offline you must have at least one enterprise or 5 professional licenses available and assigned.

It is possible to control which entities are available off line and associated filters in customizations. The screen shot below shows the configuration options on an entity.

Once offline mode is enabled you can create offline profiles that govern on a user by user basis which entities will be synchronized and on what basis.

Additionally there are some security role options that will govern if users can access data from the mobile applications. See below that in the “Business Management” tab of security roles options for mobile, CRM App for Outlook and phone express exist.

Customizing Forms – Phone Express

The tablet and phone apps use the same form as the web application. But Phone Express has a separate form. (With reduced functionality) See below that the form type of “Mobile – Express” shows me which form on the account entity is for phone express.

Opening the Mobile – Express form will show how these work. Notice that I have no control over the form layout. I simply select the fields to show and their sequence.

Customizing Form – Web Form

I have previously covered customizing forms for mobile use in other blog posts. (See the notes at the end of this post!)

Essentially the same form is used for the web application and mobile. Although you can opt to show different controls for some form components if required. Such as a slider control for entering values etc.

On each field you can also control if it shows on the mobile form.

You should also be aware that only the first 5 tabs or 75 fields are shown in the mobile app. And no more than 10 sub grids are included. Also charts shown on entity forms do not show.

CRM App for Outlook

It is possible to track emails and create contacts when using Outlook Online, this is done via the CRM App for Outlook. You will find a link to previous posts I have created about this app at the end of this post.

Features of the CRM app for Outlook include;

• track emails,
  
• view, and create CRM records without using the CRM for Outlook client.

However, the CRM App for Outlook should not be viewed as a replacement to the full CRM for Outlook client. The app is a lightweight program that provides basic functionality to users of Outlook Online.

I have previously written several blog posts related to mobile access, links to these are shown below;

• Read how to configure mobile controls specific to the mobile app here.
  
• Read the details I wrote for the customization exam (MB2-713) regard mobile forms here.
  
• Read about email tracking from Outlook online here.
  
• Read the details I wrote for the customizations exam (MB2-713) in connection with email clients, including the Outlook CRM App, here.
  

Hopefully this post and my previous ones will have given you plenty of information to help revise for the MB2-710 exam’s requirements around mobile devices. As part of your preparation I suggest you download the mobile apps and spend time using each one.
J