Creating a Check-Box in MS CRM 2011

While customizing the Microsoft dynamics CRM for a firm, I came across an issue, on how should I go about making a check box on a form.

 ~The requirement was a field, with a check box.

As I went into customizations, I noticed that while creating a field, the CRM offers no such customization. While creating a new field, you have to select a 'Type', I went ahead and selected 'Two Options', 'Yes' & 'No', with 'No' being the default value. The output was, two radio buttons and not a checkbox. 

The thing I learnt at this point was that there are several options in Dynamics CRM which are available after the field has been created. 

~In short, several options get activated while editing the already created field.

This is how it's done in MS CRM 2011, for a new field:

While customizing through the 'customize tab', within the form...

1) Create a new field, select the type as 'Two Options', by default you will get the values of 'Yes and No', customize them if you want. save and close the field.

2) Drag the field to the form and place it on one of the placeholders, at your own desired location.

3) Double click on the field, and the field properties window should open.

4) In field properties go to the formatting tab.

5) There you will see a 'control formatting' drop down, (by default its value will be 'Two Radio Buttons' )

from that drop down, select the 'check box'.

6) Save and Publish, you should now have a checkbox on your form.

Dynamics CRM is full of such options, which allow seamless customization, but are placed in such a manner that it becomes difficult for a newcomer to locate them.

CRM : The Next Step

We all have seen the rising success of ERPs (Enterprise Resource Planning software), especially the growth SAP. If I ask any IT student, about an ERP, the first thing that comes in his mind is 'SAP'. Why has this happened? Today, we call Xerox to a photocopy, and Fridge to a refrigerator, because these companies have established a strong ground in their primary service, no one else was able to stand beside them. SAP has gained a similar ground, but it faces stiff competition from Oracle and a few others, who win against it in other areas. Like in case of a CRM (Customer Relationship Management software), Oracle's Siebel is leading the pack (Oracle had purchased Siebel Systems in 2005). Another rising competitor is the Microsoft Dynamics CRM, which is getting popular day by day, because of its integration with Windows and MS Office. Looking at the sheer number of  Windows machines all over the world, Dynamics is sure to dominate the CRM sector soon. 
Organisations have seen, that after an ERP the next step is getting a CRM. I have been involved in a CRM implementation, and doing the total customization according to the firm's needs isn't easy. It requires training and a level of expertise in Java Scripting, SQL Queries, etc. A major open door for IT professionals, to tap into their skills, get trained and enter this line. There is bound to be growth, all major companies are looking at implementing a CRM system to keep their clients and customers happy, to track their information and transactions, and to do efficient marketing. The ERP era is slowly coming to its end, the next phase will be secondary software like CRM.