It has been an exciting few weeks at Microsoft recently, the launch of CRM 2013 is in full swing and Convergence is only a few weeks away. I have 2-3 speaking sessions, so if your going, I do hope you’ll come by and say hello. I’ve been asked to cover Convergence via my twitter feed and blog so stay tuned for the latest and more information on that very soon, including a behind the scenes view. Follow me on twitter to find out more @markmargolis. For those of you that saw the Blitz webcast and my demo on Financial Services Business Process (Client KYC, Deal, On boarding and Account Planning) thanks for the great feedback, I promise it will be available on Pinpoint soon. I’ll add a solutions area on this site with additional information as soon as I’m given the OK!
Activities Tab configuration
In the meantime I want to cover a specific area of CRM 2013. If you have been working with CRM 2013 recently you will have noticed many changes. One of these changes is the way Notes, Activity Feeds and Activities are displayed on the form. These three elements are now combined into a single control. If you have upgraded from CRM 2011 and you are having problems adding an Activity Feed wall on an entity then I have the solution for you as well.
Once you successfully added and configured the control then it should look something like this. You can view Posts, Activities and Feeds from the sale control:
When you have added he control of the form from the form designer you can also determine what tab you would like to set as default:
It is as simple as going to the insert tab in the form designer and selecting notes. Double click on the control and you can set the properties as above. However if the notes is grayed out or inactive then you probably already have the notes component on the form:
Find the notes or delete then and re insert them and you’ll be able to set the appropriate parameters.
Problems if you have upgraded from CRM 2011
If you have upgraded from CRM 2011 and you cannot get the Activity Feed to display on a record wall (a problem I had) then you have most likely not enabled the entity for Activity feeds in “Post Configurations”. Also if like me you removed “Post Configurations” from the sitemap (or if for some reason it is not there) then you are going to have to make site map changes to get your entities to display an activity feed wall. Please note that getting to “Post Configuration” via the advanced find will not work (tried that also). You will have to edit the site map. Fortunately its very simple.
1. Check that you sill have Post Configurations in the Site Map by going to Settings > Post Configurations
If you do not then you need to edit the site map (download the SDK for full documentation). A full SDK article will be available for this shortly,including a managed solution file. In the meantime here is a snippet from my colleague.
2. Add Post Configuration to the site map if it is missing
Locate the three Area elements with the Id values ” SFA”, “CS”, and “MA”. Add the following Group element to each (sorry I lost the formatting).
<Group Id=”MyWork”
ResourceId=”Group_MyWork”
DescriptionResourceId=”My_Work_Description”>
<SubArea Id=”nav_personalwall”
ResourceId=”Whats_New_Label”
DescriptionResourceId=”Whats_New_Description”
Icon=”$webresource:msdyn_/Images/Wall_16.png”
OutlookShortcutIcon=”$webresource:msdyn_/Images/Wall_16.png”
AvailableOffline=”false”
Url=”$webresource:msdyn_/PersonalWall.htm?data=HideUserProfile%3D0″>
<Privilege Entity=”post”
Privilege=”Read” />
<!–SubArea>
</Group>
<Group Id=”Tools”
ResourceId=”Area_Tools”
IsProfile=”true”
DescriptionResourceId=”Area_Tools_Description”>
<SubArea Id=”nav_traces”
Icon=”/_imgs/area/18_alerts.png”
Url=”/_root/tracewall.aspx”
ResourceId=”Homepage_Alerts”
AvailableOffline=”false”
DescriptionResourceId=”Alerts_SubArea_Description”>
<Privilege Entity=”tracelog”
Privilege=”Read”/>
<!–SubArea>
</Group>
Locate the Area element with the Id=”Settings” and add the following Group:
<Group Id=”System_Setting”
ResourceId=”Menu_Label_System”
DescriptionResourceId=”Menu_Label_System” >
<SubArea Id=”nav_social”
ResourceId=”Social_SubArea_Title”
DescriptionResourceId=”Social_SubArea_Description”
Icon=”/_imgs/area/16_social.png”
Url=”/tools/social/social_area.aspx”
AvailableOffline=”false” />
<SubArea Id=”msdyn_postconfig”
ResourceId=”Activity_Feed_Configuration”
Entity=”msdyn_postconfig” />
<SubArea Id=”msdyn_postruleconfig”
ResourceId=”Activity_Feed_Rules_Configuration”
Entity=”msdyn_postruleconfig” />
</Group>
3. Activate the Post Configuration for the required entity (make sure wall enabled is yes)
Settings > Post Confiruations > Select Entiity > Activate > Publish the entity
4. One more thing
If you are still having problems then recreate the form in form designer and you’ll be good to go.
That should be it, let me know if you still have problems.
This post was originally published on https://markmargolis.wordpress.com. This posting is provided “AS IS” with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Next time on Mark Margolis’s Blog: A Look ahead to Convergence EMEA November 2013
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Hi Mark,
Thanks for the post. I’m running into the same issue. Tried the above but still not getting the feed and activities to display, just the notes.
I created a brand new form from scratch but still no go. I’m puzzled and have been banging on this thing for too many hours trying to get it to work.
if anyone has any other sides, please post them!
Hi, that’s annoying! Can you give me more info:
CRM Online or On Premise?
Custom Entity or OOTB?
Is this a CRM 2011 solution that you have imported to CRM 2013?
Are activity feeds / posts displaying on any entities?
Are you logged in as admin?
What are the exact steps that you are doing?
I had the same problem with the notes/activity/posts control being stuck on notes. I created a new form which loaded my original form as the starting template. Then I saved and published and was happy to find the new form had no issues. I deactvated the old form and never looked back. It looks like you already tried that though…
Ah, that’s what I missed. I had to upgrade my form before the post functionality would show up.
You said it!
This is an online instance that had a solution installed from a CRM 2011 environment. It’s happening only on the Account entity even though contact and opportunity were also in the solution. The really odd thing is it seems to have affected all the forms on the Account entity.
I am logged in as admin and as other users, checked security roles, etc. All users have the same problem.
I’ve tried:
-Deleting Notes in the form and re-adding. Save, Publish
-Changed the default tab that is displayed
-De-activating and re-activating the forms
-Activated and de-activated and re-activated the post configuration for account (published between changes)
-Created a brand new form and added the Notes object
-Tried the add/remove and post activation again on the new form
-Added Activity Feeds as a specific security role to the users
-Also tried making changes from the form level (click ellipses, then form, then do my editing)
-And from Settings>Customization>Entities>Account>Form, then do the editing
-Tried naming the control, tab, section the same as an OOB instance that is working correctly (solution was not imported on this instance)
When I add/remove:
-open form as admin from system settings
-click on the Notes object in the form
-Remove
-Save, Publish
-Go check the form after an F5 browser refresh (trying different browsers too)
-Open form again from customizations, click on a section, add, Notes object
-Rinse, repeat
It’s a stumper for me. I opened a ticket, so hopefully someone from support team has something that makes it magically delicious again.
Please let me know how you get this resolved. I’d live to share.
Mark,
Did Mike’s issue ever get resolved? We’re having almost the same problem with our 2013 on-premise development server after importing a 2011 solution we are developing. Existing 2013 lead forms display the new note control correctly. However, imported 2011 lead forms cannot be altered to display the new note control and new lead forms behave the same way. We are also missing Settings – Post Configuration.
I’ll have a opportunity to check out production server in a few days but you can understand I hesitate to import the 2011 solution if it’s going to cause problems like this.
If you don’t have post configuration in the site map then the walls won’t display. Follow the steps exactly and it should work. Please report back.
Mike, did you resolve your issue?
Nope, still have the problem on the original instance and now I have a second instance where the exact same thing is happening.
Apparently second line Microsoft support is looking into it but so far no resolution.
I have followed Mark’s suggestions as well as what Eric has tried. If I hear back from Microsoft I’ll post an update.
Mike
This is awesome, you’re a lifesaver! Thanks so much!
Hi Mark,
I recently upgraded from CRM 2011 to 2013. I followed the instructions in the “Problems if you have upgraded…” section and it was helpful. However, my Personal Wall on the What’s New page is not displaying posts. I’ve followed both records and users, but their posts (which appear on their own wall) are not be being posted to my Personal Wall as well.
Do you know how this issue can be resolved?
Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Jasmine
Update– it appears to be an issue with our company’s network.
Hi Mark,
I have recently started working on CRM 2013 and came across one issue in Notes. I need to allow user to add notes, but the user should not be allowed to edit or delete the notes added by him.
To restrict the delete it can be achieved through Security roles, but it still allow the user to edit the previously saved notes.
Please suggest how this can be achieved in CRM 2013 online.
Thanks
N
Thanks man … very helpfull indeed !!!
Hi,
We’re updated from CRM 2011 Online to CRM 2013 Online.
When we go to What’s New we get on error message from webpage.
Activity Feeds is not properly configured. The administrator must import the Activity Feeds solution again, and select the check box that is on the Import Options dialog box.
When we import the solution again, we get an error that the import of the solution failed.
Default solution minor version must be 0. This value cannot be modified.
Anyone seen this before?
Thanks
Stefan
Activity feeds is preinstalled on CRM 2013 so you will get errors tring to import a CRM 3012 activity feeds solution. Not sure what error you are getting, probably best logging a case with support.
Mark,
Post configuration is now back. Still unable to get the new note control to show up properly on imported or new forms. I’m going to try modifying a working 2013 form.
This is interesting. If I remove the note control from the imported 2011 form, save, edit a copy of a 2013 form, merge with the 2011 form, the note control from the 2013 form continues to work. It’s a pain, but at least it’s a way for me to get the job done.
Hello, anyone encountered an issue with the social / post pane showing up but with unresponsive controls? From Contact or random custom entity the controls show up, but it is not possible to click LIKE or REPLY. POST works alright though.
When I go on the specific user who posted and try to REPLY on the User entity, it suddently works. Post config is allowed and activated for all of those entities.
Any idea what could be causing it? Thanks a lot.
Hi, When I create a new entity, I put the notes in my form, I have the activity and notes but I cant activate the Posts feature. I checked the Post Configurations and its not there.
Would you advise me how to put my new entity to the post configurations?
I am using CRM 2013 on premises.
After updating the sitemap, I had the post config tab, but no entities. I checked the default customization only to find the activity feed plugins and messages weren’t included. I created an unmanaged solution from another on-prem instance and installed, published rebooted server and it appears to be working. I haven’t checked the SDK, but having the plugins and messages in a central location would be greatly helpful.
I have 2013 CRM Online. I created the custom entity (PM) when we had the 2011. I like the Activities/Notes feature but when I added it to my Form it only shows Notes, even though Activities have been assigned to the PM. The upgrade form button is grayed out and I can not find Post Configurations ANYWHERE. Please help. I can add a section that uses Activity Look-up and will show us all the activities associated with it, however, I would like it to look & work like the other modules (e.g. Case, Account, etc)
Did you follow all the instructions? If you do it will add Post Configurations to the sitemap. Do that first, then try again if that fails, try creating a new form and repeat.
I followed all instructions for getting the Notes section into place. It works fine on the other entities (Case, Opportunities, Accounts, etc). I click options and I see a bunch options but nothing about Post Configurations. We haven’t edited the Site Map or anything, it’s the stock application, outside of the PM entity I created. I have tried creating a new form but when I do it copies the existing form and I have a Save As option. It will not give me a blank new main form. I have deleted, published, re-added, published the Notes section and still nothing. I even created a new form, as the copy and it still doesn’t show anything but Notes.
You may need to open a support case. Its curious that Post configurations does not display. Hard to diagnose without seeing it. Id check (im sure you are doing this already but just in case):
Log in as a user that has system admin as the role
Use advanced find to see if you can find an entity called Posts.
Export the sitemap.xml and edit as per the article, re import and then republish. If this fails contact support. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Mark, do you know if it’s possible to control what CRM will post or not post in regards to “system” posts? I’m working on a CRM Online (2013) implementation, and the client would like to dictate what changes on a record will trigger a system post on the social pane (automatic posts).
Yes can you workflows to create posts and you can set the Post Type to Auto Post. 1. Create workflow on required entity, 2. create record of type post. 3. Add required information such as “Auto Post” and use “Post URL Dynamic” in the field list to add a linc to the record in the post itself. Hope this makes sense.
Mark, yes, that makes perfect sense! Thanks for the suggestion.
Hi Mark,
Thank you for the post.
I have a few questions:
Is it possible to customize the activities pane? Our client, that uses CRM 2013 on premise, wants the email and Appointment options visible by default.
Is it possible to change the order of the tabs (Posts/Activities/Notes)?
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Some customisation is available, you can change the default tab (Posts, Activities or Notes). You can also drop on a activities grid and filter by activity type by customising the view such as filter by appoints and emails. Hope this makes sense.
I don’t know what you mean with “You can also drop on a activities grid and filter by activity type by customising the view such as filter by appoints and emails”. Can you please explain further?
Thanks
On the Form Editor: Insert Sub Grid.Under properties of the sub grid select Records: Only Related, Entity: Activities, Default View (as appropriate).
If this still does not make sense search for “insert sub grid crm 2013” im sure there are loads of articles on that topic. The only thing you way want to do additionally is customise the activity view to only include activities of type appointments/emails. Again I’m sure there are lots of article on that topic also.
In summary a) create a new activity view b) add the subgrid and use the new activity view
Does that help?
Hi Mark,
I guess it isn’t possible to make Email and Appointment options visible by default?
And can the order of Posts/Activities/Notes be changed (I don’t mean setting the default tab)?
Related to Mike’s issue,,,, when I set the default tab to Notes; it does nothing. (still shows the activities tab).
Not sure I can handle anymore issues with WIPRO….
Has anyone resolved this issue? I’m running into it as well.
See my comment, 21 March: https://markmargolis.wordpress.com/2013/10/21/crm-2013-posts-activities-notes-control/#comment-1229
I have the same issue.It’s not that Activities and Notes aren’t showing, it’s that I can’t select Notes as the default value for my Custom Entity. It just casually ignores that I tried.
I too have the problem where I can only see the “Noted” tab in the control and cannot see “Activities” despite having activities enabled for the entity. This is a custom entity that was brought in by a managed CRM 2011 solution file. I have not seen any comments on this article about how to resolve this problem, despite a few different people having it. Any ideas?
Hi Shan, I haven’t come across this problem myself so haven’t had a chance to look into it. If anyone’s resolves please share.
This might be useful if Mark’s instructions still leave you unable to use the Social Pane on upgraded entities: http://thecrmgrid.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/social-pane-control-not-working-in-custom-forms/
If Posts/Activities missing from Notes section even after activating the Post, follow the below steps. you should get the Posts in the upgraded form
1) Export the Entity from Customization Section
2) Open the Customization XML
3) Search for 0
4) Change the Value of presentation from “0” to “1”
5) Now you should be able to see the Post,Activities in the Notes Section
Do the above only for Main forms, and not for Mobile Forms or Quick Create Forms.
Thanks for a useful post! It helped with our system configuration.
What is the difference between notes and Posts ? Users can share their feedback or action taken on both the controls.
In our case, after upgrading from 2011 to 2013, we no longer have the option to follow or unfollow any entity type. We checked for Post Configurations, and it is present, but EMPTY.
How do we FORCE entity types to appear in Post Configurations so that we can activate them?
Best Regards,
Eric
Nice post, really helped me on a customer upgraded from CRM 4 to 2013 with quite heavy sitemap customizations. However, I found one funny thing and that is that you have to have the activity feed active for the notes-component to be able to lock on any of the tabs, otherwise it defaults to Activity. Very annoying, especially since the customer isn’t interested in the activity feeds….
Thank you, your post was very helpful. Following steps worked for me:
1. Download AddEmailandPostConfigurationtoSiteMap_1_0_managed.zip solution from this link: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn486920.aspx#BKMK_ImportSolution
2. Import the solution.
3. Activate the post configuration for the entity. Publish.
4. Remove the Notes/Activities from the from. Save. Publish.
5. Close the form and click Publish All Customizations.
6. Open the form again and add Notes again. Save. Publish.
7. Close the form and click Publish All Customizations.
8. Create a new record in that entity, the form will correctly show Posts/Activities/Notes.
Thanks.