Customization - Do you always make backup versions of the XML schema? (CRM 4 only)

Last updated by Brady Stroud [SSW] 7 months ago.See history

When the XML schema is published it re-generates the underlying SQL and .aspx code. If trouble hits, a "refresh" or "rollback" to an uncorrupted schema is always a backup plan. A versioning scheme is also required to keep track of different versions of the XML schema at different points in time. To make a backup of the schema from within Microsoft CRM navigate to Settings -> Customization -> Export Customizations. Browse to the location on your personal hard drive where the .XML file is to be stored.

CRM CustomizationPane
Figure: Export customizations as backup

Tip #1: Export only the customizations of entities that you customize and keep each entity customizations in a separate file, see the rule:Customization - Do you export only the customizations of entities that you did customize?

Tip #2: Put the date on the file names and while you are working you will be doing this multiple times a day.

Tip #3: don't save this on the Dev Virtual Machine.

In CRM 2011 we use Solutions and TFS Source Control.

Adam Cogan
We open source.Loving SSW Rules? Star us on GitHub. Star
Stand by... we're migrating this site to TinaCMS