Introducing new tool: Sync Filter Manager

This tool was requested by my fellow MVP’s Scott Sewell and Joel Lindstrom from Customer Effective. All credit goes to them for the quality of this tool as they tested it, provided great feedback to have the best tool possible.

Having said that, what does the tool do?

It allows you to manage filters applied to synchronize contact and activity data with CRM for Outlook or Server sync (Outlook filters) or data synchronized offline by CRM for Outlook(offline filters).

Traditionally these filters are managed by users. This tool allows an administrator to globally manage user filters.

Here is what the tool looks like

image

With this tool, you can:

  • List and delete System Synchronization filter: These filters applies to all users and users can’t change them.
  • List, delete, define as default and apply Synchronization Filters Templates to users: These filters applies to users you choose and users can delete these filters if they want to. (Note: Although there can be multiple filters per entity listed in the Default Local Data Rules, CRM only allows one rule per entity to have the “Is Default” attribute set to “True” - Only Default Local Data Rules where the “Is Default” attribute is “True” will be copied to the selected user when a user is ‘created’ or ‘reset’)
  • List, enable, disable and delete Users synchronization filters: They are the filters currently in use for users.
  • List System views. You can also create a system rule or a rule template from a system view. It is also possible to update an existing system rule or rule template from a system view.
  • List users: This action will replace all synchronization rules for the selected user(s) with the organization’s default local data rules. Any user-created rules will be removed.

As you can see, you will be able to manage synchronization filters, which was not possible before without writing your own code.

Known restrictions:

  • To list user’s synchronization rules, your user must have prvAdminFilter privilege
  • Listing user’s synchronization rules can take a lot of time since a query must be executed for each user and each filter type (Outlook and Offline).

 

As usual, the toolbox is available on CodePlex

 

If the new tool helps you and you are happy with it, you can help me by making a donation (Go to sponsor page)

Comments

Mark Margolis said…
Great app! I have an app suggestion, I'm looking for a tool that will enable me to publish solution file(s) to multiple Organisations.
For example I run/manage multiple UAT/Test/Training/Demo orgs and I want to be able to automatically publish my latest solution to these (perhaps by selecting a checkbox next to the orgs that I need updating). Any ideas?
Anonymous said…
Then just start coding mate!
Unknown said…
This is a great XRMToolBox Tool but I have to say that the documentation around the features and the expected outcome of the updates to CRM needs to be written out.

A walk-through with examples would be best so new CRM Customizers/ Administrators could better understand what the tool is doing and what the impact is to the changes we are making.
Tanguy said…
Hi Dylan,
I tried to list and explain briefly in this post but you are right, a documentation should be written but I have not much time to do so...
As it seems you used the tool, I encourage you to write the documentation on Xrmtoolbox wiki

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