XrmToolBox from Scratch: Master Dynamics 365 with 334+ Tools

Q. In-Depth Look at XrmToolBox: Overview, Installation, Features, and FetchXML Tool in Dynamics 365 

In this blog/video, I'll cover XrmToolBox details, features, and installation with an example in Dynamics 365

What is XrmToolBox? Download from here

XrmToolBox is a popular tool used in Dynamics 365 for various purposes like-  customizations, data management, and administration tasks. Basically, it provides a collection of tools and plugins that can make our Dynamics 365 work easier and more efficient. We can perform activities like fetch XML queries, plugin development,  data import/export, schema customization, and more, all within a user-friendly interface. It has more than 334 tools so far which makes our work tasks easier and less time-consuming For all  Dynamics 365 professionals- It can be considered as a valuable resource to enhance their productivity and efficiency in working with the platform.

This list shows all 334 tools available for XrmToolBox click here

Features/ Advantages

XrmToolBox has many great features and advantages. While I can only mention a few, here are some key benefits:

• Wide Range of Tools: Provides many tools 334 tools for managing data, customizing solutions, and handling workflows.
• User-Friendly Interface: Simple and easy to use interface.
• Plugin Store: XrmToolBox has a built-in Plugin Store where you can browse and install various tools and plugins developed by the Dynamics 365 community. These plugins extend the functionality of XrmToolBox and provide additional capabilities for different tasks.
• Bulk Data Operations: Makes it easy to handle large amounts of data, including importing, exporting, updating, and deleting.
• Solution Management: You can use XrmToolBox to import and export solutions in Dynamics 365. This is useful for transferring customizations, configurations, and data between different environments.
• Querying and Data Analysis: Tools for retrieving and analyzing data using FetchXML.
• Extensibility: Very flexible and customizable with a plugin-based structure.
• Security Management: You can manage security roles and permissions in Dynamics 365. You can create, modify, and assign security roles to users and teams, define privileges, and configure access levels.
• Workflow and Process Automation: Tools for automating business processes and managing workflows.
• Community Support: Active community of users and developers offering plugins, support, and knowledge sharing.

These are just a few examples of what XrmToolBox can do. It's a versatile tool that's popular in the Dynamics 365 community because it offers a wide range of features. It simplifies and improves tasks related to customization, administration, and development in Dynamics 365.

Downloading and Installation:

Step 1. - Download XrmToolBox from here

Step 2. - We need to unlock the zip file first and then extract it. 

To unlock and extract the zip file, right-click on the file, select "Properties," check the "Unblock" checkbox, and click "OK."

Step 3. - After extracting the XrmToolBox zip file, open the folder and navigate to find multiple DLL files and other files. Scroll down until you locate the XrmToolBox application, then double-click on it to launch the XrmToolBox.

Step 4. - When you open the application, you will be greeted with an interface displaying various options such as "Connect," "Tools," and "Library." On the left side, you will find a list of recently used tools visible if you have previously connected to XrmToolBox and utilized any tools. On the right side, you will find options for accessing documentation and quick actions. If you wish to gain insights from a user's perspective, selecting the respective option will direct you to the relevant website.

Step 5. -  In the "Tools" section- you will find a collection of all the tools you have downloaded or installed in your XrmToolbox. 

Step 6. - In the "Tools Library" section- you can access a comprehensive list of available tools. If you wish to download and install any specific tool, simply select it, and once installed, it will appear under the "Tools" section.

Step 7. - Now, let's establish a connection with the Dynamics 365 environment. Click on the "Connect" button, then select "New Connection." Here, you will find various methods available for establishing the connection.

Step 8. - For the connection, I will choose the Microsoft Login Control method. (If you scroll down, you can explore detailed information about all six available connection methods.)

Step 9. - Select the "Use default Configuration" option and click on Open Microsoft Login Control

Step 10. - Here, you have two options: you can either log in through the on-premise version or the CRM online version. If you are using CRM online, select "Office 365" and then check the checkbox for displaying the list of available organizations. By selecting this option, you will be able to choose an environment from your CRM instance.

Step 11. - Select your environment and click on the Login button

Step 12. - Give the connection Name and click on Finish.

Step 13. - Connection with Dynamics 365 environment is successfully established.

At the bottom left, you can easily identify the environment to which you are currently connected, and all the logged-in connections will be visible here. You can select the desired action, such as editing or deleting, for the available connections.

Step 14. - Next, let's download and install a tool called FetchXML Builder and perform some actions. 

Click on the "Tools Library" button, then type "XML" in the search box. Select the FetchXML Builder application from the results and click on "Install." 

Step 15. - After the installation is complete, a green checkmark should appear. Click on "Close." 

Step 16. - Now, the downloaded FetchXML Builder tool will be available under the "Tools" section. Scroll down to locate your tools, and you will find FetchXML Builder listed there. Double-click on that to open.

Step 17. - In the FetchXML Builder tool, you can generate XML queries for a specific entity. 

Click on the entity dropdown and select your desired entity. Afterward, click on the "Execute" button, and the resulting report will be visible under the "Result View." 

Step 18. - To view the queries, click "View" and select "FetchXML." The queries will be displayed below. 

Step 19. - You can add additional filters and conditions to create more complex queries. Right-click on the "Contact" entity, go to "Add," and then click on "Attribute" to specify the fields you want to include in the query or display. 

Step 20. - Once you have made your selections, click on the "Execute" button, and you can click on "FetchXML" to view the updated queries.

Connection

There are different ways to connect to Dynamics 365, such as Microsoft Login Tool, Connection String, Client ID, connection wizard, certificate, MFA
To learn about connecting through all six methods, please refer to the blog attached here
Different ways to connect to XrmToolBox are:

1. Microsoft Login Tool: Authenticate using Microsoft credentials.
2. Connection String: Connect using a specified string of connection parameters.
3. Client ID: Authenticate using an Azure Active Directory (AAD) application Client ID.
4. Connection Wizard: Guided step-by-step setup for selecting connection type and details.
5. Certificate: Connect using a certificate installed in the environment.
6. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Support for additional security verification during connection

Five of the most useful tools in XrmToolBox:

1. FetchXML Builder: This tool allows you to create, test, and execute FetchXML queries against your Dynamics 365 or Power Platform data. It provides a visual interface for constructing queries, making it easier to retrieve specific data sets.
2. Plugin Registration: The Plugin Registration tool allows you to manage and deploy custom plugins in your Dynamics 365 or Power Platform environment. You can register, update, or delete plugins, as well as configure their execution pipeline.
3. Metadata Browser: The Metadata Browser provides a comprehensive view of the metadata in your Dynamics 365 or Power Platform instance. It allows you to explore and analyze the structure of entities, attributes, relationships, and other metadata components.
4. Solution Components Mover: This tool enables you to easily move components between different solutions in your Dynamics 365 or Power Platform environment. It simplifies the process of managing and organizing solution components, making it more efficient to deploy changes across environments.
5. SiteMap Editor: The SiteMap Editor tool allows you to customize the navigation menu in your Dynamics 365 or Power Platform instance. You can add, remove, or modify areas, groups, and subareas in the sitemap to tailor the navigation experience for users.

Conclusion

XrmToolBox is a popular and highly valuable tool in the Dynamics 365 community, offering a wide range of features and advantages. It simplifies tasks related to customization, data management, and administration in Dynamics 365. With over 334 tools available, it provides a user-friendly interface and supports activities like data import/export, schema customization, plugin development, and fetch XML queries. The tool's advantages include a wide range of tools, a built-in Plugin Store, bulk data operations, solution management, querying and data analysis, extensibility, security management, workflow and process automation, and active community support. XrmToolBox can be easily downloaded and installed from their website, and it offers various methods of connecting to organizations. It allows for the installation of useful plugins and provides additional features like an open environment, impersonation, and filtering tools. The documentation section provides resources for developers. Overall, XrmToolBox is an indispensable tool for enhancing productivity and efficiency in Dynamics 365.