Skip to main content

Documenting Maps

When we are creating mappings in SCRIBE its important that we document those maps.  This is a two stage process.  First, we want to do an export of the map and save the JSON file into the source control system.  This way we have a back up copy of it and we can reuse the map if we need it again, similar to what you would do with a template.  The second reason is so others can have an understanding of the process.

In projects that I have worked on in the past I have taken more of a manual approach to creating the supporting documentation for my integration and migration mappings.  This can be time consuming to say the least.  During one of these exercises, I found the SCRIBE Documentation Tool.  I walk through the steps they outlined and it auto generated the documentation for me.  This has greatly speed up my work and gives me an spreadsheet that is easy to understand.

To create this documentation you will need a Google account as it uses Google Docs.  Here is a link to the detailed step by step process provided by SCRIBE.  Here is the high level process:

1) Allow API access to your SCRIBE Online organization.
2) Access the Documentation Tool by clicking this link. (Opens Google Spreadsheet).
3) Save a copy.  This is an important step as you create more then one of these, this way you don't over write a previous map documentation.  Also doing this will allow "SCRIBE" to appear in the menu next to "Help".
4) Click SCRIBE -> Documentation Solution and follow the prompts.
5) Once the process starts, depending on the number of mappings in the solution it can run quickly or slowly.  Just wait for it to finish.

When the process is finished you will see the following:

  • Org Details - This contains info about your org.
  • Solution Details - Details about the solution.
  • All tabs after the first 2 are the individual mappings in the solution.
    • The top section of each mapping tab will contain the high level map info.
    • After that section we start with the beginning of the mapping.  each block is highlighted, so it is easy to navigate between them.  under each block is the information contained in that block and the attributes used with what they are linked to or the conversion code we have written.
I hope this has helped you with documenting your data mappings.  Please check out the full documentation at SCRIBE's website.  Also SCRIBE provides the source code if you want to modify this tool for your specific needs.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Validating User Input In CRM Portals With JavaScript

When we are setting up CRM Portals to allow customers to update their information, open cases, fill out an applications, etc. We want to make sure that we are validating their input before it is committed to CRM.  This way we ensure that our data is clean and meaningful to us and the customer. CRM Portals already has a lot validation checks built into it. But, on occasion we need to add our own.  To do this we will use JavaScript to run the validation and also to output a message to the user to tell them there is an issue they need to fix. Before we can do any JavaScript, we need to check and see if we are using JavaScript on an Entity Form or Web Page.  This is because the JavaScript, while similar, will be different.  First, we will go over the JavaScript for Entity Forms.  Then, we will go over the JavaScript for Web Pages.  Finally, we will look at the notification JavaScript. Entity Form: if (window.jQuery) { (function ($) { if ...

Dynamics Set IFrame URL - D365 v8 vs. D365 v9

While doing client work, I came across a problem with setting an IFrame URL dynamically.  The underlying issue was that the sandbox instance is on v8 of Dynamics 365 and production is on v9 of Dynamics 365.  The reason for this was because this client was setup around the time that Microsoft rolled out v9.  Anyways, JavaScript that I wrote to dynamically set the URL of the IFrame wasn't working in the v9 instance.  This was because of changes that Microsoft made to how IFrames are loaded on the form and also changes to JavaScript. Here is my v8 setup: JavaScript runs OnLoad of contact form.  This works because of how IFrames are loaded in v8.  You can also run it on either a tab change (hide / show) or OnReadyStateComplete event of the IFrame.  Depending on your setup you will need to choose which is best for you.  For me in this case it was the OnLoad event. Here is the JavaScript: function OnLoad() { //Get memberid var...

Effective Logging in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Plugins: Best Practices and Examples

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a powerful suite of business applications that provides organizations with tools for managing customer relationships, sales, and operations. One of the essential aspects of developing custom plugins for Dynamics 365 is proper logging to ensure smooth functionality and easy debugging. In this blog post, we'll discuss best practices for logging in Microsoft Dynamics 365 plugins and provide examples to help you implement effective logging in your custom solutions. Understanding the Plugin Trace Log Microsoft Dynamics 365 provides a built-in logging mechanism called the Plugin Trace Log. The Plugin Trace Log can be used to record custom messages, exceptions, and other information for debugging purposes. To enable the Plugin Trace Log, follow these steps: Navigate to Settings > Administration > System Settings. Under the Customization tab, locate the "Plugin and Custom Workflow Activity Tracing" section. Set the option to "All" or ...