ISVs Complain of Faulty Dynamics CRM Online Update

 

(Editor's Note: We have added a statement from a Microsoft spokesperson at the end of the article) 

A Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online update has been causing angst among some users and ISVs in the last day. An issue related to turbo forms and web resources left ISV solutions' forms using custom entities displaying "loading business logic" and, as one ISV describes it, a "spinning donut-of-death."

As Microsoft describes the problem:

Findings show that the issue only reproduces when customers add a web resource in the header or footer of their web page.

Affected customers may be unable to leverage CRM Online turbo forms. The forms will continue to spin as you pull up records. As a workaround, customers can still leverage legacy forms.

Mark Rockwell of Dynamics CRM and GP solution vendor Rockton Software expressed frustration with Microsoft because the company pushed the update without providing early access to the ISVs. He called the move "incomprehensible" in a letter to the company and went on to say:

This is exactly the situation we feared - Microsoft taking down all of our customers while we are powerless to do anything about it -- except react. ISVS NEED CODE FIRST TO TEST AGAINST BEFORE IT IS PUBLICLY RELEASED. PERIOD.

As a workaround, Microsoft advises, customers can still leverage legacy forms. Not good enough, says the ISV, who complained "[We] are slowly, one-by-one, getting our customers back ...