FIGURE 15-11 Setting input arguments for a child dialog in VB.NET

Generator QR Code 2d barcode in VB.NET FIGURE 15-11 Setting input arguments for a child dialog

The input argument values can also be updated using the Assign Value step, which we discuss in the Steps section later in the chapter.

Variables are parameters that are stored and passed within a dialog process. Unlike responses, which can also be used throughout a dialog process, variables can be manipulated during the dialog process. For example, you could use variables to score a lead as responses are collected during a dialog process. Using the Assign Value step, you can perform calculations after each response to determine the final score for the lead. For each variable, you must enter a name, data type, and default value. Variables have the same available data types as input arguments:

After the basic properties, input arguments, and variables of your dialog process are configured, you can create the steps of the process. Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides the following options for setting up dialog process steps:

Stage Page Prompt and Response Check Condition Conditional Branch Default Action Query CRM Data Assign Value Create Record Update Record Assign Record Send E-Mail Start Child Workflow Link Child Dialog Change Status

When used in dialog processes, stages serve the same purpose they do in workflows, allowing you to group steps in the process. To add a stage to a dialog process, click Add Step, and then select Stage. As always, be sure to name your stages appropriately so that you and others who view the dialog process understand the purpose of each stage. Note If you add a stage to a dialog process, all steps in that process must be part of a stage.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM informs you of this requirement when you add the first stage to a dialog process.

Figure 15-12 shows a dialog process with stages. In this example, the first stage is used to confirm that a case is still open. If the issue is resolved, the case is closed. If not, the dialog proceeds to the second stage, where users are reminded to notify the customer that the case has been escalated to a second-level support team.

Pages are the screens users will see when running dialog processes. Each page must consist of at least one prompt, created by adding a Prompt and Response step. You will not be able to activate a dialog process until it contains at least one prompt. To create a new page, click Add Step and select Page. Enter a name for the page, which will be displayed when a user steps through the dialog process.

A prompt is the text that displays on a dialog page, typically a question or script that should be used in conversations with customers. A response is a data point captured in a dialog page based on the information requested in the associated prompt. Figure 15-13 shows an example of the setup dialog box of a prompt and response page.

Prompts can be used to display the exact call scripts you want users to reference when talking to customers. Alternately, prompts can be used to provide instructions about how to step through the dialog pages. You can also use dynamic values in prompts. The use of dynamic values is detailed in the Dynamic Values in Workflow section in 14.

In addition to text, you can also add links in your prompts. When adding links to a prompt, you need to set a display name for the link as well as the correct URL, as shown in Figure 15-14.

For example, you can include a link that the user reading from the dialog can provide to a customer during a call, or you can include a link to another Microsoft Dynamics CRM record. However, creating a link a Microsoft Dynamics CRM record is not available out of the box, so you ll need to create a workflow utility to dynamically generate the URL so it includes the GUID of the record that needs to be displayed. For each prompt, you can also include a tip that provides help or other information to assist users when the prompt is selected in a dialog session. Tips also can include links. It is important to note that the tip will display when the user selects the prompt. In other words, if you have three prompts on a dialog page, the tip for the third prompt will not appear until the third prompt is highlighted. This feature is important to keep in mind when designing your pages. Although a response is not required for each prompt, responses are critical when a user needs to enter information collected during the dialog process. These data points can be stored within the dialog for later use, passed on to other processes, or used to create or update Microsoft Dynamics CRM records. Responses consist of the following components: