Pass Plugin Context Message C# Exception to Form Script (Javascript) during CRM Ribbon Calling Action

Introduction & Example

In my previous post, I was talking about how to validate the mandatory fields when you click a ribbon utilizing the “Xrm.Page.data.save().then(successCallback, errorCallback);” method.

Now, what if we need one more advance validation such as from related entities or external service, we need server side code in plugin, not only because it is needed but also because it is easier for some .NET Programmer rather than writing in javascript and also we might need to use to validate it from anywhere.

Following my previous post, now, there is requirement to check whether the campaign has Campaign Activity defined or not before you make this campaign as launched.

Solution & Result

So, now I create a plugin to validate

Here is my Plugin Code:

using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.Query;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace Xrm.CRM2015.Plugin.Campaign
{
    public class Campaign : IPlugin
    {
        public void Execute(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
        {
            #region must to have

            IPluginExecutionContext context = (IPluginExecutionContext)serviceProvider.GetService(typeof(IPluginExecutionContext));

            IOrganizationServiceFactory serviceFactory = (IOrganizationServiceFactory)serviceProvider.GetService(typeof(IOrganizationServiceFactory));

            // Create service with context of current user
            IOrganizationService service = serviceFactory.CreateOrganizationService(context.UserId);

            //create tracing service
            ITracingService tracingService = (ITracingService)serviceProvider.GetService(typeof(ITracingService));

            #endregion

            if (context.InputParameters.Contains("Target") && context.InputParameters["Target"] is Entity)
            {
                //create entity context
                Entity entity = (Entity)context.InputParameters["Target"];

                if (entity.LogicalName != "campaign")
                    return;
                else
                {
                    //if status reason is changed
                    if (entity.Contains("statuscode"))
                    {
                        if (((OptionSetValue)entity["statuscode"]).Value == 2) //Launched
                        {
                            //put MY Logic here
                            if (CheckIsHavingCampaignActivity(service, entity) == false)
                            {
                                throw new InvalidPluginExecutionException("Please add at least one Campaign Activity");
                            }
                        }
                    }
                }
            }

        }

        private bool CheckIsHavingCampaignActivity(IOrganizationService service, Entity entity)
        {
            //get the Campaign Activity from this Campaign
            QueryByAttribute querybyattribute = new QueryByAttribute("campaignactivity");
            querybyattribute.ColumnSet = new ColumnSet(true);

            //  Attribute to query.
            querybyattribute.Attributes.AddRange("regardingobjectid");

            //  Value of queried attribute to return.
            querybyattribute.Values.AddRange(entity.Id);

            //  Query passed to service proxy.
            EntityCollection retrieved = service.RetrieveMultiple(querybyattribute);

            if (retrieved.Entities.Count == 0)
            {
                return false;
            }
            else
            {
                return true;
            }
        }
    }
}

As we know that plugin message is very flat, simple, and straight-forward, the user can be confused with only one message in the centre of the screen, different from Javascript validation that you can add alert or you can add notification for CRM 2013 and above. This is one of the disadvantage over its plugin capability, you might need some additional art to reach user expectation in validation.

Now, I want to make sure that this message also passed to the Form Scripting and then I want to add more notification to the users telling them that to launch this Campaign, they need at least one Campaign Activity.

So, I would like to catch the exception from plugin to determine my next action.

From my previous post, we can add the errorCallback method and attach some function on it and I put debugger:



Yay,, horreey, we can grab the SaveErrorResponse message…

Now, I add some scripts:

function launch() {
    Xrm.Page.data.save().then(successCallback, errorCallback);
}

function successCallback() {
    //set status to Launched
    alert("Your campaign has been published");
    //then refresh if needed
    var Id = Xrm.Page.data.entity.getId();
    Xrm.Utility.openEntityForm("campaign", Id);

}

function errorCallback(saveErrorResponse) {
    if (saveErrorResponse.message.indexOf("Activity") != -1)
    {
        Xrm.Page.ui.setFormNotification("Hi, don't forget to add the Campaign Activity!!", 'ERROR');
    }
    //remember you can also clean up the notification

}

And this is the result:


Not only that, using this message you can do more than that.

Now, I want to put more spices on it..

That is to make the user more aware by set notification in field level





Then, after I add Campaign Activity, I can launch it successfully

The Code

function launch() {
    //do not forget to always clear it
    Xrm.Page.getControl("totalcampaignactivityactualcost").clearNotification();
    Xrm.Page.data.save().then(successCallback, errorCallback);
}

function successCallback() {
    //set status to Launched
    alert("Your campaign has been published");
    //then refresh if needed
    var Id = Xrm.Page.data.entity.getId();
    Xrm.Utility.openEntityForm("campaign", Id);

}

function errorCallback(saveErrorResponse) {
    if (saveErrorResponse != null) {
        if (saveErrorResponse.message != 'undefined' && saveErrorResponse.message != null) {
            if (saveErrorResponse.message.indexOf("Activity") != -1) {
                Xrm.Page.ui.setFormNotification("Hi, don't forget to add the Campaign Activity!!", 'ERROR');
                //remember you can also clean up the notification
                Xrm.Page.getControl("totalcampaignactivityactualcost").setNotification("Please put more activity");
                Xrm.Page.getControl("totalcampaignactivityactualcost").setFocus();
            }
        }
    }
}

Conclusion

*In CRM 2013 and above, I meet new favourite idol feature to love, that is Custom Action.

But, for CRM 2011 this feature is not available and since it is a new feature, I realize many developers still do not want to use it and plugin is more friendly for us since it has been accompanying us for years and we already knew its concept pretty well.

This method can be useful for some circumstances:

1. When you want validate something from Ribbon action or any other javascript that can trigger plugin through onsave event (in this example)

*You can also use oData action that can call plugin and return it.

2. When you want to check duplicate not using duplicate detection, then you can show the user which field is really causing the duplicate trouble by giving it special setFocus treatment

3. Do other action that need server side code

Now, you are be able to pass and obtain the plugin context message that you can use to manipulate the CRM Form UI.

But, remember, plugin will stop the saving if got exception, if you need process to keep going, there is no other choice than using Custom Action, Javascript, or you can put some field yes/no to pass the plugin.

Hope this helps!

Thanks.