MS Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook issues looking at sub folders.

A few weeks one our customers was complaining that they were having issues with Outlook when accessing the Dynamics CRM sub folders. In essence, any view would display the error below and then Outlook and Dynamics would continue on their merry way, working fine.

The error traces weren't being terrible helpful:

Exception generated at: 18/12/2012 14:09:31Error Type: System.NullReferenceExceptionError Message: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.Error Stack Trace: at CommandBarOnDemandPopupWrapper..ctor(XmlNode controlXml, ExplorerWrapper explorer, PrepareMenuCallback callback)  ilOffset = 0x42at MenuState.PrepareMenu(CommandBarPopupWrapper parentMenu)  ilOffset = 0xF9at MenuState..ctor(IClientOrganizationContext clientOrgContext, String context, ExplorerWrapper explorer, Int32 index)  ilOffset = 0x1E2at <>c__DisplayClass2f.<SetupMenus>b__2a()  ilOffset = 0x3Cat <>c__DisplayClass31.<SetupMenus>b__2c(Object unused)  ilOffset = 0x0at <>c__DisplayClass1a.<QueueUserWorkItemSilent>b__15()  ilOffset = 0x0at ExceptionFilter.TryFilterAllCatch(Action body, Action`1 filter)  ilOffset = 0xF

Stack Frame: 
at OutlookUtility.HandleExceptionInternal(Exception exception, Boolean showMessageBox, IWin32Window messageBoxOwner, String errorMessage)  ilOffset = 0x107at <>c__DisplayClass17.<QueueUserWorkItemSilent>b__16(Exception ex)  ilOffset = 0x6at <>c__DisplayClassa.<TryFilterAllCatch>b__8(Exception ex)  ilOffset = 0xCat ExceptionFilter.TryFilterAllCatch(Action body, Action`1 filter)  ilOffset = 0x34at CommandBarOnDemandPopupWrapper..ctor(XmlNode controlXml, ExplorerWrapper explorer, PrepareMenuCallback callback)  ilOffset = 0x42at MenuState.PrepareMenu(CommandBarPopupWrapper parentMenu)  ilOffset = 0xF9at MenuState..ctor(IClientOrganizationContext clientOrgContext, String context, ExplorerWrapper explorer, Int32 index)  ilOffset = 0x1EAat <>c__DisplayClass2f.<SetupMenus>b__2a()  ilOffset = 0x65at <>c__DisplayClass31.<SetupMenus>b__2c(Object unused)  ilOffset = 0xBat <>c__DisplayClass1a.<QueueUserWorkItemSilent>b__15()  ilOffset = 0x16at ExceptionFilter.TryFilterAllCatch(Action body, Action`1 filter)  ilOffset = 0xFat <>c__DisplayClass17.<QueueUserWorkItemSilent>b__14(Object innerState)  ilOffset = 0x42at QueueUserWorkItemCallback.WaitCallback_Context(Object state)  ilOffset = 0x1Aat ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state, Boolean ignoreSyncCtx)  ilOffset = 0x8Eat QueueUserWorkItemCallback.System.Threading.IThreadPoolWorkItem.ExecuteWorkItem()  ilOffset = 0x35at ThreadPoolWorkQueue.Dispatch()  ilOffset = 0x81at _ThreadPoolWaitCallback.PerformWaitCallback()  ilOffset = 0x51

The first thing we noticed was that there was a mismatch  in the update rollups installed, but then we found another workstation without the mismatch and the problem occurred.

We then applied a few patches to the workstation, including an upgrade from Outlook 2007 SP2 to SP3 but to no avail.

In a last ditch attempt to solve the issue, we upgraded to Outlook 2010 and it solved the issue. Not sure the customer will be happy with our proposed solution.

Install MS Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook using Service Center Configuration Manager 2012 - part 3

In the first post of this series, I described how to install SCCM 2012 without an internet connection and in the second post of the series, I described how to configure SCCM 2012. In this post, I finally describe how to actually install MS Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook using SCCM 2012.

This installation will simply make MS Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook available to users that have Outlook 2010 x64 installed in their machines, it will not install it nor configure it. This is what we have been asked to provide the customer with, for the time being at least.

1. Create Administrative install of MS Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook (From <mediadrive>:\Client\amd64\):

   msiexec /a Client.msi targetdir=C:\CRM4OUT

2. Navigate to Software Library | Overview | Application Management | Applications and hit Create Application. Follow the wizard to completion.











3. Since Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook needs to have Outlook 2010 x64 installed, you need to add a check for this. In order to check this you can check that the following registry key equals x64.
   

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Office\14.0\Outlook\Bitness

4. Right Click Microsoft Dynamics CRM 5.0  for Outlook and select Properties. Select the Deployment Types tab and click Edit. Select the Requirements tab and then Add.














5. From Software Library | Overview | Application Management | Applications, click Deploy to start the deployment process. If you've followed this series from the beginning choose the Device collection you created earlier and follow the wizard to completion.








6. The deployment can be monitored from Monitoring | Overview | Deployments. Do have patience as it does seem to go very slowly, which is extremely frustrating. The first screenshot below shows how one computer has had MS Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook and the other (in the Device Group) does not meet requirements. In this case, because it does not have Outlook installed, see in the second screenshot, how the value is NULL.








7. On the Client side,  Software Center now displays Microsoft Dynamics CRM 5.0 for Outlook:

8. Select Microsoft Dynamics CRM 5.0 for Outlook and press Install, which will trigger the download and install of Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook.  

I think this solution is less than ideal, as it requires quite a bit of intervention from the users, but we are only providing what we have been asked for.