I'm attempting to create a Dynamics CRM 4.0 dashboard using Telerik Silverlight rad controls and charts. What is the simplest/quickest way to connect my project to CRM?
You'll either need to use the CRM web services API to query for data or if you can access the SQL Server database directly, you could query the SQL views that CRM generates. These are the only ways of accessing data in CRM that are supported by Microsoft.
As a starter, check the Dynamics CRM SDK documentation for technical information about Dynamics CRM and the web services API:
If you want to use the SQL views, also check the Report Writers Guide - this is guidance for people writing SSRS reports for CRM, but should provide useful information:
If you use the views, you should always use the ones named 'Filtered...' as these will respect the authenticated users' security role (i.e., they prevent users from seeing data they wouldn't normally see when using CRM via the UI.)
Here's a link that may help you.
You'll either need to use the CRM web services API to query for data or if you can access the SQL Server database directly, you could query the SQL views that CRM generates. These are the only ways of accessing data in CRM that are supported by Microsoft.
As a starter, check the Dynamics CRM SDK documentation for technical information about Dynamics CRM and the web services API:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb928212.aspx
If you want to use the SQL views, also check the Report Writers Guide - this is guidance for people writing SSRS reports for CRM, but should provide useful information:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb955081.aspx
If you use the views, you should always use the ones named 'Filtered...' as these will respect the authenticated users' security role (i.e., they prevent users from seeing data they wouldn't normally see when using CRM via the UI.)
Information on Filtered Views:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc308184.aspx