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Edit the customizations XML file with schema validation

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Applies To: Dynamics 365 (online), Dynamics 365 (on-premises), Dynamics CRM 2016, Dynamics CRM Online

The customizations.xml file is included within the compressed .zip file exported as a solution. Certain portions of the customizations.xml file can be edited manually. Information about the schema helps you confirm that any modifications you make are valid.

XSD schema files

The XSD schema files used to validate the customization.xml file in a solution are available at SDK\Schemas. The necessary files are:

  • CustomizationsSolution.xsd

  • fetch.xsd

  • FormXml.xsd

  • isv.config.xsd

  • RibbonCore.xsd

  • RibbonTypes.xsd

  • RibbonWSS.xsd

  • SiteMap.xsd

  • SiteMapType.xsd

  • VisualizationDataDescription.xsd

These files are also installed on the on-premises Microsoft Dynamics 365 server at: [Install Drive]\Program Files\Microsoft Dynamics CRM\Server\ApplicationFiles

CustomizationsSolution.xsd is the schema for the exported solution. It contains references to the other XSD files. All the files should be located in the same folder.

Using schema validation

Because the exported XML is a text file, you can edit it using a text editor such as Notepad. However, we strongly recommend that you use an application that supports XSD schema validation such as Microsoft Visual Studio. XSD validation in Microsoft Visual Studio or Visual Studio Express 2012 for Web provides IntelliSense information and schema validation to help prevent errors.

The XSD schema files that are used to validate the customization.xml file in a solution are available at SDK\Schemas. Make sure to copy all the files from that folder into the same directory. You will need to associate the customizations.xml file to the CustomizationsSolution.xsd file. That file has links to all the other XSD files in the folder.

  1. Download the XSD schema files and copy all of them to your computer. Save them in the location that Microsoft Visual Studio uses for XSD validation files. This location is probably [install drive]\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio X.0\Xml\Schemas where X represents the version of Visual Studio.

  2. Right-click the customizations.xml file and select Open With and then select the version of Visual Studio.

  3. Select View and then select Properties Window.

  4. In the Properties window, in the Schemas field, click the ellipsis [...] button.

  5. In the Xml Schemas dialog box you should see the customizationsSolution.xsd. In the Use column, select Use this schema.

    Note

    If you do not see it, click Add and browse to where you saved it.

  6. Click OK.

You are now ready to begin editing the XML with XSD validation.

See Also

When to edit the customizations file
Ribbon XML reference
SiteMap XML reference
Form XML reference
Saved query XML reference
ISV configuration file schema
Build queries with FetchXML

Microsoft Dynamics 365

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