Get started with SharePoint integration

SharePoint Server integration enables document management capabilities in Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement. There are two aspects to SharePoint Server integration:

• Setting up SharePoint integration. A system administrator sets up a SharePoint Server environment. The Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement administrator (a user who has the SharePoint Site Collection Administrator role) selects the Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement entities for which to enable the document management feature, and specifies the target SharePoint Server. As part of specifying the target server, the Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement administrator specifies the SharePoint Server site collection or the SharePoint Server site URL by using the SharePointSite entity.

• Creating and managing SharePoint document location records. Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement users can create and manage SharePoint Server document location records after SharePoint Server integration is enabled. You can create and manage SharePoint Server document location records by using the SharePointDocumentLocation entity. Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement also allows for the automatic creation of folders on the server that is running SharePoint Server for entity records under certain conditions. However, automatic creation of folders cannot be done through the Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement Web Services.

SharePoint storage concepts

By using SharePoint Server document management capabilities, you can control the life cycle of documents in your organization: how they are created, reviewed, published, and disposed or archived. SharePoint Server uses a hierarchical storage model to store and manage documents. Some of the SharePoint Server storage concepts that you should know are as follows: Site Collection, Site, Document Library, and Document Folder. These storage objects provide the framework for the content management infrastructure that SharePoint Server provides. For more information about these storage concepts, see Storage levels: content storage benefits and considerations.

Software requirements for SharePoint Integration

For supported versions of SharePoint and Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement for SharePoint integration, see SharePoint Document Management software requirements for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (on-premises).

Enable SharePoint integration

SharePoint integration for Customer Engagement can only be enabled using the web or Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Outlook. This isn’t supported through SDK. For more information, see Set up SharePoint integration.

Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement supports two types of integration with SharePoint: client-to-server and server-to-server (server-based).

• Client-to-server integration with SharePoint: The client-to-server integration is enabled by default. However, for a richer user experience, install the Microsoft Dynamics CRM List Component for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 or SharePoint Server 2013. For more information about the component, see Microsoft Dynamics CRM list component for Microsoft SharePoint Server section later in this topic.

• Server-to-server integration with SharePoint: This does not require you to install the Microsoft Dynamics CRM List Component in SharePoint or any other additional software to have the SharePoint document management functionality within Customer Engagement. After you enable server-based SharePoint integration for your organization, you can’t revert to the client-based authentication method.

  After enabling SharePoint integration:

• Enable document management for entities: Select the entities in Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement for which you want to create and manage documents on SharePoint Server. More information: Enable SharePoint Integration for Entities.

  When you enable document management for an entity in Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement, a Documents link under the Common group in the left pane is added for the all entity records in the Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement web application. You can use the Documents link to create or manage SharePoint Server location records for the entity record.

• Specify the target SharePoint server: Specify the URL of a site or site collection on the SharePoint Online, SharePoint Server 2010, or SharePoint Server 2013. This URL is used to automatically create folders and document libraries on SharePoint.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM list component for Microsoft SharePoint Server

Microsoft Dynamics CRM List Component for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 and SharePoint 2013 is a SharePoint Server solution package file (.wsp) that must be installed (uploaded and activated) on the site collection on the target SharePoint 2010 or 2013 server to enable the following:

• View documents that are stored on the SharePoint Server 2010 server in a Dynamics 365 for Customer Engagement List view (look and feel of Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (on-premises)).

• Automatic creation of the document locations on the SharePoint Server server.

  You can download and install the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 List Component for SharePoint Server 2010 and SharePoint Server 2013. To install this component, you must have SharePoint Server site collection administrator privileges on the target SharePoint server.

  There are two versions of the Microsoft Dynamics CRM List Component:

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM List Component for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010 : This version only works with SharePoint 2010.

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM List Component for Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 : This version only works with SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online.

  For more information about installing the component, see Configure SharePoint integration using the list component

See also

Integrate SharePoint with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (on-premises)
Enable SharePoint Integration for Entities
Actions on SharePoint Location Records
Define custom claim mapping for SharePoint server-based integration