Phil Edry’s Dynamics CRM Blog

Here’s yet another link to a post I wrote for Altriva Solutions’ blog. Intro:

Here’s a quick gotcha I saw on the CRM Forums. When configuring the CRM Client for Outlook, you enter http://servername:port/ORGNAME in the Internet address field and you get a cryptic error stating “Mandatory updates for Microsoft Dynamics CRM could not be applied successfully. Try running the application again.”

Read more…

To follow up on my last post, MB2-634 Extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Has Released, I’ve finally gotten around to taking the exam — and I passed! I’d be happy to answer any questions about the exam within the limits of the exam non-disclosure agreement.

To prepare for the exam, I read through the Microsoft eLearning Course 8969 materials a couple of times the day before the exam and then just took it. I believe that you can access the course materials for free if you have a support contract with Microsoft, or you can pay $35 (until June 30, 2009) and buy the materials. The course material on the whole was pretty good. I think the topics covered were mostly applicable to real life. I’m not sure if I was working with an early release of the documentation or what, but my biggest complaint was that the grammar and typos were pretty horrendous in some sections. But whatever, that stuff isn’t important if the material is good.

My day-to-day work involves the material covered in this exam, so that’s probably why I got by on so little preparation. Microsoft’s MB2-634 Exam summary lists the topics covered in the exam. Of the topics covered, I found “Deployment Considerations” to be a pretty big part of the exam when considering how your extensions will work in the offline client. “Licensing Requirements” was a topic I forgot to study for, so be sure to read up on those.

All in all, I’d say this was my favorite exam since it was the most “real world” of the four MS CRM certs. I didn’t take the 3.0 version of this exam, so I can’t compare the two.

Don’t forget your Second Shot! I wouldn’t have taken such a chance with my limited studying if I didn’t have that safety net.

Phil

To follow up on a previous post regarding the release date for the Extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 exam, Mb2-634 has finally released! Microsoft Learning has a study guide out: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/Exams/MB2-634.aspx and you can register for the test at the Prometric site.

Be sure to register for the Second Shot voucher before you register for the exam. They now offer 25% off of your next exam in addition to a free retake.

Apologies for the long break in posts, but wedding planning can be rather time consuming! I’m now back from my honeymoon and ready to get back to work. I hope to take the new exam soon and ramp up on the new Accelerators for CRM. Meno has a good post with links to how to get started.

Lastly, I’d like to point out a quality CRM blog from my friend Tim Dutcher: Takin’ care of business… with Dynamics CRM 4.0. His CRM 4.0 Quick Reference is nice to have near your phone when discussing CRM with clients.

-Phil

Trika just posted that everyone’s favorite Second Shot offer is back! Register for Second Shot and breathe easier. If you have problems getting your Second Shot voucher to work, read Trika’s entry or go here. Go get certified!

For those of your new to Microsoft Certification, Second Shot allows you to take any Microsoft exam again if you fail it the first time. For any exam, I suggest moderate studying, registering for the exam with Second Shot, and using the first shot at the exam as a practice test if you don’t pass.

According to an email I just received from “Microsoft Dynamics Training & Certification” (mbs-cert@microsoft.com), Extending MS CRM 4.0 should come out 8/30/08. Who among us will brave taking the exam on day one? Will this exam be more like the installation and customization exams, or more like the much-disliked applications exam? Tune in come September — same Bat-BLOG, same Bat-Blogger! (Man, am I dying to see The Dark Knight…)

Image from Flickr, Creative-Commons 

UPDATE:  “The release date for Extending Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM 4.0 has been revised and set as 10/16/08. Please keep in mind that this is still tentative and subject to change. We recommend checking with your testing center after 10/16/08 to verify the test is being offered.”

Also, The Dark Knight was awesome at the local IMAX.

Some folks have posted on this blog about using pass4sure to help them pass the CRM 4.0 Applications Exam (MB2-631). Everything I’ve heard about the Applications Exam is that it’s very difficult to pass not because the material is difficult, but because the test is poorly written. I cannot verify this first hand since I’ve yet to take the exam myself. Given an unjust exam, I could understand why folks would be looking for a brain dump.

I did a bit of research on pass4sure, and according to CertGUARD, using pass4sure to pass a test is illegal and could get you “decertified,” whatever that entails. So if it really is illegal, which it appears to be, let’s try to keep brain-dump-related content out of the comments from now on. If you’re upset about the exam, drop Microsoft an email asking them to revise it. Folks over there want the tests to be fair, so let your voice be heard if you feel it’s unfair.

Did this sneak up on anyone else? 

“Registration for the Second Shot offer has expired. However, if you registered for exam vouchers prior to May 31, 2008, you can use the vouchers for a second shot at any IT professional, developer, project manager, or Microsoft Dynamics certification exam through June 30, 2008.”

I guess I’ll have to study extra hard for the customization exam to try and pass it on my first shot!

 -p

I put in about four hours of quality time with the courseware and got nine more questions right than last time for a score of 72%, which was cutting it a bit close for my comfort.

When I clicked “End Test,” I thought I was comfortably in the mid-80’s, so this leads me to believe that some of the questions are trickier than they seem. My advice would be to study the courseware a little harder than you think you need to pass.

Given the comments on my last post, I think I’ll move onto the Customization exam before attempting the Applications exam.

But first, I’m off to Italy for a wedding. See everyone in two weeks!

-p

To follow up on my last post, New CRM 4.0 Certification Exams Available Tomorrow …

I just took the 30-633: Installation and Deployment for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (AKA MB2-633) exam. I studied the implementation guide for about five mintues and just walked right up and took it. I got a 54%, 16 points off of passing. Thanks to Second Shot, this served as a good practice exam. So, be advised, this exam takes more than five mintues of studying!

I noticed very few questions in common with the 3.0 installation exam. I’d say the exam focussed on features and gotchas new to 4.0.

So since I got 27 out of 50 questions correct, and I need 8 more to pass, I’d say picking up the Microsoft E-Learning materials and going through all of the practice questions should get me over 70% next time.

I’ll write again when I take my Second Shot.

-p

According to PartnerSource, the following CRM 4.0 exams release tomorrow: 

Don’t forget to get a Second Shot voucher before you register for the exam. My plan is to take the exams without much studying, and then retake them if necessary. I’m already 3.0 certified, and I took the beta training at Microsoft on 30-631 and 30-633, so who knows, I might pass the first time. I’ll write back with how I do.

The tests are listed as MB2-631, MB2-632, and MB2-633 on the Prometric website.

Thanks to Menno te Koppele for pointing it out: http://www.tekoppele.com/Blog/post/2008/04/Get-certified!.aspx