How to Customize Managed Views in Dynamics 365 That Do Not Support Direct Customization

 In Dynamics 365, managed solutions often lock certain components, including views, which restricts direct customization. However, if you need to modify these views to meet specific business requirements, there is a workaround using XRMToolBox, a powerful third-party tool. This article will guide you through the process of duplicating and customizing a managed view that does not support direct customization.

Step 1: Open XRMToolBox

First, you need XRMToolBox installed on your machine. Once installed:

• Launch XRMToolBox.
• Connect to your Dynamics 365 environment using your credentials.

Step 2: Open the "View Designer" Tool

• In XRMToolBox, navigate to the tool list.
• Open the tool named "View Designer". This tool allows you to interact with the views in your Dynamics 365 environment.
  

Step 3: Open the Managed View

• Within the View Designer, locate and open the managed view you want to customize.
• Managed views are typically not editable, but you can view and copy their configurations.
• If you get error alert, just ignore and continue.
  

Step 4: Copy FetchXML Content

• Click on the "Edit Query" button within the View Designer for the managed view.
  
• A popup window will appear, displaying the FetchXML of the managed view. Copy all the FetchXML content from this window.
  

  
  
  

Step 5: Create a Custom View

• Navigate to System Customizations in Dynamics 365, or open a specific solution where you want the new custom view to reside.
• Create a new view.

Step 6: Open the New Custom View in View Designer

• Return to XRMToolBox and open your newly created custom view in the "View Designer".
• Click on the "Edit Query" button.

Step 7: Paste the Copied FetchXML

• In the FetchXML Builder window that opens, paste the FetchXML content you copied from the managed view.
• This action duplicates the query of the managed view into your custom view.

Step 8: Save and Publish Your Custom View

• Make any necessary adjustments to the FetchXML if needed.
• Save your changes and then publish the view directly from XRMToolBox or through Dynamics 365.
  

Final Step: Customize Your New Custom View

Now that you have duplicated the managed view into a custom view, you can proceed with customizing it according to your requirements. This can include adding or removing columns, changing sorting options, or applying different filters.

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can effectively bypass the limitations of managed views in Dynamics 365. This method allows you to leverage existing configurations while gaining the flexibility to meet specific business needs through further customization. This approach is particularly useful for organizations that need to adapt managed solutions to evolving business processes without waiting for solution updates from the vendor.