2. Go to Settings > Solutions. (How do I get there?)
3. On the Actions toolbar, choose the New icon .
4. Complete the required fields, and then on the File menu, choose Save.
By default, this saves an unmanaged solution.
5. To add a new or existing component to your solution, in the Component Type list, choose the type you want to add, and then choose New or Add Existing.
6. If you create a new component, fill in the required information, and then choose Save or
OK (depending on the type of component you are creating) to save the component.
7. On the File menu, choose Save and Close
Your new unmanaged solution displays in the Solutions list.
8. Choose the solution you want to export.
9. Select the options you want in the Export wizard. When you get to the Package Type page, select Managed.
10. Choose Export.
11. In the File Download dialog box, choose Save, choose a location for the solution .zip or
.cab file, and then choose Save again.
Note
The regular scenario is for you to create a solution in a test Microsoft Dynamics
CRM organization, export it, and then import it into a production Microsoft
Dynamics CRM organization. If you want to import your managed solution into the same organization in which you created and exported it, you have to delete the unmanaged version and any components you created. You also have to delete child components, such as field relationships, that you created.
You now have a managed solution that you can import into another Microsoft Dynamics CRM organization.
See Also
TechNet: Create, Install, and Update a Managed Solution
Import a solution
To learn how to import solutions, see TechNet: Use solutions for your customizations .
Export your customizations as a solution
If you want to export customizations you make to a Microsoft Dynamics CRM system, you export those customizations as a solution. For example, you might want to create a backup of all your customizations in case anything happens. To create a backup of your customizations, you export a special solution called the Default Solution. The Default Solution contains all the components in your system.
You might also want to export a solution if you’re an ISV and you want to distribute CRM customizations as a package.
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Export the Default Solution to create a backup
1. Make sure you have the System Administrator security role or equivalent permissions in
Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Check your security role
a. Follow the steps in View your user profile .
b.
Don’t have the correct permissions? Contact your system administrator.
2. Go to Settings > Customizations. (How do I get there?)
3. Choose Customize the System.
4. In the solution explorer, choose Export Solution.
5.
When you’re prompted to open or save Default_1_0.zip, choose Save.
Important
Some user information may be exported when exporting workflows, for example, the domain logon, the forms authentication user name, or the Microsoft account unique user identifier (PUID) value.
Export a solution to create a custom package
1. Make sure you have the System Administrator security role or equivalent permissions in
Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
Check your security role
a. Follow the steps in View your user profile .
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b.
Don’t have the correct permissions? Contact your system administrator.
2. Go to Settings > Solutions. (How do I get there?)
3. In the list, select the solution you want to export, and then choose Export.
4. In the Publish Customizations step of the Export Solution wizard, you have the option to Publish All Customizations. Note that only published customizations are exported.
When you’re ready to proceed, choose Next.
Note
Installing a solution or publishing customizations can interfere with normal system operation. We recommend that you publish customizations when it’s least disruptive to users.
5.
If your solution contains any missing components that are required, you’ll see the
Missing Required Components step. Disregard this warning only if you intend to import the solution as an unmanaged solution back into the original organization. Otherwise, follow the instructions in the dialog box to cancel the export, and then add the required components. Read more about managed and unmanaged solutions .
6. In the Export System Settings (Advanced) step, you can choose certain system settings to include in your solution. If your solution depends on any of the groups of system settings, select them, and then choose Next. For more information on these settings, see Settings options for solution export .
7. In the Package Type step, choose whether to export the solution as an Unmanaged or
Managed solution, and then choose Next.
Note
Export a solution as a managed solution only when it’s complete and you’re ready to distribute it. After exporting a managed solution, you can’t import it back into the organization it was exported from; you can only import it into a different organization. Read more about managed and unmanaged solutions .
8. In the Source CRM Version step, select the CRM version you want to export to. For example, you might want to test a solution that you intend to distribute to organizations using an earlier version of CRM. Note that if you install Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013
Service Pack 1 (SP1) (version 6.1), and you choose version 6.0 as the target for your solution export, solution components dependent on features added in Microsoft
Dynamics CRM 2013 Service Pack 1 (SP1) will be removed. Learn more about exporting a solution for a specific CRM version .
9. Choose Export to download the solution file.
10. When prompted to open or save the compressed (.zip) file, choose Save As.
11. Choose a location to save your solution, and then choose Save.
Important
Don’t add files to a compressed (.zip) file that contains customizations and settings exported from Microsoft Dynamics CRM. CRM will attempt to import the first file in the compressed
(.zip) file. If it’s not a valid file, the import will fail.
Some user information may be exported when exporting workflows, for example, the domain logon, the forms authentication user name, or the Microsoft account unique user identifier
(PUID) value.
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