2011 Administrator’s Guide Copyright

Work with Relationship Roles

Relationship Roles Dialog Box

Can I do this task?

This task requires the System Administrator or System Customizer security role or equivalent permissions. Customization tasks can be performed only while you are online. More information: Customization Permissions

Relationship roles represent standard labels that can be used to identify relationships that exist between accounts, contacts, and opportunities.

1. 
   In the Navigation Pane, click Settings, click Business Management, and then click Relationship Roles.
   
2. 
   On the Actions toolbar, click New. In the Role Name box, enter a name for the relationship role.
   

Double-click the Relationship Role you want to edit.

3. 
   In the Role Availability section, select the check boxes in the table that specify in which entities the relationship role will be available, and to which entities the relationship role can be related. These relationships determine in which records the new relationship role will appear.
   
4. 
   Click Save or Save and Close.
   

If you need to back up relationship roles, or export them for use in a different implementation of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, you can export them as part of exporting customizations.

To create a standard label called "Business Decision Maker" that can be used to add a relationship for a contact to either an account or an opportunity, select the Account and Opportunity check boxes in the Contact Role for option.

Related Topics Work with Relationship Roles 29 Managing Relationship Roles 28

This task requires the System Administrator or System Customizer security role or equivalent permissions. Customization tasks can be performed only while you are online. More information: Customization Permissions

When you create a relationship role, it is automatically activated and ready to use to define relationships between account, opportunity, and contact records. You cannot delete a relationship role, but you can deactivate it and make it unavailable for defining relationships. If you deactivate a relationship role, the records linked with a relationship based on that relationship role remain linked.

1. 
   In the Navigation Pane, click Settings, click Business Management, and then click Relationship Roles.
   
2. 
   In the list of records, select the relationship role or roles you want to activate or deactivate.
   
3. 
   To activate or deactivate a relationship role, do the following:
   

• 
  On the Actions menu, click Activate to activate a deactivated relationship role.
  
• 
  On the Actions menu, click Deactivate to deactivate an active relationship role.
  

4. 
   In the confirmation message, click OK.
   

• 
  In the View list, you can select specific filtered lists of relationship roles that you can activate or deactivate. All Active Relationship Roles lists only active relationship roles, and All Inactive Relationship Roles lists only deactivated relationship roles. Other views can list both active and deactivated relationship roles.
  
• 
  You can also activate or deactivate a relationship role from the Actions menu on the Relationship Role form.
  

Related Topics Managing Relationship Roles 28 Relationship Roles Dialog Box Error: Reference source not found Work with Relationship Roles 29

Customer Relationship Form

Can I do this task?

This task requires permissions that are found in all default security roles. More information about specific permissions and performing this task while offline: Sales Permissions

In Microsoft Dynamics CRM, you can create relationships between one customer record and one or more other records. These relationships are defined by their relationship role. The relationship that you set up is based on your selection on the Customer Relationship form.

1. 
   In the Navigation Pane, click Sales, and then click either Accounts or Contacts.
   
2. 
   In the list of accounts or contacts, open the record that you want.
   
3. 
   In the record, click the Add tab.
   
4. 
   In the Create Relationship group, click Relationship, and then select, Customer Relationship.
   
5. 
   On the Customer Relationship form, enter information in the following boxes:
   

• 
  Party 1
  

• 
  However, you can click the Lookup button to search for and select a different account or contact record. If you do so, the new relationship that you set up will not appear in the customer record that you originally opened.
  
• 
  Party 2
  

• 
  Role 1
  

Your organization might set up relationship roles, to indicate the role of your customers as they relate to your business. This field is not required.

If there are no relationship roles in the list or the relationship role you want is not listed, contact your system administrator and ask them to add the relationship role to the Relationship Roles area, which is located in the Settings area.

• 
  Description 1
  

• 
  Role 2
  

For example, if you selected Supplier from Role 1, you might select Retailer from Role 2.

• 
  Description 2
  

6. 
   Click Save or Save and Close.
   
7. 
   Close the account or contact record.
   

You cannot create duplicate relationships between records. For example, if there is already a relationship between the account Fabrikam, Inc, with the role of distributor, and the account, Litware, Inc, with the role of seller, you cannot create the same relationship between the records.

To remove a relationship, open the account or contact, and then in the Navigation Pane, under Common, click Relationships. In the list of relationships, select the relationship that you want to delete, and then on the Actions toolbar, click the Delete button . Deleting the relationship does not delete the customer records.

Related Topics Work with Relationship Roles 29 Managing Relationship Roles 28