annotation — Attaching Files

Annotation objects allow you to insert an attached file into Dynamics 365.

To Insert File Attachments

If your source data contains a reference to an attachment as a path to a filename, create a data link from that source field to the virtual field vfAttachmentFileName.
If the attachment is stored in the source in binary format, create the following data links:
- One link between the source field that contains the filename, without the pathname, and vfAttachmentFileName.
- A second link between the source field that contains the body of the attachment and, depending on how the source document is encoded, either the vfAttachment or vfAttachmentBase64 virtual field

Error Using Annotation Entity As A Source With Dynamics CRM 4.x

With Dynamics CRM Adapter version 5.4 and earlier versions, creating or editing a DTS file using the Annotation entity from a Dynamics CRM v4.x source connection generates one or both of the following errors:

Error opening data object annotation

An item with the same key has already been added

This error occurs only for Dynamics CRM 4.x connections when Single Data Object is selected for this connection from the Configure Source dialog box. With earlier versions of the Adapter for Dynamics CRM, you can bypass the error messages, save the DTS file, and run it from the Workbench. When using the Adapter for Dynamics CRM Version 5.4, you cannot save the DTS file when using the Annotation entity.

Moreover, if you use this DTS file as is in an integration process, it generates the same errors and becomes unusable for that IP for both versions 5.3 and 5.4 of the Adapter.

Resolution

You can configure the same source entity for a Dynamics CRM 4.x connection using Custom Query instead of the Single Data Object. In this case, you can save and run the DTS file without errors either via the Workbench or within an integration process.

Note: Note: This is only an issue for Dynamics CRM 4.x connections. When using Dynamics CRM 2011, you can use the Annotation source entity.