Programatically retreive an attachment stored on a note on a CRM 4.0 entity

Question

Hi

How would you suggest working with files that is stored on the note of a entity in Crm. Could you write a generic method that will enable you to access any type of file? Or would it be better to have a method for dealing with each type of file?

For example, we are going to be saving a mix of swf files and xml files on the entity, so would it make sense to have a method each for example:

• GetXmlFilesOnAccount(accountid)
• GetSwfFilesOnAccount(accountid)

Thanks Rihan

Answer 1

When you upload an attachment to CRM the mimetype is also saved as part of the record information. The following link contains a nice example of how to download the attachemt using a single method. http://crmscape.blogspot.com/2009/10/ms-crm-40-sending-attachments-to.html

The post is missing the actual query needed to retrieve the annotations but you can tell what columns are required from the method signature.

Answer 2

My suggestion using your methods:

* GetXmlFilesOnAccount(accountid)
* GetSwfFilesOnAccount(accountid)

1. Retrieve account activitypointers by regardingobjectid(in your case accountid guid)
2. Loop through returned activitypointers
3. Get attachments for each activitypointer (activitypointer.activityid = activitymimeattachment.activityid)
4. Store attachments (disk, etc)

You don't even need two methods. You can retrieve all attachment file types for a given note (annotation) with a single method.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Hi, To be able to download attachments without having to open windows or write custom code, consider using the Quick Attachment download at: http://www.auraaddons.com/AttachmentQuickDownload.aspx