Microsoft Office 2003 Not Supported in Next Major Release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Orion)

Colin Maitland, 23 June 2013

In a recent update from Microsoft regarding the next major release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM (known as Orion), Microsoft have advised that Microsoft Office 2003 will no longer be supported. Refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dn265924.aspx. 

This brings the Microsoft Dynamics CRM support for Microsoft Office 2003 into alignment with the Microsoft Support Lifecycle for Microsoft Office 2003. In the following article, http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?p1=2488, the Extended Support End Date for Microsoft Office 2003 is 8/04/2014 ; i.e. April 2014. 

Currently, Microsoft Office 2003 SP3 is supported for use with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook Client.  Microsoft Office 2010 and Microsoft Office 2013 are also supported for use with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 for Outlook Client. However, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Update Rollup 12 or later are required for full compatibility with Microsoft Office 2013. Refer to http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh699818.aspx. 

Microsoft Dynamics CRM integrates with Microsoft Office in the following areas: 

• Export to Excel

• Mail Merge

 

• Mail Merge Templates
 

 

• Data Import Wizard (i.e. Supported File Types for Data Import and Template for Data Import include XML Spreadsheet 2003 format).
 

 

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Outlook Client
 

 

The following is a brief summary of some of the functionality provided in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Outlook Client. 

• CRM Ribbon Bar:

The CRM Ribbon Bar provides the actions to Schedule Activities and Appointments, Create Records, Synchronise with CRM, Go Offline and Advanced Find.

• For E-mails, Contacts, Appointments and Tasks: Track in CRM and Set Regarding

 

• For Tracked Appointments and Tasks: Convert to Opportunity, or Case

 

• For Tracked E-mails: Convert to Opportunity, Lead, or Case

 

• For Tracked E-mails, Contacts, Appointments and Tasks: Add Connection

 

• For Tracked E-mails, Contacts, Appointments and Tasks: View in CRM

• For Tracked E-mails, Contacts, Appointments and Tasks: Microsoft Dynamics CRM Pane

 

• For Tracked Contacts:  Set Parent and View Parent

   

• For New E-mail Messages: Insert Template, Insert Article and Attach Sales Literature.
 

 

• For Microsoft Dynamics CRM Client with Offline Access: Offline Mode

 

• Address Book. Selected types of E-mail enabled entities in Microsoft Dynamics CRM can be accessed via the Address Book in Microsoft Outlook.
 

In conclusion, it is important when planning a new implementation, or an upgrade, to the next major release of Microsoft Dynamics CRM (Orion) that you review and consider the versions of Microsoft Office that are supported and the versions of Microsoft Office that you are using in your organisation.