How to use MS CRM 2011 Webservices in iOS?

Question

I would like to create an iPad app for MS Dynamics CRM 2011. We have a CRM system which you can log in anywhere in the world with AD username and password.

I know CRM comes with Discovery service, Organization Service and OData Service. But I don't know how I would use those services? I'd like to know how I should authenticate the user?

Here is a sample code that I have found but doesn't work.:(

NSString *username = @"domain/username";
NSString *password = @"password";
NSString *loginURL = @"http://server/OrgName/XRMServices/2011/OrganizationData.svc/";

NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString:loginURL];

NSString *JSONString = [NSString stringWithFormat:@"{\"user id\":\"%@\",\"password\":\"%@\"}", username, password];

NSData *JSONBody = [JSONString dataUsingEncoding:NSUTF8StringEncoding];

NSMutableURLRequest *loginRequest = [[NSMutableURLRequest alloc] initWithURL:url];
loginRequest.HTTPMethod = @"POST";
loginRequest.HTTPBody = JSONBody;

NSOperationQueue *queue = [NSOperationQueue new];

[NSURLConnection sendAsynchronousRequest:loginRequest
                 queue:queue
                 completionHandler:^(NSURLResponse *response, NSData *data, 
                                     NSError *error){

                                   // Manage the response here.
                                    [self fetchedData:data];
                                   NSLog(@"error:%@", error);
                                   NSLog(@"response:%@", response);}];
    }

Thanks for your help.

Jason Koopmans Jason Koopmans · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-16T18:33:48

Most implementations and products I have seen use a mediation server or service to proxy calls into CRM. The REST service available is OK for general CRUD operations, but does lack features that the other SDKs provide.

Advantages:

Implement a SDK that better favors the clients you want to support
You get the full complement of features available in any of the CRM SDKs

Disadvantages:

It can be a lot of work.

If its essential to connect directly from client to CRM installation. Consider accessing the OData source via a browser while capturing the traffic with either a local proxy or the browser's DEV tools. Write code that creates those same web requests. Theoretically, this is as safe as using a browser to access CRM. Use appropriate means to encrypt, mask, and obscure your traffic.

There are other alternatives that I have not experienced personally. I can offer them for research but can't speak confidently about them.

MSDN: CRM 2011 REST Service Documentation

MSDN: CRM 2011 SDK Overview

How to use MS CRM 2011 Webservices in iOS?

2 Answers