1) You need to call the web service with a pre-event plugin. That way you'll ensure that the validation is run even if the form isn't opened. Javascript validation is fine for some purposes, but will only execute when the form is opened in the browser.
2) You need to pass the configuration parameters as an unsecure xml configuration string when you register the assembly in the plugin registration tool. That way you can use a different config for dev and prod, without the need to make changes to the code.
This class will make it easy to retrieve the configuration at runtime in your plugin:
class PluginConfiguration
{
private static string GetValueNode(XmlDocument doc, string key)
{
XmlNode node = doc.SelectSingleNode(String.Format("Settings/setting[@name='{0}']", key));
if (node != null)
{
return node.SelectSingleNode("value").InnerText;
}
return string.Empty;
}
public static Guid GetConfigDataGuid(XmlDocument doc, string label)
{
string tempString = GetValueNode(doc, label);
if (tempString != string.Empty)
{
return new Guid(tempString);
}
return Guid.Empty;
}
public static bool GetConfigDataBool(XmlDocument doc, string label)
{
bool retVar;
if (bool.TryParse(GetValueNode(doc, label), out retVar))
{
return retVar;
}
return false;
}
public static int GetConfigDataInt(XmlDocument doc, string label)
{
int retVar;
if (int.TryParse(GetValueNode(doc, label), out retVar))
{
return retVar;
}
return -1;
}
public static string GetConfigDataString(XmlDocument doc, string label)
{
return GetValueNode(doc, label);
}
}
To use it, add the following constructor to your plugin class:
public YourPluginAssemblyConstructor(string unsecureConfig, string secureConfig)
{
ConfigXml = new XmlDocument();
ConfigXml.LoadXml(unsecureConfig);
}
This loads the config from the database. To retrieve the settings at run time, use the following code:
string configValue= PluginConfiguration.GetConfigDataString(ConfigXml, "YourConfigValue");
Finally, you need to build your xml config document which you register along with the plugin:
<Settings>
<setting name="YourConfigValue">
<value>blahblablah</value>
</setting>
</Settings>
You patse the xml into the textbox labeled "Unsecure configuration" in the Plugin registration tool
CRM 2011 Plug-in: how to call third party web service from within the plug-in
