Understanding terminologies related to Business - Part 2

Workflow Vs. Plug-in - MSCRM

Workflow Defined:
A workflow can be defined as sets of logical rules that define the steps necessary to automate specific business processes, tasks or sets of actions to be performed on Microsoft Dynamics CRM records.

Main characteristics of workflows are:

• Workflows can be created via CRM user interface without using any code
• Workflows can be run manually or automatically. The automatic running of workflows is based on several data modification events.
• They always run asynchronously.
• Workflow rules are entity specific.
• The state and stage of a workflow instance can be viewed within the CRM user interface by any CRM user with appropriate permissions.
• Workflows are meant to orchestrate a "long" running process that consists of several steps.
• Workflows can be imported and exported from one system to another.

Plug-in Defined
A plug-in is .Net code that is registered on the CRM server. A plug-in assembly can be registered for one or more steps – these steps correspond to the combination of the message (event), entity and stage.An example of a step would be creating message for the account entity on the pre-event stage. Registration of the assembly and steps is part of the plug-in deployment process and there is no direct user interaction with plug-in. 

Main characteristics of plug-ins are: 

• Plug-ins have to be written as .Net code.  
• They have to be registered in CRM via tools in the SDK.(Software Develpment Kit) 
• They cannot run manually. 
• Plug-in can run on more events than can workflow rules. An example is that a plug-in can run on data retrieval and not just modification events. 
• They can run either synchronously or asynchronously. 
• Plug-ins are meant for more granular operations. 
• Plug-ins can neither be imported nor exported.

The Awesome Duo :)

Expressions/Thoughts

In the abyss of darkness, I see streaks of light flickering at a distance from my window. Right now, sleep seems to have taken a back seat from my eyes. I have somehow noticed – rain and particularly silence around me gives me a motivation to analyze and think about the intricacy of life. They are some how stimulants for my writing. Air in the room is fresh and there is a relief from the scorching heat of the sun. I can hear a melancholy of silence being fused with the rattling of wheels of the train passing through tracks at a far of place. I see absolute blackness in the sky and when I look at it from my window I get mesmerized with the stars and moon. Far in the sky, I can see a solitary star twinkling by itself in the limitless sky - secluded, speechless and I some how know that star belongs to me and is talking to me.

It’s trying to prove its essence in the world. But it cannot articulate or express its thoughts like us. Its sheer presence in itself is its expression. Whereas we can express but we don't use our faculties when we really should. Many a times it so happens that what we think we fail to articulate the thought to other person(s). I can understand how important expressions/thoughts are for human beings only if they are/were understood well by people. - Life would have been much easier. :)