How to Enable Plugin Trace Log in MS Dynamics 365 CRM

Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM is a powerful tool that helps businesses streamline their sales, marketing, and customer service processes. One of its key features is the ability to create custom plugins that extend its functionality and automate various business processes. To ensure smooth plugin development and debugging, it is important to enable Plugin Trace Log. This article will guide you through the process of enabling Plugin Trace Log in MS Dynamics 365 CRM.

Step-by-Step Guide to Enable Plugin Trace Log

1. Navigate to Settings:
   • Open your Dynamics 365 CRM.
   • Go to the Settings area.
     
     
2. Select Administration:
   • In the Settings area, click on Administration.
     
     
3. Open System Settings:
   • Click on System Settings.
     
     
4. Access Customization Tab:
   • In the System Settings window, select the Customization tab.
     
     
     
     
5. Enable Plugin Trace Log:
   • Under the Customization tab, find the section for Plugin and Custom Workflow Activity Tracing.
   • Set the Enable logging to plug-in trace log option to All or Exception.
     • All: Logs all plugin operations.
     • Exception: Logs only those operations that encounter exceptions.
       
       
6. Save Settings:
   • Click OK to save your changes.

Verifying the Plugin Trace Log

Once you’ve enabled the Plugin Trace Log, you can verify and view the logs as follows:

1. Go to Settings:
   • Return to the Settings area.
     
     
2. Select Plug-in Trace Log:
   • Click on Plug-in Trace Log under the Customization section.
     
     
3. View Logs:
   • Here, you can view the trace logs for all the plugin executions. The logs will contain detailed information about the plugin execution, including the message, stack trace, and other relevant details.

Best Practices

Clear Logs: Periodically clear old logs to keep the log size manageable.

Monitor Regularly: Regularly check the Plugin Trace Log to catch issues early.

Set to Exception: For production environments, it’s usually best to set the logging level to Exception to avoid performance overhead.

Enabling Plugin Trace Log in MS Dynamics 365 CRM is a crucial step for effective plugin development and debugging. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily enable Plugin Trace Log and set the desired trace level to gain insights into your custom plugins’ behavior. With this valuable debugging tool, you can identify and resolve issues efficiently, ensuring a smooth and optimized CRM experience for your organization. Happy CRM customization and debugging!