MSCRM 4.0 Documentation Generator (Excel Add-in), perfect for the CRM Consultant’s Toolbox

Once in a blue moon you’ll find the perfect tool for the job, and this is one of them.  On Microsoft’s open source CodePlex site is the MSCRM 4.0 Documentation Generator, an Excel 2007 add-in that will automatically generate documentation for the CRM 4.0 entities, fields, picklist values and JavaScripts you’ve developed.

This tool will save countless hours of documentation time, and will keep you focused on the real creative development and customization efforts that directly benefit your clients.

The resources you’ll need to get going:

• Download the MSCRM 4.0 Documentation Generator (link to CodePlex download site).
  
• Export the Customizations file (either ZIP or XML) from your Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 deployment.
• Microsoft Office Excel 2007
• Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for the Microsoft Office system (version 3.0 Runtime)
  • This installation is provided in the setup of this tool, but you can also download it directly at this link.
    

As an alternative tool for generating CRM 4.0 Documentation, be sure to check out the CRM 4.o Form Reporter (direct link to the CodePlex site).

Full instructions from the CodePlex site below.

Installation
The add-in will run on Office 2007 Excel (with Visual Studio Tools for Office (3.0)).
Extract the installation files and run Setup.exe – it will attempt to install any prerequisites.
Once the setup completes, Start Excel.
The first time Excel runs with the add-in, you will be presented with a customization installation message – choose “Install.”

Usage
Open the Add-Ins ribbon, press the load button to load your XML, then press the “Forms” button.
Once you’ve created a “Forms” documentation spreadsheet, open a new blank spreadsheet and click the “Scripts” button, and then repeat with the “Picklists” button.

Many thanks to CustomerEffective’s Scott Sewell (and Merijn van Mourik) for sharing this thing of beauty.