Custom Links – Using Skype for Business from within Dynamics GP

As part of a Custom Link blog series (which can be found here), we will discuss adding custom links to specific areas in Dynamics GP.

Creating Custom Links in conjunction with Skype for Business

Yes, you read that correctly… Do you use Skype for Business and Dynamics GP? Do you want to have links that automatically open up chat windows or place phone calls?
Yes, you can!! Let’s take a look at this together!

Using Skype Protocols with Custom Links

In earlier blogs in this series, we have setup custom links to images, websites, local files and launch your email client and start an email!
While working on this Custom Links blog series, a light bulb went off! What if I used protocols in the links – would that work? YES IT SURE DOES!!!
This is not development… this is right out of the box functionality.
Launching Skype for Business from Custom Links is VERY simple. I will show two examples – one for making calls, and the other for opening chat windows.

Launching Phone calls with Skype for Business and Dynamics GP

Where would this be helpful? How about if you want to easily call a Vendor to track a shipment of a PO? There are other good examples but we will use that one for this blog.
Simply create a new custom link (following previous blog posts in this series) for Vendors. Before doing so, add the data we need to the Internet Information window. Let’s use the field User Defined 1. This will be our placeholder for the Skype call information. The value for the link would be tel:+10123456789 (That is the country code then the #).

If your machine is not set with Skype for Business as the default for the ‘tel’ protocol, you will be prompted to select the application. Once we have that set on the vendor, just add the field to a new custom link setup (using the appropriate address type as described in previous posts).

That’s it!! Really? Yes!! Let’s launch a PO for the this Vendor and take a look.

When we click the link, Skype for Business will open and prepare the call for you! AWESOME!!!

Launching chat windows with Skype for Business and Dynamics GP

Where would this be helpful? How about if you want to easily chat with an employee while you are working on their paycheck? There are other good examples but we will use that one for this blog.
Simply create a new custom link (following previous blog posts in this series) for Employees. Before doing so, add the data we need to the Internet Information window. Let’s use the field User Defined 1. This will be our placeholder for the Skype chat information. The values for the link would be SIP:<username@domain.com>?chat

If your machine is not set with Skype for Business as the default for the ‘SIP’ protocol, you will be prompted to select the application. Once we have that set on the employee, just add the field to a new custom link setup (using the appropriate address type as described in previous posts).

Now let’s open a window and check the employee links:

When we click the link, Skype for Business will open with the chat window ready to connect to that employee directly! IT’S MAGIC BABY!!!!

Not too bad right?!?!?! What custom link ‘hacks’ do you have up your sleeve? Post your comments below!
Be sure to check out the series main page for links and examples of creating custom links for other areas of Dynamics GP!
Thanks for reading!
Shawn