Pre-Filtering in CRM

CRM Pre-Filtering is a very useful option that can be enabled on CRM reports to make them context sensitive and to allow the report to be filtered using the Advanced Find functionality.  Although this is a great feature, it is often an area that is not fully understood which can lead to someone encountering unexpected results.

There are 2 ways to enable the CRM Pre-Filtering functionality. The easiest option is the CRMAF_ method which simply requires aliasing the filtered views with a name that starts with “CRMAF_”.   A query such as “Select name from FilteredAccount” can simply be changed to “Select name from FilteredAccount as CRMAF_Account”.  Aliasing the Filtered View with a prefix of CRMAF_ will allow CRM to recognize that you would like to enable this entity for pre-filtering.

When you enable the CRM Pre-filtering functionality using the CRMAF_ method, CRM will take a query such as the following and modify it when it is uploaded into CRM:

SELECT name, accountnumber 
FROM FilteredAccount as CRMAF_Account

http://www.powerobjects.com/2012/05/31/microsoft-dynamics-crm-pre-filtering-for-crm-reporting/

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/crm/2009/03/06/microsoft-dynamics-crm-pre-filtering-tips/