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Define ribbon display rules

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Note

This topic is about classic commands.

There is a new way to define commands. See Modern commanding overview (preview).

When configuring ribbon elements, you can define specific rules to control when the ribbon elements will display.

  • Use the /RuleDefinitions/DisplayRules/<DisplayRule> element to define rules controlling when the ribbon element should be displayed.
  • Use the /CommandDefinitions/CommandDefinition/DisplayRules/<DisplayRule> element to associate specific display rules to a command definition.

Control when ribbon elements are displayed

By defining display rules in rule definitions, you can use the same display rule for many command definitions. When more than one display rule is defined for a command definition, all of the display rules must evaluate as true for the ribbon element to be displayed.

All display rules provide an optional parameter to specify whether the default value of the rule is true or false and an optional InvertResult parameter to enable returning a negative result when the item being tested returns true.

The /RuleDefinitions/DisplayRules/DisplayRule element supports the following types of rules:

<CommandClientTypeRule>

Specifies a rule that detects the type of presentation being used.

The Type values correspond to the following:

Value Presentation
Modern The command bar is presented using Dynamics 365 for tablets.
Refresh The command bar is presented using the updated user interface.
Legacy The ribbon is presented in forms for tables that were not updated or in a list view in Dynamics 365 for Outlook.

<CrmClientTypeRule>

Allows definition of rules depending on the type of client used. Type options are as follows:

  • Web
  • Outlook

<CrmOfflineAccessStateRule>

Use this criteria to display a ribbon element based on whether Dynamics 365 for Microsoft Office Outlook with Offline Access is currently offline.

<CrmOutlookClientTypeRule>

Use this rule if you want to display a button for the specific type of Dynamics 365 for Outlook. Type options are as follows:

  • CrmForOutlook
  • CrmForOutlookOfflineAccess

<CrmOutlookClientVersionRule>

Detects the version of Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Microsoft Office Outlook.

Valid values:

  • 2003
  • 2007
  • 2010

<EntityPrivilegeRule>

Use this kind of rule to display ribbon elements when a user has specific privileges for a table. You must specify the privilege depth and the specific privilege you want to check.

<EntityPropertyRule>

Allows definition of rules depending on the Boolean values of specific table properties. PropertyName options are as follows:

  • DuplicateDetectionEnabled
  • GridFiltersEnabled
  • HasStateCode
  • IsConnectionsEnabled
  • MailMergeEnabled
  • WorksWithQueue
  • HasActivities
  • IsActivity
  • HasNotes

<EntityRule>

This rule allow for evaluation of the current table. This is useful when you define custom actions that apply to the table template instead of for specific tables. For example, you may want to add a ribbon element to all tables except for some specific tables. It is easier to define the custom action for the table template that applies to all tables and then use an EntityRule to filter out those that should be excluded.

The EntityRule also includes an optional context parameter to specify whether the table is being displayed in the form or a list (HomePageGrid). The optional AppliesTo parameter can be set to PrimaryEntity or SelectedEntity to distinguish whether the table is being displayed in a subgrid.

<FormEntityContextRule>

Specifies a rule that can detect whether a form ribbon is displayed in the context of a specific entity.

<FormStateRule

Use the form state rule to determine the current type of form that is displaying a record. State options are as follows:

  • Create
  • Existing
  • ReadOnly
  • Disabled
  • BulkEdit

<FormTypeRule>

Specifies a rule that detects the type of Microsoft Dynamics 365 form.

The Type values correspond to the following:

Value Presentation
Main A form displayed in the application.
Preview The table preview form displayed as an expanding element in the grid.
AppointmentBook Used with the appointment, equipment, serviceappointment, and systemuser tables for the Service Scheduling user interface.
Dashboard The form defines a dashboard.
Quick A quick view form.
QuickCreate A quick create form.

<HideForTabletExperienceRule>

Specifies a rule that will return false when the web application is viewed in a mobile browser on a tablet device.

<MiscellaneousPrivilegeRule>

Use this kind of rule to check for privileges that do not apply to a specific table, such as ExportToExcel, MailMerge, or GoOffline.

<OrganizationSettingRule>

Use this to display a ribbon element if specific organization settings are enabled. Setting options are as follows:

  • IsSharepointEnabled
  • IsSOPIntegrationEnabled
  • IsFiscalCalendarDefined

<OrRule>

This rule lets you override the default AND comparison for multiple display rule types. Use the OrRule element to define several possible valid combinations to check.

<OutlookRenderTypeRule>

Use this to display a ribbon element if the ribbon is being displayed in Outlook in a specific way. Type options are as follows:

  • Web
  • Outlook

<OutlookVersionRule>

Use this to display a ribbon element for a specific version of Outlook. Version options are as follows:

  • 2003
  • 2007
  • 2010

<PageRule>

This type of rule checks the URL of the page being displayed. It returns true if the address matches.

<ReferencingAttributeRequiredRule>

A rule that detects whether the referencing attribute for an entity is required.

This is a very specific rule for a very specific case. Use this rule when there is a relationship bound subgrid or an associated grid on the page. This rule will test whether the referencing attribute used in the relationship is required. This rule is used to hide the Add Existing record type button when it isn’t appropriate to display it.

In an entity relationship the lookup field in the related record (the referencing attribute) may be required or not. For example, the Regarding field of an activity is not required yet the Potential Customer field of an opportunity is required. The Add Existing Activity button will set the Regarding field value to the current record context and it can only work if the Regarding field doesn’t already have a value. All Opportunity records have a value in their Potential Customer field, so it never makes sense to display an Add Existing Opportunity button. This rule detects that the referencing attribute is required and therefore returns true.

<RelationshipTypeRule>

This type of rule is applied to records selected in a grid. It lets you determine the type of relationship, as follows:

  • OneToMany
  • ManyToMany
  • NoRelationship

<SkuRule>

Use this kind of rule to display a ribbon element for a specific SKU version of Microsoft Dataverse, as follows:

  • OnPremise
  • Online
  • Spla

<ValueRule>

Use this rule to check the value of a specific column in the record being displayed in the form.

Note

For commands defined for subgrid for forms using the updated user experience, value rules cannot be used within display rules. Use this element within an <EnableRule> to hide an element.

See also

Customize commands and the ribbon
Define ribbon enable rules
Define ribbon actions