Senior Technical Consultant
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While JavaScript has long been used to extend platform capabilities, its limitations become more evident as solutions grow in complexity. TypeScript is a typed superset of JavaScript developed by Microsoft. It adds optional static typing, classes, interfaces, and other features to JavaScript, making it more robust and maintainable, especially for large-scale enterprise apps.
TypeScript offers several advantages, including better support for object-oriented programming, catching common errors at compile time, and compatibility with the latest ECMAScript standards.
While using TypeScript in Dynamics 365 is a powerful approach, it’s important to note that it’s not natively supported by default. Developers must configure the environment to compile TypeScript into JavaScript before deploying it as a web resource within the system.
This blog is a comprehensive guide to setting up TypeScript in Dynamics 365. It explores practical use cases, integration with other platforms, and key best practices.
Why choose TypeScript for Dynamics 365?
Using TypeScript in Dynamics 365 makes coding more predictable and offers a smoother development experience, which is especially valuable in large or long-term Dynamics 365 projects.
Key advantages include:
- Type safety – Detects potential issues during development, reducing the risk of runtime errors and improving code reliability.
- Enhanced tooling – Offers intelligent autocompletion, powerful refactoring tools, and rich inline documentation, all of which improve developer productivity.
- Improved maintainability – Encourages the use of interfaces and modular architecture, making the codebase easier to understand, extend, and maintain over time.
- Ecosystem alignment – Typescript in Dynamics 365 is fully supported across Microsoft’s development stack, including Power Platform, PCF controls, and Azure services, making it a future-proof choice for Microsoft Dynamics 365 customizations.
Setting up TypeScript in Dynamics 365
To enable TypeScript in Dynamics 365 and start building custom scripts, follow these setup steps:
1. Prerequisites to get started with
Ensure Node.js and npm are installed, along with a TypeScript-compatible IDE like VS Code. Familiarity with the Dynamics 365 JavaScript API is recommended.
2. Install TypeScript
Install TypeScript globally via npm to enable command-line compilation:
bash
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npm install -g typescript
3. Create project structure
Organize your project with a clear separation of source, compiled files, and type definitions:
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my-d365-project/
├── src/ # TypeScript files
├── typings/ # Type definitions
├── dist/ # Compiled JavaScript
└── tsconfig.json # Config file
4. Add Xrm type definitions
Install the Xrm type definitions to enable IntelliSense and type checking for the Dynamics API:
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npm install –save-dev @types/xrm
5. Configure tsconfig.json
Set up your TypeScript compiler options to match the Dynamics 365 scripting environment:
json
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{
“compilerOptions”: {
“target”: “es5”,
“module”: “commonjs”,
“outDir”: “./dist”,
“rootDir”: “./src”,
“strict”: true,
“types”: [“xrm”]
}
}
TypeScript in action: Real use cases for Dynamics 365 developers
Below are common scenarios where TypeScript can improve clarity, safety, and maintainability when customizing Microsoft Dynamics 365.
Use case 1: Conditionally show or hide a field
Use TypeScript to toggle field visibility based on a selected value, improving form logic and user experience.
typescript
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function toggleDiscountField(executionContext: Xrm.Events.EventContext) {
const form = executionContext.getFormContext();
const accountType = form.getAttribute(“custom_accounttype”)?.getValue();
const discountField = form.getControl(“custom_discountcode”);
discountField?.setVisible(accountType === “Premium”);
}
Compile and deploy:
Use the Dynamics 365 typescript compiler to generate JavaScript:
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tsc
Upload dist/showField.js as a web resource and attach it to form events.
Use case 2: Retrieve data using the web API
Fetch related data—like primary contact for an account—using async/await with TypeScript and the Xrm Web API.
typescript
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async function fetchPrimaryContact(accountId: string) {
try {
const result = await Xrm.WebApi.retrieveRecord(
“account”,
accountId,
“?$select=primarycontactid”
);
console.log(“Contact ID:”, result.primarycontactid?.id);
} catch (error) {
console.error(“Fetch failed:”, error);
}
}
Use case 3: Custom ribbon button logic
Control ribbon button behavior based on record status with concise, type-safe logic.
typescript
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export function onRibbonClick(primaryControl: Xrm.FormContext) {
const status = primaryControl.getAttribute(“statuscode”)?.getValue();
alert(status === 1 ? “Action allowed” : “Action denied”);
}
TypeScript and Webpack: A duo for optimizing deployment
Bundling TypeScript files with Webpack helps streamline deployment by compiling and packaging your code into a single, production-ready JavaScript file. This reduces the number of web resources you need to manage in Dynamics 365 and simplifies versioning and maintenance.
Below is a sample webpack.config.js file tailored for a Dynamics 365 TypeScript project:
webpack.config.js
javascript
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const path = require(‘path’);
module.exports = {
entry: ‘./src/index.ts’,
output: {
filename: ‘bundle.js’,
path: path.resolve(__dirname, ‘dist’),
library: ‘D365Scripts’,
libraryTarget: ‘var’
},
module: {
rules: [{ test: /.ts$/, use: ‘ts-loader’ }]
},
resolve: {
extensions: [‘.ts’, ‘.js’]
}
};
Run
Once configured, run the following command to compile and bundle your code:
bash
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npx webpack
The resulting bundle.js file can be uploaded as a single web resource in Dynamics 365 and referenced across multiple forms and entities, reducing complexity and improving manageability.
Best practices for TypeScript development in Dynamics 365
To ensure performance, maintainability, and code quality in your D365 TypeScript projects, consider adopting the following best practices:
- Use modules or namespaces – Encapsulate logic to avoid polluting the global scope.
- Leverage @types/xrm – Gain full IntelliSense support and static typing for the Xrm API.
- Enable continuous compilation – Use tsc –watch to automatically recompile your code on changes.
- Generate source maps – Set sourceMap: true in tsconfig.json to improve browser debugging.
- Always test in a sandbox – Validate new scripts in a development or test environment before deploying to production.
TypeScript and the Microsoft Power Platform
TypeScript is rapidly becoming the standard for development within the broader Microsoft Power Platform. Here’s why it matters:
- PCF components – Custom controls for model-driven apps are built entirely in TypeScript, providing a strongly typed development experience.
- Dataverse integrations – Using TypeScript with typed APIs improves consistency and reduces runtime errors when integrating with Dataverse.
- Power Platform CLI support – TypeScript fits naturally into automated deployment pipelines using Power Platform CLI, improving DevOps readiness.
Conclusion
What began as a shift from traditional JavaScript customizations has evolved into a more structured and scalable development approach using TypeScript within Dynamics 365. From setting up the environment and configuring type definitions to bundling scripts with Webpack, TypeScript streamlines the entire customization lifecycle.
This wasn’t just about writing cleaner code but about creating a future-ready foundation for maintainable, error-resistant solutions. With fewer runtime issues, richer developer tooling, and native alignment with Microsoft’s ecosystem, TypeScript is fast becoming the standard for Dynamics 365 development.
Whether building form scripts, integrating with the Web API, or deploying PCF controls, TypeScript provides the structure and safety needed to deliver consistent, high-quality outcomes.
If you want to bring modern development practices to your Dynamics 365 environment, contact Confiz at marketing@confiz.com. Our experts can help you build TypeScript-driven customizations that are clean, scalable, and aligned with your long-term digital goals.
