CRM background color

With Dynamics CRM 2015 Update 1 Microsoft introduced the possibility to create own themes. In this post I won’t show you default settings and screenshots of unicorn colored CRM systems, I will show you the hidden setting for the CRM background color.

When you query the properties of a theme you will discover a setting that isn’t visible on the theme record (the highlighted line).
Please spare yourself the trail to customize the theme formular, it is not possible.

{
   "name": "CRM Default Theme",
   "isdefaulttheme": false,
   "logotooltip": "Microsoft Dynamics 365",
   "_logoid_value": null,
   "navbarbackgroundcolor": "#000000",
   "navbarshelfcolor": "#DFE2E8",
   "headercolor": "#1160B7",
   "globallinkcolor": "#1160B7",
   "selectedlinkeffect": "#B1D6F0",
   "hoverlinkeffect": "#D7EBF9",
   "processcontrolcolor": "#D24726",
   "defaultentitycolor": "#001CA5",
   "defaultcustomentitycolor": "#006551",
   "controlborder": "#CCCCCC",
   "controlshade": "#F3F1F1",
   "backgroundcolor": "#FFFFFF",
}

So I had the idea to update the value directly through a web service call and it works.
After publishing the theme, I had a new CRM background color.

What you need to know is that Microsoft changes value back to the original CRM background color (#FFFFFF), every time you save the record through th UI.

The CRM background color bookmarklet

Since I’m a lazy guy who likes it when things are reusable, I’ve created the following bookmarklet.

With the bookmarklet your process to change the CRM background color is:

1. Open your theme record
2. Make your customizations
3. Save the theme
4. Use the bookmarklet
5. Publish your theme

I’m not sure if Microsoft will support it.
From a technical point of view is it only an update of a record through the webservice. Considered a manufacturers point of view, they don’t want that we can change it – otherwise we had probably an option for it in the UI.

Happy styling!