Merging FetchXML Queries: How to Optimize Your Dynamics CRM Performance FetchXML CRM

Learn how to efficiently merge FetchXML queries in Dynamics CRM for better performance. Discover solutions to combine datasets and avoid redundancy.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/76486908/ asked by the user 'gymcode' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/872370/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/76488275/ provided by the user 'Henk van Boeijen' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/3190732/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Combining 2 FetchXML With Same Dataset but different filters in Linked Entities

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
Merging FetchXML Queries: Optimize Your Dynamics CRM Performance

Have you ever faced the dilemma of optimizing performance in Dynamics CRM while dealing with multiple FetchXML queries? Specifically, when those queries target the same dataset but employ different filters on linked entities, the question arises: Is it possible to combine these FetchXML queries? Let's delve into the issue and explore how to approach this challenge.

The Challenge of Combining FetchXML Queries

In scenarios where you have two FetchXML queries that pull from the same dataset, the goal is often to optimize performance by reducing redundant queries. This can be particularly tricky with linked entities that apply different filter conditions. Below, we review two FetchXML queries and discuss methods to merge them effectively.

Example FetchXML Queries

Below are the two FetchXML queries in question:

FetchXML (1):

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

FetchXML (2):

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Potential Solutions for Merging

Unfortunately, FetchXML does not support SQL-like UNION operations, which makes merging these queries directly impossible. However, here are two options you can consider:

Option 1: Keep Queries Separate

The simplest approach might just be to keep these queries separate. While this does not optimize performance in merging, it maintains clarity and separates logic based on the unique filters you require.

Option 2: Broaden Your Single FetchXML Query

You can create a consolidated query that selects more rows than initially necessary, incorporating both common and unique filters within a single FetchXML query. After fetching these results, apply filtering logic in your application layer to reduce the dataset to what's truly needed.

Advantages:

Reduces the number of requests to the database by combining queries.

Allows for some level of performance optimization, depending on the complexity of filters applied.

Disadvantages:

May lead to an initially larger dataset, requiring additional filtering.

Potential for increased load time if the dataset becomes excessively large.

Conclusion

While FetchXML doesn't offer a straightforward way to merge queries as SQL might with UNION statements, there are viable strategies to improve performance. Whether it's maintaining separate queries or broadening the criteria of a single query, understanding your specific use case will guide your decision. In the end, optimizing APIs and managing load can contribute to a smoother Dynamics CRM experience.

By carefully considering the structure of your queries and future performance implications, you'll be better equipped to handle data retrieval in your CRM system effectively.