Question

Here is some code from the CRUDOperations.vb file in Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 SDK:

  ' Retrieve the account containing several of its attributes.
  Dim cols As New ColumnSet(New String() { "name", "address1_postalcode", "lastusedincampaign" })
  Dim retrievedAccount As Account = CType(_service.Retrieve("account", _accountId, cols), Account)
  Console.Write("retrieved, ")
  ' Update the postal code attribute.
  retrievedAccount.Address1_PostalCode = "98052"
  ' The address 2 postal code was set accidentally, so set it to null.
  retrievedAccount.Address2_PostalCode = Nothing

Now if I am understanding correctly, the following line:

      Dim retrievedAccount As Account = CType(_service.Retrieve("account", _accountId, cols), Account)

Doesn’t seem to actually do anything?

Answer 1

1. It calls _service.Retrieve("account", _accountId, cols)
2. It casts the return value to type Account.
3. It stores the return value in the variable retrievedAccount.

And then the subsequent lines modify the properties of the account that is referenced by retrievedAccount.