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As a Microsoft Power Platform Developer, understanding how to configure flow steps using the Dataverse connector actions and triggers is crucial. This allows you to create efficient and automated workflows in Power Automate, leveraging the power of Dataverse as a data source and destination. In this article, we will explore the key concepts and steps you need to know to configure flow steps using the Dataverse connector.
Before diving into the configuration steps, it’s essential to grasp the capabilities of the Dataverse connector. The Dataverse connector enables you to perform operations such as creating, retrieving, updating, and deleting records in tables within the Dataverse environment.
To configure flow steps using the Dataverse connector, you’ll need to start by adding an action from the connector. Navigate to the desired flow and click on the (+) button to add a new action. Search for “Dataverse” in the available connectors and select the appropriate action according to the task you want to perform.
Once you’ve added the desired action, it’s time to configure it based on your workflow requirements. First, you need to specify the Dynamics 365 environment to connect to. Enter the environment name, and in case you have multiple instances, select the target instance.
Next, you’ll need to authenticate and establish a connection between Power Automate and Dataverse. Choose the appropriate authentication method, such as using user credentials or a service principal, and provide the required details accordingly. This step ensures secure access to the Dataverse environment for your flow.
After establishing the connection, you’ll need to configure the inputs for the selected action. Each action within the Dataverse connector requires specific inputs, which you can find in the Microsoft documentation for that particular action. Provide the necessary details as per your workflow needs.
When configuring the action, you can use dynamic content to retrieve values from previous steps or trigger outputs. This allows for flexibility and makes your flows more robust and adaptable. You can find dynamic content options by clicking on the “Add dynamic content” button within each field.
Apart from actions, the Dataverse connector also provides triggers to initiate flows based on specific events occurring within the Dataverse environment. These triggers can be useful for building real-time automation, such as sending email notifications when a new record is created in a specific table.
When a flow is triggered by a Dataverse event, it provides outputs that contain relevant information about the event. These outputs can be used to retrieve details about the triggering record, including its ID, entity name, and attribute values. Understanding trigger outputs is crucial for performing subsequent actions within the flow.
While configuring flow steps, it’s essential to consider error handling and debugging mechanisms. You can implement error handling by adding conditions using control actions, capturing error details, and providing appropriate responses or notifications accordingly.
Before deploying your flows to production, it’s a good practice to thoroughly test them. Validate each step’s configuration, simulate inputs, and monitor the output to ensure the desired results. Additionally, monitor flow runs and logs to track any potential issues and optimize performance.
Configuring flow steps using the Dataverse connector actions and triggers empowers Microsoft Power Platform Developers to build powerful, data-driven workflows. By understanding the configuration steps and leveraging the capabilities of the connector, you can streamline processes, automate tasks, and enhance productivity within your organization. Keep exploring Microsoft documentation to familiarize yourself with the various actions and triggers available in the Dataverse connector to unlock the full potential of Power Automate and Dataverse.
a) Create a new record, Retrieve a record, Delete a record
b) Create a new record, Update a record, Retrieve a record
c) Delete a record, Retrieve a record, Retrieve multiple records
d) Update a record, Retrieve a record, Retrieve multiple records
Correct answer: b) Create a new record, Update a record, Retrieve a record
Correct answer: True
a) When a new record is created
b) When a record is updated
c) When a record is deleted
d) All of the above
Correct answer: d) All of the above
a) It allows you to create a new record in a Dataverse table.
b) It allows you to update an existing record in a Dataverse table.
c) It allows you to retrieve a single record from a Dataverse table.
d) None of the above.
Correct answer: b) It allows you to update an existing record in a Dataverse table.
Correct answer: False
a) Table name and columns to be filled
b) Record ID and columns to be filled
c) Only the columns to be filled
d) None of the above
Correct answer: a) Table name and columns to be filled
a) Filter records based on specific conditions
b) Sort records in ascending or descending order
c) Perform pagination to retrieve large datasets
d) All of the above
Correct answer: d) All of the above
Correct answer: False
a) Record ID
b) Table name
c) Both record ID and table name
d) None of the above
Correct answer: c) Both record ID and table name
Correct answer: True
34 Replies to “Configure flow steps to use Dataverse connector actions and triggers”
I think the documentation could be more detailed for the beginners.
I’m having trouble with pagination in ‘List records’ action. Any tips?
In the ‘List records’ action settings, enable pagination and specify the threshold to control the number of records per page.
Also, ensure your flow logic can handle multiple pages of data.
I’m getting an error ‘401 Unauthorized’ when trying to connect to Dataverse in my flow. Any ideas?
You may also want to check if the permissions were modified recently, causing the authorization error.
Make sure that the user account running the flow has the correct permissions in both Power Automate and Dataverse.
Great blog post! Very informative. Thanks!
Can someone explain the difference between the ‘When a row is created’ and ‘When a row is added, modified or deleted’ triggers?
The ‘When a row is created’ trigger activates only when a new record is created, whereas the ‘When a row is added, modified or deleted’ trigger can activate on any of those three events, providing more flexibility.
The latter one can be more resource-intensive, so use it cautiously.
Is it possible to trigger a flow when a specific field in a Dataverse record is updated?
Yes, you can use the ‘When a row is modified’ trigger and specify the field you want to monitor for changes.
You also have to enable change tracking for the specific entity in Dataverse.
How can I export a Dataverse dataset into a CSV file using a flow?
You can use the ‘List records’ action to retrieve the data and then use a combination of ‘Create CSV Table’ and ‘Create file’ actions to export it into a CSV.
For large datasets, consider implementing paging to handle data in chunks.
Can I use the Dataverse connector to update complex fields like multi-choice options in flow steps?
Absolutely, you can update fields like optionsets and multi-choice fields using the relevant field values in your flow steps.
For multi-choice fields, you might need to pass values as an array of integers representing the selected options.
Can somebody help me with defining columns to retrieve in the ‘List records’ action?
You can use the ‘Select columns’ field in the ‘List records’ action to specify which columns to retrieve.
This can improve performance by limiting the amount of data returned in each record.
The filters in the ‘List records’ action are very specific. Can anyone provide examples of how to use OData filters on DateTime fields?
Yes, you can use expressions like ‘createdon gt 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z’ to filter records created after a specific date.
Don’t forget to account for time zone differences when working with DateTime fields in OData filters.
Thanks, this post cleared up a lot of confusion I had!
How can I use relationship fields in Dataverse when working with flow steps?
It’s important to understand the schema and relationships of your Dataverse tables/entities to use these fields effectively.
You can usually find relationship fields in the ‘List records’ action; they come as ‘@odata.bind’ properties which you can use to set or retrieve related records.
Appreciate the detailed steps provided here!
Can someone explain how to configure the ‘Create a new record’ action in Dataverse when creating a flow step?
Sure, you need to first select the Dataverse connector, then choose the ‘Create a new record’ action. From there, you can select the entity and map the required fields.
Don’t forget to set appropriate permissions for your flow to interact with Dataverse, otherwise it may fail.