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Writing code in a custom connector can greatly enhance the functionality and capabilities of your Microsoft Power Automate flows. In this article, we will explore how you can write code in a custom connector, specifically focusing on the exam topics for the Microsoft Power Automate RPA Developer certification. Let’s dive in!
To start writing code in a custom connector, you first need to create one. Follow these steps:
Once the custom connector is created, you can define actions and triggers using code snippets. Here’s an example of defining an action using JavaScript code:
[
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"input": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The input parameter for the action."
},
"output": {
"type": "string",
"description": "The output parameter for the action."
}
}
}
]
In this code snippet, we define an action with two parameters: “input” and “output,” both of type string. You can customize the code according to your requirements and the data types you need.
After defining the action, you need to provide the code implementation for it. Let’s continue with our JavaScript example:
async function performAction(inputs) {
// Your code logic here
const result = inputs.input.toUpperCase();
return { output: result };
}
In this code snippet, we define an asynchronous function called “performAction” that takes inputs as a parameter. You can write your business logic inside this function. In this example, we simply convert the input string to uppercase and return it as the output.
To ensure proper communication between your custom connector and Power Automate, you need to map the inputs and outputs of your action. Here’s a code snippet showing how to do that:
{
"triggers": {},
"actions": {
"PerformAction": {
"verb": "post",
"url": "https://api.example.com/action",
"request": {
"body": {
"input": "@{triggerBody()?['input']}"
},
"headers": {
"Content-Type": "application/json"
}
},
"responses": {
"200": {
"body": {
"output": "@body('PerformAction')?['output']"
}
}
}
}
}
}
In this snippet, we define the HTTP verb, URL, and request body for our action. We also specify the response mapping, ensuring that the output is correctly mapped.
After writing the code in your custom connector, it’s important to test it to ensure its functionality. You can test the connector by creating a flow with the custom connector action and verifying the results. Make sure to check error handling, data validation, and any other relevant aspects.
Conclusion:
Writing code in a custom connector is a powerful way to extend the capabilities of your Microsoft Power Automate flows. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create custom connectors, define actions and triggers, implement code functionality, map inputs and outputs, and test your custom connector. By mastering these skills, you’ll be on your way to becoming a Microsoft Power Automate RPA Developer.
Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep exploring the Microsoft documentation and experimenting with different code snippets to enhance your custom connectors even further. Happy coding!
Correct answer: b) By importing an OpenAPI definition file
Correct answer: d) Any language that can generate an OpenAPI definition file
Correct answer: c) To perform specific tasks within a flow
Correct answer: a) By using OAuth 0 authentication
Correct answer: a) GET and POST
Correct answer: d) No, code cannot be written directly in the Power Automate designer
Correct answer: c) Azure Functions
Correct answer: b) By inserting debug statements in the connector code
Correct answer: d) To define the connection details required to access external resources
Correct answer: d) By granting access to the connector within a specific environment
37 Replies to “Write code in a custom connector”
Has anyone tried using custom connectors with legacy systems?
Yes, it’s possible but you need to ensure that the legacy system has a RESTful API. Creating a wrapper API might be necessary.
I’ve been experiencing timeout issues with my custom connector. How can I handle this?
You can handle timeouts by setting proper retry policies in the connector’s settings. Also, ensure that the API you’re connecting to is optimized for performance.
Error handling in custom connectors is a bit complex. Any simplified way to manage it?
You can use try-catch blocks in your code to handle exceptions gracefully. Also, setting up custom error messages in your connector definition can help.
Custom connectors seem like a powerful tool. Can anyone share a complex use case?
I created a custom connector to integrate our internal CRM API with Power Automate. It allows us to automate customer follow-ups based on specific triggers in the CRM.
Amazing post! Highly educational.
This blog is fantastic! It clarified a lot of my doubts.
Any tips on optimizing custom connectors for performance?
Ensure that you handle pagination efficiently when dealing with large data sets to avoid performance bottlenecks.
Make use of caching mechanisms if the API permits it and reduce unnecessary API calls to improve performance.
What’s the best way to handle authentication for multiple users in a custom connector?
Implementing OAuth 2.0 with a refresh token mechanism is typically the best approach for handling multiple users.
The custom connector documentation for PL-500 is quite detailed. Has anyone successfully created a custom connector to integrate with a third-party API?
Yes, I’ve integrated a custom connector with a weather API. It took some time to understand the authentication process, but it works perfectly now.
I followed the steps but still keep getting a ‘401 Unauthorized’ error. What could be wrong?
A ‘401 Unauthorized’ error typically means your authentication credentials aren’t being accepted. Double-check your API key, token, or OAuth settings.
Great post but would love to see more examples on pagination.
For pagination, you can follow the continuation tokens or next links provided by the API. Configure these in your connector settings.
The insights in this blog are incredible. Thank you!
Can we use custom connectors for on-premise data sources?
Yes, you can. You would typically use the on-premises data gateway to achieve this.
Great blog post, really helped me understand the basics of custom connectors!
Is there a way to debug custom connectors effectively?
You can use Fiddler or Postman to test your API calls before integrating them into Power Automate. Power Automate also provides run history which can be useful for debugging.
I ran into issues with OAuth 2.0 authentication when creating my custom connector. Does anyone have experience with this?
OAuth 2.0 can be tricky. Ensure you’re following the scopes correctly and check the redirect URIs in your API settings.
Double-check the token endpoint URL and ensure your client ID and secret are correctly configured.
Couldn’t get my custom connector to work with a SOAP API. Any advice?
SOAP APIs can be complex. Make sure to carefully map the WSDL in your connector’s definition and properly configure any required headers.
I appreciate the detailed steps outlined in this blog. Thanks!
Can someone explain the difference between custom connectors and built-in connectors for PL-500?
Built-in connectors are pre-configured and maintained by Microsoft. Custom connectors allow you to create connections to APIs that aren’t natively supported by Power Automate.
I think there should be more examples related to handling errors in custom connectors.
Agreed. Error handling is crucial, especially when dealing with third-party APIs that might have intermittent issues.