Power Platform

Mastering SQL Bulk Update in Dataverse with XrmToolBox and SQL4CDS

Mastering SQL Bulk Update in Dataverse with XrmToolBox and SQL4CDS

Dataverse: A Comprehensive Guide to SQL Bulk Update Techniques

Updating multiple records in databases can often be tedious. But what if you could perform a SQL bulk update with ease? Dataverse has a solution, and in this article, we’ll delve deep into how you can make quick updates to your data using SQL. For those who find themselves struggling with bulk updates, this is your comprehensive guide.

Understanding The SQL Update Process in Dataverse

Updating records in a Dataverse database can be performed efficiently using SQL commands. One of the most renowned methods involves utilizing the XrmToolBox combined with the SQL4CDS plugin. Let’s break down how this fusion works.

Why Consider SQL Bulk Update for Dataverse?

Working with Dataverse during app development and testing often presents a challenge when attempting to modify or bulk update records. Simple tasks such as deleting all table records or altering the values of multiple records based on set conditions aren’t always intuitive.

Introducing XrmToolBox and SQL4CDS Plugin

If you’re acquainted with SQL, the XrmToolBox coupled with the SQL4CDS plugin offers a more straightforward approach. But first, what exactly is XrmToolBox?

What is XrmToolBox?

XrmToolbox is a cost-free Windows tool that empowers users to connect to, administrate, and personalize Dataverse, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform solutions. It offers the flexibility of installing plugins to accomplish a vast array of tasks.

Installation Process for XrmToolBox and SQL4CDS Plugin

Start by obtaining the latest XrmToolbox version from its official site. After successfully installing XrmToolBox, you’ll access the Tool Library section. This is where you can search and subsequently install the SQL4CDS plugin.

Establishing Connection to Dataverse

XrmToolBox demands a link to Dataverse. Set this up by selecting the ‘Connect’ option. For a successful connection, the ‘Dynamics URL’ is mandatory. You can trace this URL by navigating to the ‘Advanced settings’ option within the settings menu.

Executing SQL Commands with SQL4CDS

Post SQL4CDS installation, a dedicated window can be launched. Here, the object explorer will display all Dataverse tables categorized under the ‘entities’ group. The toolbar facilitates configuration of SQL4CDS settings.

Selecting Records from a Dataverse Table

You can easily retrieve records from a table through a ‘select’ command. The logical Dataverse name, for instance, cr8a9_property1, is essential. A nifty feature is the ability to double-click both table and field names in the object explorer, directly embedding the name into the editor. To execute, just hit the ‘execute’ button, and voila! Your results get displayed in a neat grid.

Executing SQL Bulk Update in Dataverse

To illustrate the process of updating all records within the property table, use the following SQL command:

UPDATE
db_property_table
SET prop_acquisitiondate = getdate()
WHERE 1=1
This command refreshes the ‘acquisition date’ column to the present date. SQL4CDS will always seek confirmation prior to record updates.

Deleting All Records in Dataverse

To remove all table records, employ a Delete command as follows:

DELETE FROM
db_property_table
WHERE 1=1
SQL4CDS will, as always, prompt for a green signal before proceeding with the deletion.

Inserting Records into Dataverse Tables

Inserting records is a breeze. Just issue an Insert command such as:

INSERT INTO
db_property_table (prop_address1, prop_address2)
VALUES
('10 High Street','London')
The outcome becomes evident upon executing the command.

Wrapping Up: The Power of SQL Bulk Update in Dataverse

During app creation and testing phases, the ability to tweak Dataverse data via SQL proves immensely beneficial. With the synergistic combination of the SQL4CDS plugin and XrmToolBox, you’re equipped to perform these tasks with precision.

If any step or concept remains unclear, or if you require further assistance related to this guide or other technical issues, don’t hesitate. Contact us today. We’re here to help, and if necessary, offer premium services tailored to your needs.

Power Platform Licensing A Comprehensive Guide to Cost Optimization

Power Platform Licensing: A Comprehensive Guide to Cost Optimization

The Power Platform, while immensely powerful, can sometimes present budgetary challenges when it comes to licensing. However, by leveraging strategies that involve synchronizing data across premium and standard data sources with the assistance of Power Automate, you can achieve significant cost savings. This article delves into these strategies, offering insights into optimizing Power Platform licensing costs without compromising on functionality.

Addressing Licensing Cost Concerns

In some scenarios, particularly with canvas apps connecting to SQL or other premium features, Power Apps licensing can be prohibitive. If the added business value doesn’t justify the extra per app or per user monthly expense, it’s crucial to find alternatives.

A prevalent approach is to establish an external data synchronization mechanism. This system syncs premium data sources with more budget-friendly options like SharePoint or other accessible standard connectors.

Unlocking Power Portal Alternatives

When dealing with Portal apps, the enriched functionalities and associated licensing fees might be excessive for simpler use cases. For instances where the objective is to present Dataverse data on a public domain, Power Portal alternatives, assisted by flows, can be the solution.

One notable strategy, as highlighted by experts in the Power Platform community, leverages Flow to create static HTML pages. These pages can then be hosted online, offering an effective workaround. Here’s how it works:

  • Utilize flow triggers to update the external site immediately when a Dataverse record is modified.
  • Use the ‘Create HTML table’ action within the flow for generating HTML content showcasing Dataverse table data.
  • Host this content on Azure Website, and utilize Azure Storage for file holding. The generated HTML page can be swiftly published using a concluding ‘Create blob’ action in the Flow, saving the file directly to the Azure Storage.

Web Content Creation with Dataverse Data

To update Dataverse content from a web page, consider developing a flow with an HTTP request trigger. The webpage can house JavaScript defining data intended for update in JSON format, which then activates the flow via the HTTP endpoint.

Some additional relevant data :

  • Case Studies: Showcase real-life examples of organizations that have successfully optimized their Power Platform licensing, detailing the strategies they used and the cost savings achieved.
  • Expert Interviews: Include insights from experts in the Power Platform community, focusing on their tips and best practices for licensing optimization.
  • Comparative Analysis: Offer a comparison between different licensing options, highlighting how optimization strategies can lead to significant cost savings.
  • User Guides: Provide step-by-step tutorials on setting up data synchronization mechanisms or alternative solutions to Power Portal, aimed at reducing licensing costs.
  • FAQ Section: Address common questions about Power Platform licensing, offering clear, concise answers that incorporate aspects of cost optimization.
  • Interactive Tools: Create calculators or interactive tools that help readers estimate their potential savings from different optimization strategies.

 

Conclusion

Navigating the world of Power Platform licensing can be challenging, but with informed strategies, cost optimization is attainable. By harnessing Power Automate to synchronize data across Dataverse and other platforms, considerable savings are within reach. For a deeper dive into these techniques and expert insights, resources from the Power Platform community can be invaluable. If you require further assistance or face any technical challenges, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our dedicated team is here to provide expert solutions tailored to your needs, ensuring you get the most out of your Power Platform experience.

Power Pages vs Power Portal Navigating the Updated Power Apps Maker Portal Menu

Power Pages vs Power Portal: Navigating the Updated Power Apps Maker Portal Menu

 

Power Pages vs Power Portal: Unveiling the Updated Power Apps Maker Portal Menu

For users and developers alike, the navigation menu plays a pivotal role in ensuring a seamless experience within an application. Recently refreshed, the Power Apps Maker Portal’s new left-hand navigation menu has sparked considerable interest. Now, let’s delve into the enhancements and compare the revamped menu to its predecessor.

A Glimpse at the Previous Menu

Although the prior menu had its strengths, it also posed navigational challenges. Items that didn’t inherently belong to the ‘Dataverse‘ folder, such as the ‘Connections‘ menu item, were nested within, making them challenging to locate. For example, imagine the complexity of updating credentials for a SQL Server data source within such a layout! Similarly, ‘Custom Connectors‘ and ‘Gateways‘ were tucked away in less-than-intuitive locations. Moreover, the clutter from unused features, like Chatbots and AI Builder, detracted from the user experience.

The New Menu Layout: A Breath of Fresh Air

The redesigned menu, as illustrated below, represents a substantial enhancement. It addresses previous concerns with a three-section split:

  1. The initial section, containing the Home, Create, Learn, and Apps menu items, remains fixed.
  2. Next, the menu houses Tables, Dataflows, and Solutions by default, offering an option to add or pin more. This streamlined approach eliminates the need to delve into Dataverse for ‘Tables’. Importantly, this is a significant plus for new Power Apps users.
  3. Finally, the last section introduces the ‘Power Platform’ menu item, ushering in a gateway to the broader Power Platform universe. Notably, a link to Power Pages, a new entrant, is present here.

Introducing the ‘Discover All’ Page

The ‘Discover Page’ is a welcome addition. Acting as a visual guide, it outlines the potential menu items one can add and pin. Here, some of the seemingly “missing” items, like Custom Connectors and Gateways, find their home. For those initially puzzled by their absence in the ‘..More’ flyout, this page serves as a beacon.

Locating Absent Menu Items

For those missing certain items in the new structure, the ‘Discover’ page serves as your compass. Delve into the Data and Data Management sections at the page’s bottom to uncover links to Custom Connectors and Gateways.

Some Relevant Insights:

  1. Updated Navigation Menu: The Power Apps Maker Portal has launched an improved navigation menu to enhance user experience and simplify access to features.
  2. Enhanced User Interface: The redesigned interface enhances intuitiveness, offering clearly defined sections and easy access to essential tools.
  3. Customization Options: Users now have the ability to personalize their navigation menu in the Power Apps Maker Portal by actively pinning their most-used items.
  4. Discover All Page: This innovative feature allows users to swiftly locate and add menu items that are not immediately apparent, ensuring complete functionality access.
  5. Integration with Power Platform: The Power Apps Maker Portal menu now features a direct link to the broader Power Platform, highlighting its cohesive integration with other Power tools.
 

Wrapping Up

The Power Apps Maker Portal’s navigation menu has undergone a significant refresh, showcasing an evolutionary leap in design that emphasizes clarity and customizability. While existing users may initially face a learning curve in locating their old favorites, the ‘Discover’ page effectively bridges this gap. As the Power Apps universe continues to expand, these user-centric enhancements signal a positive direction.

If any questions or challenges arise, or if you require further technical guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We’re poised to assist and ensure your Power Apps journey remains smooth.

Mastering PowerApps Extracting Distinct Values from Collections

Mastering PowerApps: Extracting Distinct Values from Collections

 

Guide to Fetching Unique Values in PowerApps Collections

Welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to fetch unique values, specifically focusing on the powerapps distinct function. With the increasing demand for PowerApps applications, learning such techniques can provide an edge in your application building journey.

Introduction

One common requirement while dealing with collections in PowerApps is to fetch unique values from a specific column. For example, if you have a collection of cities and their corresponding continents and countries, you might want to get a list of unique countries. Let’s delve deeper into this with a practical example.

Input Collection

Consider the following collection named ‘cityData’:

City	    Continent	       Country
New York	North America	   USA
London	    Europe	           United Kingdom
Kyoto	    Asia	           Japan
Osaka	    Asia	           Japan
Los Angeles	North America	   USA
Paris	    Europe	           France
Birmingham	Europe	           United Kingdom

Desired Output

The goal is to extract a list named ‘uniqueCountries’ with distinct Country names:

Result:
USA
United Kingdom
Japan
France

Solution

To achieve this, we utilize the powerapps distinct function as demonstrated in the solution code below:

```javascript // Initialize the collection 
ClearCollect(cityData, {City: "New York", Country: "USA", Continent: "North America"},
{City: "London", Country:"United Kingdom", Continent: "Europe"}, {City: "Kyoto",
Country: "Japan",
Continent: "Asia"}, {City: "Osaka", Country: "Japan", Continent: "Asia"},
{City: "Los Angeles", Country: "USA", Continent: "North America"}, {City: "Paris",
Country: "France", Continent: "Europe"}, {City: "Birmingham",
Country:"United Kingdom", Continent: "Europe"} ); // Remove duplicates and store
distinct countries in a new collection ClearCollect(uniqueCountries,
Distinct(cityData, Country));

Reference: Collect, Clear, and ClearCollect functions

Some Relevant Insights:

In this guide, you’ll find practical examples, step-by-step instructions, and code snippets to help you master the PowerApps distinct function. Enhance your skills in data manipulation and collection handling, giving you a solid foundation for building efficient PowerApps applications.

Conclusion:

With the knowledge gained from this guide, you can confidently fetch unique values in PowerApps collections, adding a powerful tool to your application development arsenal. Stay tuned for more PowerApps tips and techniques to elevate your skills further.