Types of tables in Dataverse

There are four types of tables in Dataverse:

• Standard: These are the pre-built set of tables that are included in every instance of Dataverse database. You can change name of these tables and columns of these tables, but you cannot delete any column from these tables. These are the generic tables that can be used across any organization. You can customize them as per your requirement. It is recommended to try to use these tables before creating new custom tables.

• Complex: These tables contain complex and server-side business logic, including workflows and plugins. Users need P2 or Dynamics 365 license to work on these tables. Care should be taken while working on these tables as they include server-side logic.

• Restricted: These tables are linked to Dynamics 356 applications for which each user should have the license for that Dynamic 365 application to perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update and Delete) operations.

• Custom: These are the tables that are created for a specific business requirement.

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Create New Environment

Whenever a user signs up for Power Apps or Dynamics, a new environment is automatically created. This environment will be the default environment.

Below are the steps to create a new environment:

• Login to https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com
• Click on Environments option on the left-navigation bar

Compare two Strings without matching case

Below is the code I used to compare string values from two Text Inputs. This will not compare the case.

That is, “Apple” will be equal to “apple”.

If(
         StartsWith(TextBox1.Text, TextBox2.Text),
         "values matched", "Values did not matched"  
)

What is Dataverse?

Microsoft Dataverse is a cloud-based, low-code data service and app platform, which allows you to leverage the security and connectivity of Microsoft services.

• Dataverse comes with standard tables and columns, with relationships defined between them.
• Users can also create custom tables and columns, and also define relationships between them.
• Dataverse is available globally but its deployment is based on Region/Geography for compliance reasons.
• This is not stand-alone and will need an internet connection.
• Dataverse can be used as data source for Dynamics 365, Power Apps, Power Automate, AI Builder, Portals etc.
• It used Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) to handle authentication including multi-factor authentication. Authorization is supported till row and column level.
• We can easily apply business logic on data like duplicate detection, business rules, workflows etc.
• Dataverse stores data in Azure Cloud.
• A Dataverse database stores data in a set of standard and custom tables. A table is a logical set of rows that is used to store data.
• Tables can hold millions of items. Storage in each instance of Dataverse database can be extended to 4 TB per instance.
• The structure of Dataverse database is based upon the definitions and schema in Common Data Model.
• As per Microsoft Document, Common Data Model is a logical design that includes a set of open-sourced, standardized, extensible data tables and relationships that Microsoft and its partners have published in an industry-wide initiative called the Open Data Initiative. This collection of predefined tables, columns, semantic metadata and relationships form the basis of Common Data Model.
• Types of Tables:
  • Standard: Out-of-box, customizable, imported as part of managed solution
  • Managed: non-customization and imported as part of managed solution
  • Custom: new tables or imported from unmanaged solution
• Types of table relationships in Dataverse
  • One-to-Many
  • Many-to-Many
• Environments
  • Each environment allows only one Dataverse database for use within that environment
  • Each environment is created under Azure AD tenant and can only be accessed by users of that tenant
  • All environments are bound to their respective geographic locations. Hence, the Dataverse database is created in the datacenter of that geographic location.
  • We can create multiple environments for one geographic location to manage our solutions like Development Environment for development purpose, Testing Environment for testing the developed solutions and Production Environment for solutions that will be used by End Users.
• Business Rules
  • Business rules apply logic at data layer and not at app layer.
  • Examples of Business Rules: check empty value, show error message, validate data etc.
    

Create Date and DateTime using values in SQL Server

Year, Month, Day are columns in MyTable table

Create Date from numbers

To create Date: DATEFROMPARTS ( year, month, day )

Select
datetimefromparts([Year], [Month], [Day]) as Submission_Date
From MyTable

Output: 2019-01-02

Create Date and Time from numbers

To create Date and Time: DATETIMEFROMPARTS ( year, month, day, hour, minute, seconds, milliseconds )

Select
datetimefromparts([Year], [Month], [Day], 00,00,00,0) as Submission_Date
From MyTable

Output: 2022-06-20 00:00:00.000

Search for multiple fields in Combo Box

By default, we can display only one field in Combo Box and Search for only one field in Combo Box.

There is a requirement to display multiple fields and also search for multiple fields in Combo Box. For example, we have EmployeeDetails as the Data should display Employee Name and Employee Email ID and can also search the record using same.

Modify below parameters of ComboBox:

Items: EmployeeDetails
DisplayFields: ["EmployeeName","EmployeeEmailID"]
SearchFields: ["EmployeeName","EmployeeEmailID"] 

We can use this for ID and Definition Column types as well.

Get details of the new item created

When we want to get the details of latest created or updated item using SubmitForm, we use Form1.LastSubmit

Below is an example of Employee Details table.

• Form Name: frmEmployeeDetails
• Column Names in Employee Table: ID, Name, Address, Phone, Designation, PrimarySkill

SubmitForm(frmEmployeeDetails);
UpdateContext({newItem: frmEmployeeDetails.LastSubmit.ID})

This way, you can also fetch other details of the last submitted record, e.g., frmEmployeeDetails.LastSubmit.Name, frmEmployeeDetails.LastSubmit.Address etc.

Add Identity Column in SQL Server table

Use below code to add a new Identity column and make it the Primary Key in the table.

Alter table [table_name] add ID int IDENTITY 

Alter table [table_name] add primary key (ID)

What is DLP?

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies help users to prevent accidently exposing organizational data.

• Scope: Environment Level OR Tenant Level.
• Tenant level policies: Scope can be all environments, selected environments, all environments except ones you have specifically excluded
• Classification of Connectors: Business, Non-Business, Blocked.
• Business Connectors host data that is used by the business/organization.
• Non-Business Connectors host data that is used for personal purpose
• Connectors that are restricted and should not be used across one or more environments are classified as Blocked.
• Default classification for a connector for new policy is Non-Business. Admins can move connectors from this category to other categories based on business preference.
• DLP policies can be modified from Power Platform Admin Center
• DLP policies affect Canvas Power App and Power Automate flows.
• You should be a Tenant Admin OR Environment Admin to create DLP Policy.