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A Deep Dive into Virtual Tables in Dataverse for Developers

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Virtual Tables in Dataverse allow developers to connect and display data from external systems—like SQL, SharePoint, or REST APIs—directly within Dataverse without storing it locally. They act as a bridge that makes external data appear as native Dataverse tables, enabling users to view and interact with that data in real time through model-driven apps, Power Apps, and Power Automate. This eliminates the need for data duplication or synchronization while maintaining a consistent Dataverse experience. Virtual Tables use a data provider to translate Dataverse queries into the external system’s language, making them ideal for real-time integrations where up-to-date external information needs to be accessed seamlessly within the Power Platform ecosystem. What Are Virtual Tables? In Dataverse, a Virtual Table (formerly called Virtual Entity) lets you represent external data inside Dataverse as if it were a native table, without storing the data physically. Think of it as a “live view” of e...
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A Developer’s Guide to Key Columns in Dataverse (Entities Reimagined)

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Key Columns in Dataverse (Entities Reimagined) play a vital role in ensuring data integrity, uniqueness, and efficient record management within the Microsoft Power Platform. In Dataverse, every table (previously known as an entity) includes a Primary Key that uniquely identifies each record, typically represented by a GUID, and a Primary Name Column, which provides a human-readable name for display in views and lookups. Developers can also define Alternate Keys, which allow external systems to identify and update records using natural business data—such as an email address, employee ID, or product code—rather than system-generated IDs. This feature is especially useful for integrations, upsert operations, and data migrations, as it simplifies record matching and reduces duplication. By leveraging these key columns effectively, Dataverse ensures consistency across related data, enhances performance, and provides developers with a flexible foundation for building scalable and reliable bu...
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Why Managed Properties Are Essential for Power Platform ALM Success

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Managed Properties in Microsoft Dataverse control the level of customization allowed for solution components when they are part of a managed solution . They act as protection settings defined by the solution publisher to maintain the integrity and intended behavior of their solution. For example, when a solution containing entities, fields, or processes is deployed as a managed solution, the managed properties determine whether other users or organizations can modify, delete, or customize those components. Common managed properties include the ability to customize, delete , or change the display name of a component. By configuring these settings, publishers can prevent accidental changes or ensure compliance with business or support agreements. Managed properties play a crucial role in solution lifecycle management, particularly when distributing solutions to external environments or customers, as they help maintain consistency and protect intellectual property. Managed Properties ar...
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Dataverse Elastic Tables: Features, Limitations, and Best Practices

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Elastic Tables in Microsoft Dataverse are designed for scenarios requiring large-scale, high-volume data storage and rapid read/write operations. Unlike standard Dataverse tables that use a relational SQL-based structure, Elastic Tables store data in Azure Cosmos DB , leveraging its NoSQL, JSON-based architecture for flexibility and scalability. This enables organizations to efficiently manage billions of records with automatic partitioning, indexing, and schema flexibility — without impacting system performance. From a technical perspective, Elastic Tables are ideal for storing telemetry, audit logs, or time-series data that changes frequently but doesn’t require complex relationships or transactional consistency. They support standard Dataverse APIs for CRUD operations, integrate seamlessly with Power BI and Power Automate, and maintain Dataverse’s security model. In essence, Elastic Tables combine the elasticity of Cosmos DB with the governance and accessibility of Dataverse, mak...
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Understanding the Primary Entity in the Plugin Registration Tool: A Comprehensive Guide

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In Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Dataverse, the Primary Entity in the Plugin Registration Tool defines the main table (entity) that the plugin targets and determines when it will execute in response to a specific system event , known as a message . Each plugin step must specify a message such as Create, Update, Delete, or Retrieve, and the primary entity identifies which record type that message applies to—such as account, contact, or incident. For instance, if a plugin is registered with the message “Update” and the primary entity “account,” it will trigger whenever an Account record is updated. The primary entity provides the context for the plugin execution, allowing developers to access the target record and perform business logic accordingly. In some cases, such as with the Associate or Disassociate messages, the primary entity may be left blank since the operation involves a relationship between multiple entities. Understanding the role of the primary entity is crucial for correct...
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Build Once, Use Everywhere: Modular Logic with Custom Actions

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Custom Actions in Dataverse are special processes that let you create your own business logic that can be reused across apps, flows, and plugins. Instead of writing the same logic in multiple places, you can create one Custom Action and call it whenever needed — from a Power Automate flow , plugin , JavaScript , or even an API . For example, you can create a Custom Action to send an approval email, update related records, or trigger external system calls. It works like a mini workflow or API that you design yourself. Custom Actions make your solutions cleaner, reusable, and easier to maintain in Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. A Custom Action in Dataverse is a custom process that lets you create your own reusable business logic or operation — like a mini function or API — that can be triggered from anywhere (such as Power Automate, plugins, or apps). What is a Custom Action?  A Custom Action in Dataverse is a process that you can create to perform your own custom task. It he...
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Demystifying Clusters in Power Platform: What Architects and Developers Must Know

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When working with Microsoft Power Platform—especially Dataverse—you’ve probably seen terms like Cluster Geo Name or Cluster URI Suffix in your environment diagnostics. But what exactly is a cluster , and why should architects and developers care about it? Let’s break it down. What is a Cluster in Power Platform? A Cluster in Power Platform is a logical and geographical grouping of Dataverse instances . Think of it as: A container for environments (Dev, Test, Prod) Hosted in a specific Azure region (EU, US, Asia Pacific) Designed for data residency, compliance, and performance Every Dataverse environment you create is part of a cluster, which Microsoft manages behind the scenes for scaling and governance. Why Do Clusters Exist? Microsoft uses clusters to: Ensure Data Residency Keep customer data within the selected geography (important for GDPR, HIPAA). Optimize Performance Place environments closer to end-users for low latency API calls. Provide Compliance Boundarie...
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Field Mapping in Dataverse: Simplify Data Transfer Between Tables

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Field Mapping in Microsoft Dataverse is one of those features that rarely gets the spotlight—but it’s a game changer for building robust, user-friendly solutions in the Power Platform. Whether you’re a pro developer or a low-code maker, understanding and using Field Mapping properly can save hours of development time, simplify user experiences, and improve data consistency. In this blog, we’ll break down what Field Mapping is, how it works under the hood, its advantages and limitations, and real-world scenarios where it shines. What Is Field Mapping? In Microsoft Dataverse, Field Mapping is a feature of table relationships (1\:N or N:1) that lets you automatically copy data from a parent record to a new child record. When a user creates a new record from within the context of a related parent (like clicking + New Contact from an Account form), the system can pre-fill the child form with values from the parent record. This is done without a single line of code. How Does Field Mapping Wo...
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Top 15 Dynamics 365 Admin Tips: Mastering Your Role Like a Pro

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Being a Dynamics 365/CRM Administrator is more than managing users and customizations—it’s about ensuring stability, security, and scalability while empowering your organization. Whether you’re just starting or already a seasoned admin, this guide highlights 15 must-know tips to help you excel. 1. Master the Security Model Dynamics 365’s security model is layered and powerful. Learn how Business Units, Security Roles, Field-Level Security, and Teams interact. Pro Tip: Use Teams for sharing access instead of assigning roles directly to users. This keeps permissions scalable. 2. Keep an Eye on Storage Limits Storage isn’t infinite. Monitor your Dataverse storage in the Power Platform Admin Center. Clean up unused data, manage audit logs, and consider archiving or exporting old data to Azure for long-term storage. 3. Automate Routine Admin Tasks Don’t waste time on repetitive admin tasks. Use Power Automate cloud flows for:  Deactivating inactive users.  Notifying admins about l...
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Plugin Execution Pipeline Demystified: A Must-Know for CRM Architects

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If you design or operate Microsoft Dynamics 365/Dataverse solutions, understanding the Plugin Execution Pipeline is essential. Plugins are the primary extensibility mechanism for implementing server-side business logic. This guide explains the pipeline in plain, technical terms, shows where and how plugins run, and lists practical guidance for reliable, performant solutions. 1) What is the Plugin Execution Pipeline? The pipeline is the ordered set of stages and execution contexts in which server-side events (messages) are processed. When an operation (Create, Update, Delete, Assign, Retrieve, etc.) occurs, Dataverse builds a request execution pipeline and executes registered plugin steps at configured stages. Plugins can inspect and modify data, cancel operations, and trigger side effects. 2) High-level flow (what happens during an operation) Client/API call (UI, Web API, SDK) initiates an operation. Platform core logic performs pre-checks and builds the execution context. Plugin ste...
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