About Dataverse Accelerator and Low-code plug-ins | Introducing New Dataverse Feature

I looked into an app called Dataverse Accelerator and a feature called Low-code plugin that had been added.

※The content of this article is a preview feature as of 11/10/2023. It is not recommended for integration into a production environment.

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Dataverse and Plug-ins

First, let’s talk about Dataverse and plug-ins.

Dataverse allows “plug-ins” to be built and registered that can be executed automatically or manually when some operation is performed on the data.

Trigger Example.

  • When a record in the Dataverse is created/updated/deleted
  • When the owner of the record changes
  • Other special triggers, etc.

Power Automate and Workflow can do the same thing, but the plug-ins are more powerful and sophisticated than Power Automate and Workflow, so when there was something Power Automate couldn’t do or when I needed speed of execution, I used the plug-ins.

However, the plug-ins can only be developed in C# (I think), which is a bit of a hurdle for citizen developers or units that only develop Power Platform, and I get the impression that they are not used very often.

※Learn more about plug-ins
Use plug-ins to extend business processes (Microsoft Dataverse) - Power Apps
Learn how plug-ins execute in response to a data processing event to augment or modify the default behavior of the platf...
learn.microsoft.com
※Learn more about plug-in usage scenarios
Plug-ins usage scenarios - Training | Microsoft Learn
Learn about usage scenarios for plug-ins.
learn.microsoft.com

Low-code plugins

And now, a new feature called Low-code plugins has been added to Dataverse.

Low-code plugins allow plug-ins to be developed in low-code (Power Fx), so that citizen developers and engineers who have never used C# can create plug-ins.

There are two types of such low-code plugins, and you can choose either one depending on the function you want to achieve.

  • Instant：Manual execution from app or flow (parameters can be passed)
  • Manually run：Automatically executed when Dataverse data is manipulated

In addition, Manually run seems to allow the choice of pre-run or post-run, which is quite convenient as it allows processing to be performed before the record is actually added/edited/deleted.

※Learn more about low code plug-ins.
Streamline app development with low-code plug-ins in Microsoft Dataverse - Power Apps
Guide to crafting low-code plug-ins in Microsoft Dataverse
learn.microsoft.com
※Learn more about Power Fx functions available in the low-code plugin.
Low-code plug-ins Power Fx - Power Apps
Supported Power Fx expressions for use with Microsoft Dataverse low-code plug-ins
learn.microsoft.com

Dataverse Accelerator

And Dataverse Accelerator is an application to build such low-code plug-ins and register them in Dataverse.

Incidentally, the Dataverse Accelerator is made by the Power Customer Advisory Team of Microsoft, the same team that makes the Creator kit.
Power Apps Creator Kitのインストール方法メモ｜キャンバスアプリでおしゃれなコントロールを使う
Power AppsのCreator kitを使ってみたので、インストール方法をメモ。 Creator kitとは Creator kitはMicrosoftの「Power Customer Advisory Team」というチームが作って
ippu-biz.com

So, I’m actually going to try to make a low-code plugin using Dataverse Accelerator.

Installing Dataverse Accelerator

First, install Dataverse Accelerator in your environment.

Go to the Power Platform Admin center, go to [Resources] → [Dyanimic365 Apps] and click [Install] for [Dataverse Accelerator].
Then select the environment in which you want to install the software, agree to the terms of use, and install.
Once the state is installed,
Go to the installed environment and the application is added and played.
Dataverse Accelerator installation is complete.

Try to create a Plugin for automatic execution

Then I’ll make a plugin as soon as possible.

In this case, the following functions are to be created.
When a record in the “Cat” table is created/edited, if the date set in the column “Date of birth” is a future date, an error is generated.

Building Power Apps

Select [Create automated plug-in],
Then you will be taken to the creation screen. Set the name of the plugin, the target table, and the trigger condition, and write the expression as shown in the following image.
※Created/edited records can be accessed via “ThisRecord”.
Then, since it is a validation, select “Pre-operation,” choose the appropriate solution, and click Save.
Plug-ins are added to the solution when completed.

検証

So I immediately tried to save the cat born in the future from the form,
An error occurs as shown in the image!
When adding from a canvas, an error message also appears, but unfortunately, it does not show up to the error message.

Nevertheless, it is quite nice to be able to collect all validation expressions in one place, so it can be used in a variety of ways.

I’ll also make a plugin for manual execution.

Then we will also try to create a plugin for manual execution.

In this case, we will create a plugin that simply receives two strings and concatenates them back together.

Building Power Apps

Start creating it from [Create instant plug-in],
Arguments and expressions are created in the key points of the following image.
Then select the solution and scope (in this case global, since the process is not specifically tied to a table), and Save.
I did a Test to be sure,
Works fine!

Use from Canvas App

It seems that the canvas app that uses the plug-in must be in the solution, so create the app in the solution.
Then add the table [Environment] from [Add Data].
※Plug-ins are used via this “Environment” table.
When the plugin is called from the button OnSelect, as shown in the following image,
Works fine!

Since this is still a preview, it doesn’t look like there is much that can be accomplished, but in time, as more and more things can be done from this low-code plugin, there will be more opportunities to use it in various ways.

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