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Showing posts from 2023

Building Better Tables - A patterned approach to using autonumber columns and alternate keys to drive efficiency in Dataflows

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Introduction Navigating the complexities of dataflows in Microsoft’s Power Platform, especially when dealing with Dataverse, can present unique challenges. One significant hurdle is efficiently setting up and using lookup values. This article introduces a straightforward design pattern I’ve developed, emphasizing the use of autonumber fields and alternate keys in entity creation to facilitate smoother data mapping for data analysts. Understanding the Role of Entity Design in Traditional Dataflows The effectiveness of traditional dataflows in Microsoft’s Power Platform often depends on how entities are configured in Dataverse. The challenge usually lies not in the dataflows themselves but in the nuances of entity setup. A critical aspect of this is the complexity involved in managing lookup values. The article How to map a Lookup Column in a Power Platform Dataflow highlights these difficulties, underscoring the importance of well-structured entities. My design pattern addresses th

PCF Component: Docx Templates in Canvas Apps

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PCF Component: Docx Templates in Canvas Apps Have you ever wanted to fill in a Docx template within a Canvas App? Look no further! I’m excited to introduce a new PCF component that allows you to do just that. This component leverages the easy-template-x open-source library, making it a breeze to create and structure templates. How to Get Started: Installation: Begin by downloading and importing the managed solution into your environment. Ensure you’ve enabled PCF components for Canvas apps. If you’re unsure how, you can find instructions here . Usage Instructions: Once you’re in the Power Apps Editor, navigate to Insert -> Custom -> Import Components . From there, select the Code tab and import the RAW! Docx Templates (Canvas) . Add the component to the form, and you’re good to go! The component offers various input properties, such as docxTemplate , fillTemplate , and templateData , allowing for a customizable experience. Explore the Sample Application: To get

Installing .NET Tools on Air Gapped Systems

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In today’s digital age, the vast majority of our tasks rely heavily on internet connectivity. However, there are scenarios, more common than one might think, where systems are intentionally kept offline for security or other reasons. These air-gapped or isolated systems, like Azure VMs in a restricted VNET, pose unique challenges, especially when it comes to software installation. One such challenge is installing .NET tools, a task that’s straightforward with an internet connection but can become a complex endeavor without one. In this blog, we’ll delve deep into the intricacies of using the dotnet command line reference to seamlessly install .NET tools on machines that don’t have the luxury of internet access. Whether you’re a seasoned developer or just starting out, this guide aims to simplify the seemingly daunting process and equip you with the knowledge to conquer the offline world of .NET installations. Before diving into the nitty-gritty of offline installations, it’s essentia

Capture User’s Last Successful Login with Portal Web API

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Hey Power Pages developers! Are you sitting there scratching your head wondering why the Authentication/LoginTrackingEanbled site setting isn’t working? Unfortunately it has been deprecated 😭😭😭😭. This saddened me a lot because I utilize the Last Successful Login date field on the Contact table for a lot of reporting and automation using Power Automate. In this article I will demonstrate how you can use the Portal WebAPI with a little Javascript/Liquid to populate that field. Before we dive in, here are a few other options you might consider: Power Automate: Use a Flow to capture the data, a good example of how to implement can be found here: Last Successful Login on Contact record by Prasad Motupalli . The one thing this was missing for me though was security which could be a concern with the http trigger not requiring authentication. I want to be sure that the person updating the data is an authenticated user. Application Insights: You can track additional details su