Table properties play a significant role in Microsoft Power Platform’s data organization system, which impacts how data is indexed and searched, the default fields that are displayed, and the type of data that can be contained in each column. As a Functional Consultant, you need to understand how to configure these properties to maximize efficiency and functionality when dealing with data.
2. Accessing Table Properties
To configure table properties in Power Platform, you need to access them first. Here is the steps:
- Navigate to the Power Apps portal.
- Click Data > Tables.
- Select the table you want to edit.
3. Configuring Basic Table Properties
Here are several important basic table properties and what they mean:
- Display Name: This is the name that will appear to users within the Power Platform.
- Plural Name: This is the plural version of the display name, mainly used in the views and when referencing the table in the Power Platform.
- Name: This is the internal name of the table, used in the backend when dealing with system operations.
- Description: A quick description about what kind of data the table will hold which can come in helpful during troubleshooting or general use.
Make sure the names you choose are clear and understable, such as ‘Customers’ rather than ‘C’.
4. Setting Primary and Secondary Fields
Within table properties, the primary field and secondary field play crucial roles:
- Primary field: This is the main field for the table, which often holds the unique identifier or primary key for each record. It is automatically created when a new table is created and always surfaced in lookup views and entity reference fields.
- Secondary Field: This is a non-required field that gives additional information about a record.
Example:
If we take a Customers table, we could have ‘Customer ID’ as the primary field and ‘Customer Name’ as the secondary field.
5. Data Type and Format
In table properties, you can specify the data type and format for each field. This will dictate the kind of information that can be entered into each field.
There are several data types available like Text, Option Set, Two Options, Image, Whole Number, Decimal Number, Currency, Multiple Lines of Text, Date and Time, Lookup.
Within each data type, you can set different formats. For instance, for a ‘Date and Time’ datatype, you can choose to display only the date, or include time essentials as well with minute and second details.
6. Operational / Environmental Properties
Some of the other settings in table properties fall under operational/environmental properties. These includes:
- Ownership: This denotes whether a table is owned by an organization, a team, or a user.
- Auditing: This allows you to turn on auditing for a table.
- Duplicate Detection: Allows you to prevent duplicate records being created in the table.
Implementing correct table properties in Microsoft Power Platform can radically transform how you interact with data, and play a major role in streamlining data management.
7. Conclusion
Understanding table properties in the Microsoft Power Platform enables Functional Consultants to better customize and manage data structures for their organization. By properly configuring these properties, you can create an organized, efficient system for data storage and retrieval that fits your organization’s specific needs.
Practice Test
Is it possible to specify a column width in the table?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: In Microsoft Power Platform, you can easily specify the column width of your table under table properties.
Can primary field name from an Excel table be used directly when importing data?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: During the import process, an Excel table’s primary field can be mapped directly and used in Power Platform.
Is it necessary to configure the business rule at the table level?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Yes, business rules must be configured at the table level to ensure they apply to the entire table, irrespective of the form or view where the table fields are used.
Can a table’s display name have spaces in it?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: A table’s display name in Microsoft Power Platform can contain spaces, and can easily be changed.
What is the maximum field length for a text field in a table?
- A) 400 characters
- B) 500 characters
- C) 255 characters
- D) 1000 characters
Answer: C) 255 characters
Explanation: The maximum field length for a text field in a Power Platform table is 255 characters.
Once created, the Data Type of a column in a table cannot be changed.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Once the Data Type of a column is set and saved during creation, it cannot be changed.
Is it possible to hide specific columns in a table in Power Platform?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Power Platform provides the functionality to hide specific columns in a table using the ‘Visible’ property of the column.
The ‘Display Name’ and ‘Name’ for a table are always the same.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: ‘Display Name’ and ‘Name’ for a table can be different, ‘Display Name’ is what users see on the UI while ‘Name’ is the internal name of the table.
Is it possible to add custom columns to a table in Power Platform?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Power Platform allows users to add custom columns to a table according to their needs.
The primary field of a table is auto-populated by Microsoft Power Platform.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: The primary field of a table is automatically populated by Power Platform and this field is often used to provide a descriptive name for records.
Is it compatible to use SharePoint integration in Microsoft Power Platform?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: SharePoint can be integrated with the Power Platform for storing and managing documents related to table records.
Is it possible to delete a column from a table that is being referenced by a relationship?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: A column that is being used in a relationship cannot be deleted, as it would break the integrity of that relationship.
Can you change the order of columns in a table after the table has been created?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Microsoft Power Platform provides the flexibility to rearrange the order of columns even after the table has been created.
Can you set default values for columns in a table?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Default values can be set for columns in a table, which will be automatically filled in when a new record is created.
Is SQL Server used as the backend database for tables in Power Platform?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: SQL Server is used as the backend database for storing table data in Microsoft Power Platform.
Interview Questions
How would you go about adding a new field to a table in Microsoft Power Platform?
To add a new field to a table, navigate to Data > Tables, select the desired table, click on the ‘Columns’ tab, and then click on ‘Add Column’. Fill in the necessary details such as Name, Data type, and Field Requirement and then select ‘Done’.
What is the purpose of ‘Schema Name’ while configuring table properties in Microsoft Power Platform?
‘Schema Name’ is a unique identifier that is assigned to a field. It is used for coding and cannot be changed after the field is created.
How can you rename a table in Microsoft Power Platform?
To rename a table, navigate to the existing table under Data > Tables, select it, click on the ‘Details’ tab, click ‘edit’ next to the Display name, and the input the desired name.
When configuring table properties, what types of relationships can you create between tables?
The types of relationships you can create between tables in Microsoft Power Platform are ‘One to Many’, ‘Many to One’, and ‘Many to Many’.
How can you create a new relationship in Microsoft Power Platform?
To create a new relationship, navigate to Data > Tables, select the table you want to create a relationship for, click ‘Relationships’ > ‘Add a Relationship’, and then define your relationship.
How do you delete a table in Microsoft Power Platform?
To delete a table, navigate to the tables list under Data > Tables, select the table you want to delete, and then click the ‘Delete’ button.
Is it possible to restore a table that was deleted in Microsoft Power Platform?
No, once a table is deleted in Microsoft Power Platform, it cannot be restored.
What is a ‘Primary Field’ in a table, and why is it important?
The ‘Primary Field’ of a table is the main field that is used to identify the records in the table. It is important because it provides a quick way to identify and make reference to a specific record.
How can you set the primary field in a table?
The primary field in a table is set during table creation and defaults to the name field. It cannot be changed after the table is created.
What are ‘alternative keys’ in a table and what are they used for?
‘Alternative keys’ are fields defined in a table that serve as unique identifiers. They are used for record lookups and record references.
How can you change the display order of fields in a form?
The display order of fields in a form can be changed by navigating to the form layout and using drag-and-drop to rearrange the fields.
What is ‘Field Requirement’ and what options are available when setting it up for a field?
‘Field Requirement’ is a field property that defines whether a field is required or optional. The options available are ‘Optional’, ‘Business Recommended’, and ‘Business Required’.
What is the purpose of ‘Data Type’ in a table field?
The ‘Data Type’ of a table field determines what kind of data that field can store. Examples of data types include text, number, date and time, and lookup.
How can you change the ‘Data Type’ of an existing field in a table?
You cannot change the ‘Data Type’ of an existing field in a table. Instead, you must delete the existing field and create a new field with the desired ‘Data Type’.
How can you add a description to a table in Microsoft Power Platform?
To add a description to a table, navigate to the table’s ‘Details’ tab and click ‘Edit’ next to the ‘Description’. You can then input the desired description.
extutorials.com