Configuring columns in PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer exam pertains to creating, managing and customizing data columns in different data structures, like Dataverse tables. Columns are used to store data values in a table. Each column is designed to store certain types of data. They are essentially attributes that define the kind of data that table will store.
To establish an understanding of how columns configuration works in Power Platform, this article is used to cover column creation, types of columns, column management, and column customization.
I. Column Creation
When creating a column in Power Platform, you must specify the type of data that column will store. Microsoft Power Platform supports numerous data types, each designed to store specific kinds of data. These types include Single Line of Text, Option Set, Whole Number, Decimal Number, Currency, Multiple Lines of Text, Date and Time, Lookup, and more.
Here’s an example on how to create a column:
1. Select ‘Tables’.
2. Choose the relevant table you want to add a column to, and then select ‘Columns’.
3. Click on ‘+ Add column’.
4. Provide a Display Name and Name for your column.
5. Specify the Data Type you require from the drop-down list. If applicable, configure the additional settings that appear below according to your needs.
6. Click on ‘Done’, and don’t forget to save your table.
II. Types of Columns
Different types of columns can be created within Power Platform. Here are some of the column types:
- Calculated: This column type combines operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, etc., on data from existing columns to generate new meaningful data.
- Rollup: This type works on hierarchical data. It applies aggregate functions to related records and displays the gathered data in the parent record.
- Business rule columns: These are new columns created to store the results of business rules applied at the table level.
III. Column Management
Columns can be managed after their creation – you can edit them, delete them, customize their attributes, etc. Yet, it’s essential to understand that some operations can impact the data stored in the columns or the application’s operation using those columns.
For example, to delete a column, perform the following steps:
1. Navigate to the table where the column is located.
2. Click on ‘Columns’ in the table’s control panel.
3. Select the column you intend to delete.
4. Click ‘Delete’ and confirm your action.
5. Save the changes to the table.
Remember: Be careful when deleting a column – it will permanently delete all data stored in that column.
IV. Column Customization
Column customization involves modifying the properties and behavior of columns after their creation. Some of these customizations include setting a column to mandatory or optional, configuring the column type, customizing the maximum length of data in a column, etc.
For instance, to set a column to mandatory:
1. Navigate to the table where the column is located.
2. Click on ‘Columns’.
3. Select the column, and under ‘Requirements’, choose ‘Business Required’.
4. Save the changes.
This will ensure that data must be entered into this field, or else the application will return an error.
In conclusion, the configuration of columns forms an integral part of the PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer exam. Understanding how to create, manage, and customize columns will provide a robust foundation for managing data effectively with Power Platform applications. It’s recommended to always explore and practice in the Power Platform environment to familiarize yourself with how it works and understand the potential impact of changes to your data structures.
Practice Test
Question 1: In Microsoft Power Platform, it is possible to change a data type of an existing column.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: Yes, it is possible to change the data type of an existing column in Microsoft Power Platform but the column should not contain any data before changing its data type.
Question 2: Calculated columns in Microsoft Power Platform automatically generate a default value for new rows.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: Calculated columns automatically determine the values for each row based on the calculation logic provided.
Question 3: You can’t add a new column in Microsoft Power Platform after table creation.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: In Microsoft Power Platform you can add a new column at any point in time even after the table creation.
Question 4: A primary name column in every table is mandatory in Microsoft Power Platform.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: A primary name column is mandatory in every table in Microsoft Power Platform as it is used to represent the data in the record.
Question 5: In Microsoft Power Platform, there is no limit on the number of columns which you can add in a table.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: There is a limit on the number of columns you can add in a table in Microsoft Power Platform.
Question 6: What are the different types of columns available in Microsoft Power Platform?
- 1) Option set
- 2) Look Up
- 3) Calculated
- 4) All of the above
Answer: 4) All of the above
Explanation: All are the different types of columns available in Microsoft Power Platform.
Question 7: The Two Options data type allows more than two options to be chosen.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: The Two Options data type allows only two options to be chosen.
Question 8: You can rename a column in Microsoft Power Platform.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: You can rename a column in Microsoft Power Platform but you have to make sure that no references are present to the old name.
Question 9: Name is a system column which cannot be renamed or deleted.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: Name is a system column in Microsoft Power Platform which cannot be renamed or deleted.
Question 10: Multi-select option set allows you to select more than one option.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: As the name suggests, Multi-select option set allows you to select more than one option.
Question 11: Which of the following are valid operations for columns in Microsoft Power Platform?
- 1) Add new
- 2) Update
- 3) Delete
- 4) All of the above
Answer: 4) All of the above
Explanation: All are valid operations that can be performed on columns in Microsoft Power Platform.
Question 12: Can column descriptions be changed in the Microsoft Power Platform?
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: Column descriptions can be changed in the Microsoft Power Platform to detail its purpose/usage.
Question 13: The changes to the column configuration in Microsoft Power Platform take effect immediately.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: The changes take effect only after you publish the customization.
Question 14: In Microsoft Power Platform, primary name column is not available for custom tables.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 2) False
Explanation: Every table (custom or system) in Microsoft Power Platform includes one primary name column.
Question 15: Rollup columns can calculate values from related activities or related records.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: 1) True
Explanation: Rollup columns in Microsoft Power Platform can calculate values from related activities or related records.
Interview Questions
What type of data can a column in Microsoft Power Platform hold?
A column can house a variety of data types like string, option set, Boolean, date and time, currency, number, etc.
How does a primary name field work in configuring columns?
The primary name field automatically gets created when the entity is created and is used to store the name of the record.
How can you modify a column’s requirement level in Microsoft Power Platform?
The requirement level of a column can be modified in its property page. You can set it to “No Constraint”, “System Recommended”, or “Business Required”.
What does a Logical name in a column represent?
The logical name of a column is used in code to reference that column. It is auto-generated when the column is created and typically can’t be altered.
What is ‘Display Name’ in the context of configuring columns?
Display Name is the name of the column that is shown in the application’s interface.
What are lookup columns?
Lookup columns are used to create a relationship that links this entity to another entity.
What role does field type play in columns?
Field type determines the type of data a field can contain and how the data is displayed in an app or service, e.g., text, number, choice, currency, date and time, etc.
What is the Maximum Length property for columns?
The Maximum Length property defines the maximum number of characters that the column can contain.
In what circumstances would the ‘Searchable’ property of a column be set to ‘No’?
‘Searchable’ property would be set to ‘No’ for columns that you do not want to be available in Advanced Find, or if you don’t want the column data to be available for being searched via Quick Find and relevance search.
What is the purpose of a calculated column?
A calculated column uses a formula to calculate the value of this column from other columns. This is often used to automatically ensure data consistency and correctness.
Is it possible to change the logical name of a column?
No, you cannot change the logical name of a column after it’s been created. The logical name is used in the code to reference that column.
What does Audit Record Creation and Update do while configuring columns?
Auditing Record Creation and Update allows for maintaining a historical record of all changes made to the column data.
Is it possible to delete system columns in Microsoft Power Platform?
No, system columns cannot be deleted, they can only be customized or hidden.
What is “Roll-up” field?
A Roll-up field contains an aggregate value computed over the records related to a specific record.
How can the duplicate detection be enabled for a particular column?
Duplicate detection for a specific column can be enabled by setting the ‘Duplicate Detection’ property to ‘Yes’ in the field’s properties.
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