Microsoft’s Power Platform is a reliable series of applications that aids businesses in automating tasks and analyzing data, thereby increasing productivity and efficiency. The PL-400 exam, Microsoft Power Platform Developer, delves into the skills and knowledge required to design, develop, secure, and troubleshoot Power Platform solutions. Among numerous topics, it covers listening to Dataverse events. Here, we aim to clarify your options for listening to these events employing Microsoft Power Platform.
The Role of Dataverse
Dataverse, formerly known as Common Data Service (CDS), provides scalable and secure data storage and modeling capabilities. It plays a pivotal role in managing and structuring data in PowerApps, Microsoft Flow, Power BI, and other Dynamics 365 applications. From an implementation perspective, Dataverse events can be tracked and managed using multiple methods.
Method 1: Using Plug-Ins
Firstly, we can integrate plug-ins that can be triggered to respond to a variety of Dataverse events. These plug-ins are custom business logic assemblies that are integrated within the Dataverse. They are triggered by particular events occurring – for instance, if an entity was updated or created.
<code>
using System;
using Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk;
public class MyPlugin : IPlugin
{
public void Execute(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
{
// Obtain the execution context from the service provider.
IPluginExecutionContext context = (IPluginExecutionContext)
serviceProvider.GetService(typeof(IPluginExecutionContext));
// Input and Output parameters:
if (context.InputParameters.Contains(“Target”) &&
context.InputParameters[“Target”] is Entity)
{
Entity entity = (Entity)context.InputParameters[“Target”];
// TODO: Do something with the updated entity
}
}
}
</code>
This code snippet demonstrates a simple plug-in in C#. The `Execute` method is the entry point for a plug-in, which can respond to a documented set of events by Dataverse.
Method 2: Using Power Automate
Secondly, another option for handling Dataverse events is through Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow), utilizing triggers to respond to Dataverse events. Power Automate can handle a wide range of events such as create, update, delete, assign, status change, and many more. Power Automate flows are fairly simple to configure and can be triggered on-demand or in response to an event within Dataverse.
For instance, a flow can be created to be triggered when a record is created for a specific entity in Dataverse:
- Go to Power Automate.
- Create a new flow.
- Select a Dataverse trigger like the ‘When a record is created’.
- In the ‘Entity Name’, select the entity you want the flow to apply to.
- Now build the flow with the rest of the actions.
- Save and test the flow.
With Power Automate’s impressive array of connectors to other services and applications, this is a potent choice for listening and reacting to Dataverse events.
Method 3: Using Application Insights
Lastly, the use of Application Insights, a feature of Azure Monitor, can be enabled to capture and analyze telemetry data from Dataverse. This helps in capturing request telemetry for OData v4 actions/workflows and plug-ins, UI interactions/commands occurring too, among others. Insights include summaries, detailed message breakdowns, and diagnostics for each operation, providing developers a wealth of knowledge.
Summary
In summary, Microsoft Power Platform presents several methods to listen to Dataverse events, including plug-ins, Power Automate, and Application Insights. Each method has its pros and cons, and the choice largely depends on the project requirements. It is crucial for a Power Platform developer to be familiar with these options to utilize and leverage them effectively. This topic forms a fundamental part of the PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer exam and helps developers build more efficient, scalable, and robust Power Platform solutions.
Practice Test
Dataverse provides a built-in mechanism to react to CRUD (Create, Read, Update, and Delete) operations through plugins and business rules.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Yes, the Dataverse provides the capability to react to CRUD operations through the usage of plugins and business rules.
The only way to listen to Dataverse events is the webhook.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: While webhooks are one of the ways to subscribe to Dataverse events, other options, such as plugins, business rules and flows are also available.
What are some of the options for listening to Dataverse events? (Multiple Select)
- A) Business Rules
- B) Plugins
- C) Power Automate Flows
- D) HTTP Requests
Answer: A) Business Rules, B) Plugins, C) Power Automate Flows
Explanation: Business Rules, Plugins, and Power Automate Flows are all viable options for listening to Dataverse events.
Is it true that subscribing to events in Dataverse is limited to Business Rules and Webhooks?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Subscribing to events is not limited to business rules and webhooks. Plugins and Power Automate Flows are also options.
Plugins in Dataverse can only execute synchronously.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Plugins in Dataverse can execute either synchronously or asynchronously.
Webhooks can only listen to create events in Dataverse.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Webhooks can listen to create, update, delete and other events in Dataverse.
Power Automate Flows are the most flexible way to listen to Dataverse events.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Power Automate Flows are a flexible way to listen to Dataverse events, but they may not always be the ‘most’ flexible option. The best choice depends on the specific use-case.
Power Automate Flows can only listen to Dataverse events, not react to them.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Power Automate Flows can both listen to Dataverse events and perform actions in response to them.
Business rules in Dataverse can only trigger on create and update events.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: In Dataverse, Business rules can only trigger on create and update events.
All Dataverse events, including Update, can be listened to via Plugins and Power Automate?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Yes, all events including Update can be listened to via both Plugins and Power Automate Flows in Dataverse.
Business rules in Dataverse can be executed asynchronously?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Business rules in Dataverse can only be executed synchronously.
Can you use Server-side logic with the Common Data Service (CDS) to respond to data integration events within the Dataverse?
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Yes, server-side logic with the CDS lets you respond to data integration events within the Dataverse. This includes business rules, webhooks, and more.
Only Plugins can listen to multiple events at once in Dataverse.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Not just Plugins, but Power Automate Flows and webhooks can also listen to multiple events simultaneously.
Power Automate Flows in the context of Dataverse events can only execute synchronously.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: B) False
Explanation: Power Automate Flows can be configured to execute either synchronously or asynchronously.
Plugins in Dataverse can be triggered by Update and Delete events.
- A) True
- B) False
Answer: A) True
Explanation: Plugins can indeed listen to and be triggered by multiple types of events in Dataverse, including Update and Delete events.
Interview Questions
Q1: What is Dataverse?
A1: Dataverse is a Microsoft service that offers a secure and professionally managed database to store and manage data used by business applications.
Q2: What are Dataverse events?
A2: Dataverse events are actions or occurrences of interest within a system that are detected or triggered by Microsoft Dataverse. These can include operations such as Create, Update, Delete, or others.
Q3: What are the ways to listen to Dataverse events?
A3: You can listen to Dataverse events using plugins, business rules, workflows, or webhooks.
Q4: What are plugins in Microsoft Dataverse?
A4: Plugins are custom pieces of business logic that you can trigger upon certain events occurring within the Microsoft Dataverse to adapt or extend default behavior.
Q5: What role do webhooks play in listening to Dataverse events?
A5: Webhooks provide a way to send a HTTP POST payload to the endpoint you specify any time an event happens in Dataverse. This can be useful for integrating Dataverse events with external systems or applications.
Q6: How do workflows contribute to listening to Dataverse events?
A6: Workflows in Microsoft Dataverse are automated processes that can respond to specific events. When an event occurs that triggers a workflow, predefined actions get executed.
Q7: How do business rules allow us to listen to Dataverse events?
A7: Business rules provide a simple interface for you to implement and maintain fast-changing, commonly used business rules. They are triggered by create or update operations.
Q8: Can we listen to Dataverse events in real-time?
A8: Yes, by using plugins or webhooks you can manage and handle Dataverse events in real-time.
Q9: Can we define custom events in the Microsoft Dataverse?
A9: Currently, you cannot define custom events in Microsoft Dataverse.
Q10: What are the main actions in Dataverse that can trigger events?
A10: The main action in Dataverse that can trigger events are Create, Update, Delete, Retrieve, Retrieve Multiple, and Associate or Disassociate.
Q11: Can we use Azure Logic Apps to listen Dataverse events?
A11: Yes, Azure Logic Apps provide a way to simplify and implement scalable integrations and workflows in the cloud. It allows to create complex logic for advanced integration scenario and can be used to listen Dataverse events.
Q12: Can you explain how to handle errors in plugins?
A12: Errors can be handled within a try-catch statement in plugins. When an exception is caught, you can use the ITracingService to log errors, which can then be viewed in the plugin trace logs.
Q13: Is it possible to consume Dataverse events from an external application?
A13: Yes, by using Webhooks, one can consume Dataverse events from an external application.
Q14: Can two or more plugins be triggered by the same event in Dataverse?
A14: Yes, it’s possible for two or more plugins to listen to and be triggered by the same event in Dataverse.
Q15: Is there a specific sequence to follow when multiple plugins or workflows listen to the same event in Dataverse?
A15: If multiple plugins or workflows are registered against the same event, the order of execution is determined by the Execution Order Value with the lower numbers being executed first.
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