Dataverse is an essential service in the Power Platform used for storing business data. The platform has significant capabilities for event-driven actions via various triggers, such as updating, deleting, or creating data. To handle these events specialized business logic is necessary. This can be achieved via a plugin. This article will guide you on how to publish a Dataverse event using the Plugin Registration Tool, offering a step-by-step walk-through with examples, which are vital for your PL-400 certification.
Step 1: Download and Install the Registration Tool
The Plugin Registration Tool is a central component in this process. To obtain it, the initial step requires you to download the Plugin Registration Tool using NuGet package manager in Visual Studio. This can be done by selecting the “NuGet Package Manager” from “References” and then search for Microsoft.CrmSdk.XrmTooling.PluginRegistrationTool and install it.
Step 2: Register a New Assembly
Once you have the Plugin Registration Tool installed, the next step is to register a new assembly. An assembly is a collection of types and resources that function as a unit of functionality for an application. This can be done by clicking on “Register” > “Register New Assembly” on the tool’s main screen.
Step 3: Register the Steps
After the assembly registration, the next move is registering the steps or the triggers that cause your plugin to execute. Go to “Register” > “Register New Step”. Here you’ll be able to associate your assembly (Plugin) with specific events (e.g., Create, Update, and Delete) on a Dataverse entity.
Step 4: Specify Step Configuration
After setting the trigger, you’ll need to specify the event and its configuration. For example, if you want to execute a plugin when a new record is created in a particular Dataverse entity, you’ll select the entity and the Create event.
Next, you’ll configure when your plugin should be executed in the pipeline of the event-handling mechanism; pre-validation, pre-operation, or post-operation.
- Pre-validation: occurs prior to the security checks made by the platform.
- Pre-operation: occurs after system security checks and before changes are saved to the database.
- Post-operation: occurs after the final update of the database.
Step 5: Publish the Plugin
After creating the configuration, the next step is to publish the plugin. Simply click on the “Register New Step” button. Once registered, your plugin will react according to the specification in the event of the registration steps.
This article has guided you through the process of publishing a Dataverse event by using the Plugin Registration Tool, which is a significant part of the PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer certification. We discussed the steps to download and install the Plugin Registration Tool, register a new assembly, define the steps, set configurations and, ultimately, publish the plugin.
Having mastered these steps, you now are one step closer to successfully passing the PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer exam while having enhanced your skills and becoming a proficient Power Platform Developer. As you prepare for the exam, remember to practice with real-world scenarios and gain hands-on experience whenever possible to deeply embed this knowledge.
Practice Test
True or False: The Plugin Registration Tool is used to publish events to Dataverse.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The Plugin Registration Tool allows you to manage and deploy plugins, which can be used to publish events to Microsoft Dataverse.
Which of the following can be performed by using the Plugin Registration Tool?
- a. Register a new assembly
- b. Unregister a plugin
- c. Update an assembly
- d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
Explanation: The Plugin Registration Tool allows for multiple functions including registering a new assembly, unregistering a plugin, and updating an assembly.
True or False: The Plugin Registration Tool supports only synchronous event execution.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The Plugin Registration Tool supports both synchronous and asynchronous event execution in Microsoft Dataverse.
What is necessary to use the Plugin Registration Tool?
- a. Microsoft Dataverse
- b. A registered plugin
- c. An event to publish
- d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
Explanation: To use the Plugin Registration Tool, you need Microsoft Dataverse, a registered plugin, and an event to publish.
True or False: Plugin Registration Tool can be used offline.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The Plugin Registration Tool requires a connection to Microsoft Dataverse. Thus, it cannot function offline.
Single select: Which of the following is not a step in using the Plugin Registration Tool to publish a Dataverse event?
- a. Registering a new step
- b. Unregistering the event
- c. Registering a new image
- d. Registering an entity
Answer: b. Unregistering the event
Explanation: Unregistering an event is not a step when publishing a Dataverse event using the Plugin Registration Tool. You typically perform operations like registering a new step, image, and entity.
True or False: The Plugin Registration Tool cannot publish events to old versions of Microsoft Dataverse.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The Plugin Registration Tool is designed to work with the latest versions of Microsoft Dataverse and may not be compatible with older versions.
Single select: What must be specified when registering a new step with the Plugin Registration Tool?
- a. Message
- b. Event handler
- c. Primary entity
- d. All of the above
Answer: d. All of the above
Explanation: When registering a new step with the Plugin Registration Tool, the message, event handler, and primary entity all must be specified.
True or False: Using the Plugin Registration Tool, you can register a plugin to execute on a single Dataverse instance only.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The Plugin Registration Tool enables you to register a plugin to have it execute across multiple instances of Dataverse.
Single Select: Which step is not part of the workflow for publishing events to Microsoft Dataverse?
- a. Register Assembly
- b. Register Plugin
- c. Register Image
- d. Unregister Image
Answer: d. Unregister Image
Explanation: Unregistering an image is not a required step in the workflow for publishing events to Microsoft Dataverse using the Plugin Registration Tool.
Interview Questions
What is the main purpose of the Plug-in Registration Tool in Microsoft Power Platform?
The Plug-in Registration Tool is primarily used for registering plug-ins and custom workflow activities with Microsoft Dataverse.
What is Dataverse in the context of Microsoft Power Platform?
Dataverse is a Microsoft’s cloud-based solution that stores and manages data for business applications. It allows securely storing and managing data used by business applications.
Which types of events can you typically register for with the Plug-in Registration Tool?
With the Plug-in Registration Tool, you can typically register for Create, Update, Delete, Retrieve, Retrieve Multiple, and other events regarding various entities in Dataverse.
How does the registration of a Plug-in benefit business applications?
When a plug-in is registered, it can respond to various events from Dataverse within the application and improve functionality, automate processes and help in integrating with other systems.
What type of environment is recommended for using the Plug-in Registration Tool?
It is typically recommended to use the Plug-in Registration Tool in a development or non-production environment, as registering and troubleshooting plug-ins can impact the operation of Dataverse and related applications.
What is the main requirement for using the Plug-in Registration Tool?
To use the Plug-in Registration Tool, you need to have System Administrator or System Customizer security role or equivalent permissions.
How do you connect the Plug-in Registration Tool to Dataverse?
To connect the tool to Dataverse, you need to download and launch the tool, then connect to your Dataverse environment by entering your credentials and specifying the URL of your Dataverse environment.
Can you unregister an event from a plug-in using the Plug-in Registration Tool?
Yes, the Plug-in Registration Tool provides an option to unregister an event from a plug-in.
How do you update a registered plug-in using the Plug-in Registration Tool?
To update a plug-in, initially select it from the list in the tool, then click update and upload the new assembly.
Can the Plug-in Registration Tool be used to debug plug-ins?
Yes, the Plug-in Registration Tool can be used with the Profiler solution component to debug plug-ins.
How does a plug-in interact with Dataverse after being registered with the Plug-in Registration Tool?
After being registered, a plug-in typically listens for the specified events and reacts based on the business logic defined within the plug-in, thus integrating with and enhancing the functionality of Dataverse.
Does Microsoft provide any other approaches for registering Plug-ins besides the Plug-in registration tool?
Yes, Microsoft provides alternate approaches, including Azure DevOps, Power Apps CLI for automated registrations, and also a manual registration using the Plug-in Registration Tool.
Are there precautions to take when unregistering a plug-in with the Plug-in Registration Tool?
Yes, as unregistering a plug-in will remove the plug-in from Dataverse, it should be done with caution in a production environment. It is suggested to ensure all dependencies are properly managed before removing a plug-in.
Is it possible to register a custom workflow using the Plug-in Registration Tool?
Yes, you can register custom workflow activities using the Plug-in Registration Tool in a similar way as registering plug-ins.
Can we register a plug-in assembly that was not signed with a strong key?
No, a plug-in assembly must be signed with a strong key (also known as a strong name) before it can be registered.
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