Before diving into creating models, it’s crucial to understand what custom connectors are and their importance. In Power Automate, custom connectors are used to create a link between any web-based service that uses an API and the Power Automate platform. This allows Power Automate to tap into and utilize these services.
Common scenarios where custom connectors are used include:
- The service you want to connect to does not have a pre-built connector in Power Automate
- You want to connect to on-premises data
Creating a Custom Connector
Step 1: Define the Connector
In the Power Automate portal, go to ‘Data’ -> ‘Custom Connectors’. here, click the ‘+ New custom connector’ and choose how you want to create your connector.
The options available usually include, creating from blank, importing an OpenAPI file, importing a Postman collection, or by using a URL.
Step 2: General Information
Enter the general details for your connector such as:
- The connector’s name
- Host URL
- Base URL
Step 3: Security
Here, define how your connector authenticates to the service endpoint. Power Automate supports several authentication types like:
- No authentication
- Basic authentication
- API Key authentication
- OAuth 2.0
Make sure to choose an authentication type that is supported by your service endpoint.
Step 4: Define the Operations
Define the actions that your connector can take. These actions translate to the REST API operations; Put, Post, Get, Delete.
Each operation you define needs:
- Operation ID
- Request details
- Response details
Step 5: Test Your Connector
Before releasing your connector, it’s important to test it to ensure it works correctly. Use the ‘Test’ tab in the custom connector wizard for this.
Step 6: Connector Deployment
Once tested and ready, you can create the connector. Once created, you can then share the connector with others in your organization.
Conclusion
Creating a custom connector can be crucial in establishing a link between Power Automate and your chosen web service. The PL-500 Microsoft Power Automate RPA Developer exam may require a deep understanding of creating, testing, and deploying a custom connector. By understanding the general information, the security methods, defining operations, and testing procedure, candidates can ensure they’re well prepared for any questions relating to custom connectors.
Practice Test
True/False: To create a custom connector, you need to have prior programming experience.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Although having programming skills helps with understanding the process, it’s not a strict requirement. Microsoft Power Automate provides a user-friendly and intuitive interface to set up custom connectors.
True/False: Custom connectors in Microsoft Power Automate can only connect with Microsoft products.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Custom connectors can connect with any public web services using a RESTful endpoint, not just Microsoft products.
In the context of Microsoft Power Automate, what is an important use of custom connectors?
- a) To ease connection with public web services.
- b) To extend functionalities of existing services.
- c) To create custom workflows.
- d) All of the above.
Answer: d) All of the above.
Explanation: Custom connectors are beneficial for connecting with any public web services using RESTful endpoint, extending functionalities of existing services and creating custom workflows.
Which programming methodology do custom connectors follow?
- a) RESTful
- b) SOAP
- c) OData
Answer: a) RESTful
Explanation: Custom connectors use the RESTful web services. The API with which Power Automate connects should follow RESTful conventions.
Which developer tools are used to create a custom connector in Microsoft Power Automate?
- a) Postman
- b) Swagger
- c) Power Automate Studio
- d) All of the above
Answer: d) All of the above
Explanation: All listed tools can be used to create and define custom connectors in Microsoft Power Automate.
True/False: The ‘Test’ tab in the custom connector wizard is optional and does not need to be completed.
- Answer: False.
Explanation: The ‘Test’ tab is significant. It allows you to perform tests and validate that your connector is working correctly before distributing it.
Which among these is NOT a step in creating a custom connector in Power Automate?
- a) Defining the connector
- b) Adding an action
- c) Shaping the data
- d) Installing updates
Answer: d) Installing updates.
Explanation: Installing updates isn’t a step in creating a custom connector. The main steps involve defining the connector, adding actions, and shaping the data.
Can a custom connector connect to on-premise data sources?
- a) Yes
- b) No
Answer: a) Yes.
Explanation: Yes, with the help of On-premises data gateway, a custom connector can connect to on-premise data sources.
True/False: Custom connectors can only be used by the person who created them.
- Answer: False.
Explanation: Once created, custom connectors can be published and made available to other users within the organization.
What format should the web API definition be in for defining a custom connector?
- a) XML
- b) Swagger (OpenAPI)
- c) CSV
Answer: b) Swagger (OpenAPI)
Explanation: Swagger or OpenAPI definition files are widely used to create the custom connector, as they include the details about the API and how to connect to it.
Which of these is not a security authentication type supported by custom connectors?
- a) OAuth 0
- b) API Key
- c) Basic auth
- d) Kerberos.
Answer: d) Kerberos.
Explanation: Kerberos is not a supported type of security authentication for custom connectors in Power Automate. The system supports API Key, Basic auth, and OAuth 0 authentication types.
True/False: Custom connectors are only supported in Cloud Flows.
- Answer: True.
Explanation: As of now, custom connectors can only be used in Cloud Flows in Power Automate.
Multi-choice: Which of the following resources can define a connector?
- a) Postman Collection
- b) OpenAPI definition
- c) SOAP
Answer: a) Postman Collection, b) OpenAPI definition.
Explanation: A custom connector is usually defined by a Postman Collection or an OpenAPI definition, SOAP is not used to define connectors.
Which built-in functionality do custom connectors in Microsoft Power Automate lack?
- a) Pagination
- b) Error handling
- c) Parameter decoration
- d) None of the above.
Answer: d) None of the above.
Explanation: All these functionalities — Pagination, Error handling, Parameter decoration — are built into custom connectors in Microsoft Power Automate.
True/False: One has to re-create the custom connector for each new API version.
- Answer: False
Explanation: If there are new operations in a Swagger file that you updated, you can refresh the custom connector to get the new or updated operations without recreating it.
Interview Questions
What is a custom connector in the context of Microsoft Power Automate?
A custom connector is a wrapper around a REST API that allows Power Automate, Power Apps, and Azure Logic Apps to communicate with that REST API.
What kind of HTTP methods can a custom connector use?
A custom connector can use several HTTP methods, including GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, and DELETE.
What are the three main components of a custom connector?
The three main components of a custom connector are the general details, the security details (authentication type), and the definition of the API (the actions and triggers that the connector has).
How can you test a custom connector in Microsoft Power Automate?
You can test a custom connector by creating a flow that uses the custom connector, or you can use the “Test” tab in the custom connector designer.
How many types of authentication are supported by custom connectors in Microsoft Power Automate?
Microsoft Power Automate supports six types of authentication for custom connectors: No authentication, Basic authentication, API Key, OAuth 2.0, OAuth 2.0 Generic, and OAuth 2.0 Azure AD.
What should be included in the “Definition” section when building a custom connector?
The “Definition” section of a custom connector should include the actions and triggers the API can perform, the inputs and outputs for each action, and the default response for each action.
What is “No authentication” in custom connectors?
“No authentication” means that the custom connector does not require any form of authentication to communicate with the API.
How can you modify an existing custom connector in Microsoft Power Automate?
You can modify an existing custom connector from the custom connectors page in Power Automate by choosing a connector and selecting “Edit”.
What is the purpose of the “Import from sample” feature when creating a custom connector definition?
The “Import from sample” feature allows you to enter an example of a request and response from your API and then generates a schema based upon that example.
What parameters can you specify when defining an action in a custom connector?
When defining an action in a custom connector, you can specify the summary, description, operation ID, visibility, and parameters or the request body.
Is it possible to define triggers for a custom connector?
Yes, a custom connector in Microsoft Power Automate can have triggers defined that cause flows to run when specific events happen in the connected service.
What is the role of the “Update connector” action?
The “Update connector” action is used to update the properties of a custom connector in Microsoft Power Automate.
What operations can be performed in the Validation section of a custom connector?
In the Validation section of a custom connector, you can test each operation defined in the connector. You can provide input if needed and see the output of the operation.
Does Microsoft Power Automate support shared custom connectors?
Yes, Microsoft Power Automate supports shared custom connectors. These can be reused across different flows and apps within the same environment.
Can custom connectors handle file input and output?
Yes, custom connectors in Microsoft Power Automate can handle both file input and output. They can parse a variety of files such as images, audio, video, and documents.
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