Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

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Posted on by Burak_Oezfalci

Hi Guys, this is my second question in this forum.

I had already a topic, but it does not go into the right direction maybe because i was too focused on power apps.

https://community.dynamics.com/365/sales/f/dynamics-365-for-sales-forum/401798/how-to-create-a-power-app-for-dynamics-365-sales-which-imports-data-from-another-system

Therefore I wanted to start again without focusing on a specific technology.

I have the following use case, with use an external system where we have contracts which we want to bring into our Dynamics 365, the external system offers us a REST API for interaction.

I started doing Microsoft Dynamics Tutorial, where you create a plug-in and workflow extensions for CDS/Dynamics 365.

I also started interacting with PowerApps.

But I am still not sure, which type of Dynamics 365 extension would be the best solution for completing my use case.

I have lots of Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain Management Development experience, but it does not help me for Dynamics 365.

I just don't know where to start and with which technology, would be great if someone is more experienced with using Dynamics 365 could help me out.

Thanks alot.

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Haansi 1,433 Moderator on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

hi @Burak_Oezfalci,

Sorry I couldn't reply earlier.

I have checked and probably that is a limitation. Out of box we only can access Flows that runs on row selected.

But if it is critical, here is a solution. You will need to do some customization, here is link:

www.d365geek.co.uk/.../Call-a-Power-Automate-Flow-from-Custom-button-in-CDSD365

I hope it will help. If mark the replies as answered if they were helpful.

Thanks
Burak_Oezfalci 10 on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

Yeah sure, will wait for your answer.

Thanks alot
Haansi 1,433 Moderator on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

hi Burak,

Probably you are right but I can confirm you after seeing this in my instance, I m away for a day and will check and confirm later if thats ok ?
Burak_Oezfalci 10 on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

Hi Yawer, I can see the flow icon, it also shows my flows.

But when I don't select an existing product, then the following error message is shown.

Sorry for the german labels, our system language is german.

Error says missing record information.

This is due to the structure of the flow.

The first step is the CDS trigger, when a record is selected.

I am not using the data from the selected record.

When i tried to remove the trigger and add another trigger, then my flow was not shown anymore in the Dynamics 365 List of Flows.

All of these flows, have the same trigger as the first step.

The trigger of the flow should not be regular time, it should be an option for the user who should be able to start it if he wants inside from Dynamics 365 when is on the product page.
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Haansi 1,433 Moderator on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

Thanks Burak.
[quote user="Burak_Oezfalci"]Currently I have created a flow, which can be triggered if a product is selected in CDS/D365. I created a Dummy Record, which helps me to start the flow. But I want to be able to start the Flow inside D365 without selecting an existing record, I am not using the data from the selected record. Its just a workaround till know.[/quote]
Do you see "Flow" icon in D365 ? If your Flow is in same environment (same where your D365 is) you can select Flow from D365 and trigger it without selecting a record.

You also can set your Flow to trigger automatically per some time schedule (every min, hour, day etc)

Just think what will be trigger of this Flow ? Has it to be based on regular time or some data/ business event.

Hope it helped. Please let me know if you have another question.
Burak_Oezfalci 10 on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

Hi Yawer, thanks for your response and suggestions,

I tried to answer your questions.

One bit of suggestion here is D365 CE has multiple apps (for example Sales, Service etc. They are ready to use apps). If you dont need those apps and just want to use platform for app development you are looking for Model Driven Apps.

I know the different Apps of D365 CE. I do think that we need the different apps, especially Sales.

Some analysis here can help. Do you need to keep both systems syn ? Or just bring data once ? Need data as read only ?

For the start I would say, that it should be possible to bring the data in D365. It should also be possible to bring in new data which does not exist already in D365. The user should have the option to interact/add more values to the imported data. Therefore I would say, it should not be read only.

User can trigger Power Automate by selecting or clicking a button. Other option is to set Power Automate to run automatically on a CRUD operation. Another option can be we can schedule a Flow to run automatically. You can chose to create custom connector but there are build in connectors which handles HTTP Request and Response too. In summary we have options to chose.

Currently I have created a flow, which can be triggered if a product is selected in CDS/D365. I created a Dummy Record, which helps me to start the flow. But I want to be able to start the Flow inside D365 without selecting an existing record, I am not using the data from the selected record. Its just a workaround till know.
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Haansi 1,433 Moderator on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

[quote user="Burak_Oezfalci"]Now we wanted to adapt/port the solution, so that we can use D365 CE (CRM) instead of Finance & Supply Chain Management. As I said earlier, we have little experience working with D365 CE (CRM).[/quote]
One bit of suggestion here is D365 CE has multiple apps (for example Sales, Service etc. They are ready to use apps). If you dont need those apps and just want to use platform for app development you are looking for Model Driven Apps.
[quote user="Burak_Oezfalci"]The external system has customer data, products data and contracts data, which we want to have accessible in the D365 CE.[/quote]
Some analysis here can help. Do you need to keep both systems syn ? Or just bring data once ? Need data as read only ?
[quote user="Burak_Oezfalci"]So if we start with creating a flow in Power Automate, the first step should be to create a custom connector which would make it easier to get the data from the external system. How would we embed the flow in D365 CE ?[/quote]
User can trigger Power Automate by selecting or clicking a button. Other option is to set Power Automate to run automatically on a CRUD operation. Another option can be we can schedule a Flow to run automatically. You can chose to create custom connector but there are build in connectors which handles HTTP Request and Response too. In summary we have options to chose.

[quote user="Burak_Oezfalci"]How does the User start the flow, inside or outside of D365 CE[/quote]
Hope I have answered in already
Burak_Oezfalci 10 on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

Thanks Yawer for your response.

Exactly, we have plenty experience in Finance & Supply Chain Management, we already created the solution/extension for Fin & SCM.

Now we wanted to adapt/port the solution, so that we can use D365 CE (CRM) instead of Finance & Supply Chain Management. As I said earlier, we have little experience working with D365 CE (CRM).

The Fin & SCM Solution which we build is not helping us at all for the D365 CE Solution.

The external system has customer data, products data and contracts data, which we want to have accessible in the D365 CE.

In the past, we also worked with Power Automate and PowerApps, therefore we have experience using them.

So if we start with creating a flow in Power Automate, the first step should be to create a custom connector which would make it easier to get the data from the external system. How would we embed the flow in D365 CE ?

How does the User start the flow, inside or outside of D365 CE
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Haansi 1,433 Moderator on at

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RE: Which type of Dynamics 365 extension for importing contracts from a cloud system

hi Mate,

Welcome to forums

What I have understood is you have Finance & Supply Chain Management experience but you want to integrate with some external systems and it is for D365 CE (CRM).

[quote user="Burak_Oezfalci"]
I have the following use case, with use an external system where we have contracts which we want to bring into our Dynamics 365, the external system offers us a REST API for interaction.

I started doing Microsoft Dynamics Tutorial, where you create a plug-in and workflow extensions for CDS/Dynamics 365.

I also started interacting with PowerApps.

But I am still not sure, which type of Dynamics 365 extension would be the best solution for completing my use case.
[/quote]
Have you considered Power Automate (MS Flow) or Logic Apps ? These are configuration and low code approach. Power Automate (Flow) will be easiest to start.

Plugins and Workflow are pure code based approahes. You need someone with a developer skills to help with that and if you are keen going to pure code based approach Azure Functions can be another thing to cobsider but I will suggest have a look Power Automate or Logic Apps for this.