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How to Data entity as data source in a data entity in d365 fo

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Posted on by charan12

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Hi All,

I created custom data entity, but I want to add standard 'docurefentity' as data source in my custom data entity like below . I tried to add by clicking on 'new data source' but the entity name does not showing in data source properties under table.

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Dynamics 365 Finance

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DAnny3211 11,421 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi cbaren12,

In Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations, using a data entity as a data source within another data entity—like trying to add DocuRefEntity—is not directly supported in the same way as adding tables. Data entities are designed to expose data externally and are not meant to be nested as data sources within other entities.

✅ Recommended Approach

Use the Underlying Table Instead

Instead of adding DocuRefEntity, add the DocuRef table directly as a data source in your custom data entity. This gives you access to the document reference data and allows you to define relationships and mappings.

Define Relationships Manually

Create a relation between your primary data source (e.g., SalesTable, VendTable, etc.) and DocuRef using the appropriate foreign key (e.g., RefRecId, RefTableId). This ensures the document references are correctly linked.

Expose Fields via Staging or Extension

If you need to expose DocuRefEntity fields specifically, you can:

Extend your custom entity to include those fields.

Use computed columns or unmapped fields to pull in data from DocuRef.

Use Composite Entities (Advanced)

For more complex scenarios, consider creating a composite entity that combines multiple entities or tables, though this requires careful design to maintain performance and data integrity.

Unfortunately, data entities cannot be used as direct data sources within other entities due to their abstraction layer. Working with the underlying tables is the best route.

Thanks and best regards,

Daniele

Note: This response was prepared with support from Copilot to ensure clarity and completeness.

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Raj Borad 1,570 on at

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Hi,

As seen in the image, The Table property only allows tables and views, not entities.

What you saw in the image is MS's standard entity built with DocuRefEntity table as the source.

Use DocuRef table which has a relation with CustTable.

Thank you,

Raj D Borad

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André Arnaud de Cal... 304,711 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi Charan12,

Can you explain if you can't select the table in the Data entity creation wizard or when editing an existing entity?

Like Microsoft can add this data entity as table in a data entity, so can you.

You can either first create a data entity using the wizard, provide the names as you would like to have and use another table. After creating the wizard, you can delete all fields and change the table property to include the DocuRefEntity as table. It even shows up in the table list here.

You can also duplicate an existing "attachment" entity and make changes as per your requirements.

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