Dynamics Community Forum Thread Details

Suggestion in ways to Expose Custom Build data from CDS

HI All

I have requirement to retrive the data stored in multiple entities, like customer, customer order, address , contacts and to expose some data combining all these entities.

These are internal component users inside same dyanmics instance, if i share the entities users has to understand the entities releationship etc, and retrieve the data and any change to these entities will be a overhead dependecy for the cosuming user...

is there a way i can expose considering these points

1. following a structure while exposing the data

2. my custom logic or relationsips ,entities are independent for any changes and user is not to be bothered for the same.

3. row transformation: some rleationships like one to many customer and contact entities values to be tranlated to comma seperated values

please share me the suggestions or throught on what would be the good way to think about this implementation.

Listing some of the options I was thinking of

Option 1: Saves Queries ( building the fetch xml and then share it with everyone)

Cons : maintenance & dependency on any change to the attribute/data types

Option 2 : Exposing web api hosting outside the CRM

Cons : different environment maintenance and external over head to the system for all data retrievals.

Thanks,

manoj.

Hi,

Thank you for your query.

You can also use Dynamics 365 Virtual Entities.

Here is an idea:

Define Virtual Entities and structure as you want to expose data.
Data Source could be an OData endpoint returning data from multiple entities, or you may write a plugin (as per your need).
End User queries Virtual Entities instead of actual entities. This hides actual structure and you have less dependency.

Here are few articles on Virtual Entities:

https://dynamicsninja.blog/2018/09/30/virtual-entities-part-1-odata-v4/

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/developer/common-data-service/virtual-entities/sample-generic-ve-plugin

Let me know your thoughts.

Best,

Wahaj

(if it helps, please mark it as verified)

Quick Links

Leaderboard