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How can I show business process flow columns in an opportunity view?

I have been trying to show the Active Stage column from my business process flow table in my opportunity view but the column keeps coming back blank. I know there is data in both tables that should match up. Is this something thats not possible without using a cloud flow to fill a text column? Can this relationship be used this way?

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Dynamics 365 general

Hi,

It sounds like you're trying to display the Active Stage column from a business process flow (BPF) table in your opportunity view, but you're encountering challenges because the column appears blank. This is a common scenario due to how business process flows are structured in Dataverse. Let me break it down for you:
Let me know if you'd like detailed steps for any of these options!

Understanding the Relationship: Business process flows are stored as separate tables in Dataverse, and the relationship between the BPF table and the related entity (like Opportunity) is one-to-many. This means that a single opportunity record can have multiple associated BPF records.
Why the Column Appears Blank: The Active Stage (activestageid) column resides in the BPF table, not directly in the Opportunity table. When you try to include it in the Opportunity view, the system cannot directly resolve this relationship to display the data.
Options to Resolve This:
- Option 1: Use a Cloud Flow
  - Create a cloud flow in Power Automate to copy the value of the Active Stage column from the BPF table into a custom text column in the Opportunity table. This ensures the data is available directly in the Opportunity table for reporting or views.
- Option 2: Create a View on the BPF Table:
  - Instead of trying to show the Active Stage in the Opportunity view, create a view directly on the BPF table. You can include columns like Active Stage and related Opportunity details. This approach is recommended if you want to report on the BPF data itself.
- Option 3: Use FetchXML and LayoutXML:
  - If you're comfortable with advanced customization, you can use FetchXML to query the data and LayoutXML to define how it appears in the view. Tools like the XrmToolBox View Designer can help with this.
Best Practice:
- If you need to report on the Active Stage across multiple opportunities, creating a view or chart on the BPF table is the most efficient and maintainable approach. Copying data into the Opportunity table should be considered only if absolutely necessary.