Dynamics Community Forum Thread Details

Hello SM-06021322-0,

Yes, it's possible to achieve this functionality of reading data from a file on a network drive and updating corresponding Dataverse records from a Canvas App, but it requires a combination of techniques and considerations. Here's a breakdown of the approach and potential challenges:

High-Level Approach:

File Selection (Canvas App):
- Use the Launch() function with a file picker dialog or a custom component to allow the user to select the file from the network drive.
File Reading (Power Automate):
- Trigger a Power Automate flow from the Canvas App, passing the file path or content.
- Use Power Automate's file system connectors or custom connectors to read the file's content.
Data Parsing (Power Automate):
- Parse the file's content (e.g., CSV, Excel, TXT) to extract the relevant data.
Dataverse Update (Power Automate):
- Use the Dataverse connector in Power Automate to update the corresponding records in the Dataverse table.

Detailed Steps:
1. Canvas App - File Selection:

File Picker (Limited):
- The built-in file picker in Canvas Apps is designed for local files, not network drives directly.
- You might need to explore browser-specific file picker options or create a custom component using Power Apps component framework (PCF).
Launch Function (Workaround):
- You could use the Launch() function to open a file explorer window, but this won't directly return the file content to the app.
- The user would need to manually copy the file path and paste it into a text input in the Canvas App.
Custom Component (Recommended):
- For a more seamless experience, consider creating a custom component using PCF.
- This component could use JavaScript to interact with the browser's file system API and allow the user to select files from a network drive.
- This is the most complex but most flexible solution.

2. Power Automate - File Reading:

Trigger from Canvas App:
- Use the "Power Apps" trigger in Power Automate to initiate the flow from the Canvas App.
File System Connectors (If Applicable):
- If the network drive is accessible through a supported file system connector (e.g., SharePoint, OneDrive), you can use that connector to read the file.
- If not, you might need to use a custom connector or custom code.
Custom Connector (Advanced):
- You can create a custom connector to access the network drive if it's accessible through a REST API.
Custom Code (Advanced):
- If the network drive is not accessible through a connector, you might need to use custom code (e.g., Azure Functions) to read the file.

3. Power Automate - Data Parsing:

Parse CSV/Excel/Text:
- Use Power Automate's built-in actions to parse the file content based on its format (CSV, Excel, TXT).
JSON Parsing (If Applicable):
- If the file contains JSON data, use the "Parse JSON" action.

4. Power Automate - Dataverse Update:

Dataverse Connector:
- Use the Dataverse connector's "Update a row" action to update the corresponding records in the Dataverse table.
Matching Records:
- You'll need to determine how to match the data from the file to the records in Dataverse (e.g., based on a unique ID or other criteria).

Challenges and Considerations:

Network Drive Accessibility:
- The most significant challenge is ensuring that the network drive is accessible from Power Automate.
- This might require configuring network gateways, custom connectors, or custom code.
File Format:
- The file format will determine how you parse the data in Power Automate.
Security:
- Consider the security implications of accessing files on a network drive.
Performance:
- Reading and processing large files can impact performance.
Error Handling:
- Implement robust error handling to handle potential issues with file access, parsing, or Dataverse updates.

Important Notes:

Browser Security: Browsers have security restrictions that prevent direct access to local or network files.
Power Automate Limitations: Power Automate's file system connectors have limitations, especially when dealing with network drives.

Key Recommendations:

Custom Component (PCF): If possible, create a custom component for file selection.
Power Automate for Data Processing: Use Power Automate to read, parse, and update Dataverse data.
Careful Planning: Plan the data flow and error handling carefully.

This is a complex scenario, but it is achievable with the correct design and implementation.

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My response was crafted with AI assistance and tailored to provide detailed and actionable guidance for your Microsoft Dynamics 365 query.

Regards,
Daivat Vartak