Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

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Posted on by rgriff50

Working with Tamarac CRM, an app built on Power Platform. I want to create a custom field with Data Type = Lookup. No option for Connection Roles appears on the available values for Target Record Type. Anybody know why not? I have added existing Connection Role entity into my solution, and added subcomponents which are connection role views. But this does not help... Any advice greatly appreciated. Thx.

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Wahaj Rashid 11,321 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Hi Griff,

I am glad it helped.
rgriff50 37 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Hi Wahaj,

I have been thinking further about what you wrote in earlier messages and finally think I follow you.

At your suggestion, I went back to look for multiple instances of Tamarac fields with data type lookup and target record type Connection Role, and indeed they only appear on Connection records. (So my understanding about that was wrong before.) Here’s one example:

I believe I now understand what you have been trying to tell me: the system design of Dynamics 365/Power Apps is that the only entity that a field with data type Lookup and target record type = Connection Role is allowed is a Connection.

I am going to give up trying to create the ROI Connection Role field as a lookup and make it a single line of text instead and have downstream workflow steps or human users install the proper type of Role(To) value on the connection instance.

Thanks very much for your patience and persistence! Although it’s not a happy answer, thanks to you I now have the answer.

Best regards,

Griff
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Wahaj Rashid 11,321 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Hi Griff,

I am not sure how Tamarac created a lookup for Connection Role (or Connection entity), which is not allowed by design in the Dynamics 365 CE platform. PLease note, it is not a security issue.

It might be a custom page or a web resource.

If you can share the screenshot of that lookup/page, I might able to understand it better.

Thank you,

Wahaj
rgriff50 37 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Wahaj,

Thanks again for hanging in with me trying to understand the problem. We aren’t on the same page yet though. Maybe this diagram will help:

The connection, the client account, and the professional contact already exist.

This is the front-end of a workflow that allows a financial advisor to request that company operations put in place a release of information permission letter to allow the advisor to share information with a third-party professional who is also working with the client.

The workflow is triggered when a form (service request), filled out by the advisor, containing information needed to create a release of information letter, is saved.

My problem is around creating the field on the service request form that will indicate which Connection Role describes the kind of professional this contact is in relation to the client.

Connection Role entities exist in our solution (and we can easily add or deactivate those records as needed) and I want to use them as values for this field in the form. (I have contemplated one of the solutions you suggest, creating a parallel option set for this field, but this is something I resist because it will add extra maintenance effort.)

There are parts of the Tamarac CRM layer underneath my solution where the UI employs the existing Lookup views for Connection Roles in exactly the way I want to (e.g. on the connection instances).

But for my custom form (Release of Information Create service request) when I try to replicate this for my “ROI Connection Role” field’s target record type, the “Connection Roles” option does not show up on the pick list in the field create/edit tool.

Make sense? I’m still mystified (other than some security thing) why I would not be allowed to create a custom field using the existing Connection Role lookup views to provide the user values to select from.

Griff
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Wahaj Rashid 11,321 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Hi Griff,

As per system design, you cannot create relationships with Connection Role entity:

You need to re-look at the requirement and design it differently.

As far as I understood, you need to add a lookup on the Contact entity, and the user should able to select a role for it (same values as of connection role).

In that case, in my opinion, you have following options:

Custom entity:

Create another entity (for example COnnection Role). Import Connection Role names in this entity.

Add this new entity as a lookup on the Contact entity.

Create a Flow/Workflow which triggers the creation of the Connection Role, and creates a record in the custom entity with the same values.

Use an optionset, and import the values from the Connection Role entity using Xrm Toolbox

I prefer using a custom entity, I understand it might not be an ideal solution, but this is the only workaround unless you revisit your requirement.
rgriff50 37 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Wahaj,

Thanks for following up on this.

I’m not trying to create a lookup for the connection entity.

I’m trying to create a field on a custom form with a lookup data type (which is possible), and target the record type Connection Role (which I can’t do because Connection Role isn’t on the drop-down list of possible record types).

Here’s where I am on the field editor:

My design is the form user would select a connection role value from the All Active Connection Roles Lookup View (which already exists) to fill the field on a service request called ROI Connection Role.

Griff
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Wahaj Rashid 11,321 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Hi,

Thank you for the explanation.

Actually, it is not a permission problem. You cannot create a lookup for the connection entity (this is by design).

The only way is to create a connection with out-of-the-box functionality.

You can connect a contact with another contact.

Just change the view while adding a connection:
rgriff50 37 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Hi Wahaj,

Thank you very much for your reply. I probably could have clarified my scenario better.

• I am not trying to enable connections for an entity, I am trying to supply my app user with a list of existing Connection Roles so they can describe a connection instance that needs to be created in the application.

• We already have enabled connections between Contacts. The scenario I’m addressing is where a new contact-to-contact connection instance needs to be created, and we ask the user to specify the Role(To) value. The possible Role(To) values are already defined as Connection Role records (e.g. Attorney, CPA, Insurance Agent, etc.) in the solution.

• I am building a custom form with a field (Professional Contact Role) that I want to define as Data Type Lookup, with Target Record Type “Connection Role.”

• There is a Connection Role Lookup View component in the solution.

• My problem is that there is no entry for Connection Role in the Target Record Type drop-down menu in the field editor when I go to define my Professional Contact Role field.

• I’m thinking it may be something to do with security roles, but cannot find where I would manage that.

Please correct me if I have misunderstood your answer.

Thank you very much,

Griff
Wahaj Rashid 11,321 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Hi,

Thank you for your query.

Connections are enabled on the entity (table) level. You cannot create a lookup for Connections (and there is no need for it).

You can enable connections for your entity using the following steps:

Configure connection roles - Power Apps | Microsoft Docs

If you are using classic customization interface, follow these steps:

Go to Advanced Settings -> Customization -> Customize this system (or open a solution that has your entity).

Expand Entiies -> <entity-name>.

Under Communication & Collaboration section, check Connections.

Save and Publish the entity.

Once, connections are enabled, you should see connections in the related tab.
rgriff50 37 on at

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RE: Can't Add Custom Field with Data Type Lookup to view Connection Roles

Hi Nya,

Tamarac is a layer on Dynamics. I believe the Connection Role entity (and related Views, Lookups and N:1 Relationships are defined in Dynamics. That's why I posed the question in this forum.

Griff