Category: Power Platform

Calling Canvas App from Ribbon Button – Smart Button

Our goal is to call a canvas app from ribbon button and fill in the calling record in the canvas app. We will use Smart Button from develop1.net.

https://github.com/scottdurow/RibbonWorkbench/releases

Smart Button provides a unusually easy way to deal with the ribbon button ordeal. You just need to install the solution for smart button after ribbon workbench and then use ribbon workbench which will then show the Smart Button option.

Step 1: Install Ribbon Workbench from here.(https://www.develop1.net/public/rwb/ribbonworkbench.aspx)

Step 2: Install Smart Button from here.(https://github.com/scottdurow/RibbonWorkbench/releases)

Step 3: Open Ribbon Workbench and left side will show below option :

You get option to:

  1. Run Report
  2. Run Workflow
  3. Run Webhook
  4. Quick JS
  5. Open Dialog.

In this example, we are trying to open canvas app from ribbon button and passing parameter.

Lets create a environment Variable by the name test_CanvasAppUrl which will have the URL of canvas app.

We will configure it on Smart Button as shown passing the environment variable in as URL {%environmentvariable%}

The Smart Button create JS in the backend which then pass two paramter in the URL of canvas app:

  1. recordId
  2. recordLogicalName

You can consume them as below in your canvas app. We are setting the variable with recordId and recordLogicalName and then mapping the variable to a combobox control so that whenver our app loads, the contact combobox is auto filled.

Set(
    varRecordId,
    If(
        IsBlank(Param("recordId")),
        GUID("8940e7c2-46f6-eb11-94ef-000d3a4f597a"),
        GUID(Param("recordId"))
    )
);
Set(
    varRecordLogicalName,
    Param("recordLogicalName")
);
Set(
    contactId,
    LookUp(
        Contacts,
        Contact = varRecordId
    )
);

This will add button on contact form and on clicking it, it will open the canvas app. Here the combobox contact is set to the variable contactId.

The result will be like below. I have used the connection form in New mode.

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Environment Variable – Power Platform

Environment variable enable us to package the configuration along with customization in a single solution. This help us in eliminating the custom entity we use to create in Dynamics which were environment dependent like Url/ email address/ Integration points etc.

Lets do step-by-step process to create and migrate configuration.

We will start by creating one solution and adding Environment Variable to it.

We will create two EV

  1. CurrentUrl
  2. SenderEmail

Both these variable are usually environment dependent. While the URL denotes the D365 instance, the email can be sender email address for which mailbox is configured. We can keep the type as Number/Text/JSON/Data Source. We will stick with Text type only.

The CurrentUrl variable is neither having Default Value nor Current Value.

The SenderEmail variable is having current value but no default value.

These two are important field which we need to pay attention to. Once created, we will export and import the solution.

We are importing managed solution – unmanaged is straight forward.

You will see a Flyout option asking for value of CurrentUrl. If you remember, we didn’t provide value for this in source environment and that is why we need to provide value before importing the solution. But if you have already given the current or default value in source then the flyout menu will NOT appear.

Once imported, if you open the solution then it will not be editable. This is a product behavior (bug?) where it doesn’t allow you to update the config value in the managed solution. If it was unmanaged then it would have been editable.

Now to edit the value, you need to modify the default solution. This can be done by going directly to the table menu or going to default solution or even in advanced find.

Other option is to modify the solution zip file – but lets skip that.

Do remember that environment variable is nothing but two table(entities) in Dataverse (Dynamics 365). The two tables are :

  1. Environment Variable Definition
  2. Environment Variable Value

These two table are 1:N with plugin enforcing 1:1 relationship.

So if you try to add more than one Environment Variable Value for a Definition, you will get an error.

In Power Automate, you will see the Environment Variable under the section as shown below.

In Canvas App, if you are using it as Data Source then you can go to Setting and enable the checkbox.

Otherwise, You can read the Environment Variable just like any other table.

Then you can read the variable just like any row in Dataverse

Set(myVariable, LookUp(
    'Environment Variable Values',
    'Environment Variable Definition'.'Schema Name' = "test_CurrentUrl",
    Value)
);

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