Environnement variable in Dataflow ?

[MGuyot]

Hello,

Do you know if it's possible to use environment variable in a Power App Dataflow ? If yes, how can I achieve this ?

My main purpose, it's to automatically gather data from the right source depending on the environment.
Example : I have two environments, one DEV and one PROD, when I deploy DEV to PROD, I want that the source in my dataflow change accordingly.
For DEV, in my dataflow, source is :

CommonDataService.Database("orgxxxxxx33.crm4.dynamics.com")

For PROD, in my dataflow, source is :

CommonDataService.Database("orgxxxxxxa3.crm4.dynamics.com")

I want to replace the static value by an environment variable or any kind of stuff that can change dynamically the source depending on the environment.

Thanks for your help,

[Kikoger]

Hi @MGuyot,

I've been trying to find a way to do this or to somehow make the Dataflow environment aware, but have not been able to 😞 

Would love to hear about any progress you make?

Max

[MGuyot]

Hello @Kikoger,

Sorry, I wasn't able to find a way to make the Dataflow environment aware dynamically.

I found a little workaround if you have multiple reference of your environment in your queries : I create a parameter where I put my environment identification "orgxxxxxxxx.crm4.dynamics.com" and I use this parameter in my queries. However, each time I publish a new version of my dataflow, I need to change the parameter to the correct environment identification.

[fareehashaikh]

Hi @MGuyot ,

If dataflow is part of a solution. Doing any kind of editing in dataflow, either parameter, or editing the environment url directly; will create an unmanaged solution layer. How to avoid that?

[MGuyot]

Hi @fareehashaikh ,

For my part, I can't edit the dataflow inside the solution, even within an unmanaged solution. Indeed, my dataflow is listed in my solution's objects, but to edit it, I have to go outside the solution to the dataflow tab :

There, I can edit my dataflow and even if I'm working on a managed solution, it doesn't create an unmanaged solution layer.

I hope this will help you.

[fareehashaikh]

Hi @MGuyot ,

Thank you for clarification. It is happening with me in Dev environment (un managed solution) that I can add/create a dataflow in a solution. But it is created outside the solution. And if i want to edit it, it can be done outside as you said. 

But I was a bit reluctant to deploy this to Test because what if I do update the connection outside, but still an unmanaged layer is created for solution. It will messup the solution architecture. So you are saying that it doesn't? Just asking for confirmation. 

[MGuyot]

@fareehashaikh,

Power app doesn't allow editing anything in a solution manager to avoid any problems, so if you're allowed to edit things, that means it shouldn't cause any problems.
In my opinion, you can edit any dataflow because they're not directly “stored” in the solution layer but in the environment layer (i.e. the layer above). As they don't really belong to the solution, they're not managed by it, so they can't be labeled as "managed". As long as they are not managed, you can edit them without any reluctance.

[fareehashaikh]

@MGuyot 

Thanks. Make sense.