PowerApps, Flow and CDS General Queries

[LC]

Hi,

I have a couple of general queries I couldn't find in TechNet with regards to PowerApps, Flow and Common Data Service (CDS) combo:

a) The CDS obviously cannot replace the data warehouse. While it can scale elastically it is not meant to handle the rigors of storing and reporting. What is the simpliest solution to extract CDM to a SQL DB to store historical records, etc.

b) How can I connect 3rd party BI tools to CDS? e.g. Qlik Sense, Tableau

c) Is there a OOTB audit functionality of PowerApps and Flow? e.g. Approval history of the particular item. e.g. similar to SharePoint list items. 

d) Is there a way to easiest extract the audit history?

d) Flow: Is there a way to delegate another user as the approver?

Thanks in advance!

[Meneghino]

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@LC wrote:

Hi,

I have a couple of general queries I couldn't find in TechNet with regards to PowerApps, Flow and Common Data Service (CDS) combo:

a) The CDS obviously cannot replace the data warehouse. While it can scale elastically it is not meant to handle the rigors of storing and reporting. What is the simpliest solution to extract CDM to a SQL DB to store historical records, etc.

I would skip CDS altogether, just use Azure SQL Database and PowerApps directly

b) How can I connect 3rd party BI tools to CDS? e.g. Qlik Sense, Tableau

You can't even properly connect Microsoft's own BI tools to CDS (i.e. Excel's PowerQuery will not connect), so not possible I believe.

c) Is there a OOTB audit functionality of PowerApps and Flow? e.g. Approval history of the particular item. e.g. similar to SharePoint list items.

Not that I am aware of, much better to create your own history table

d) Is there a way to easiest extract the audit history?

Not that I am aware of

d) Flow: Is there a way to delegate another user as the approver?

There must be

Thanks in advance!

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[v-micsh-msft]

Couple of questions here.

Here are what I know.

1. Common Data Service is first introduced together with PowerApps, Microsoft Flow, aims to build Apps using PowerApps seamlessly. And now it adds a new feature call Data Integration with Dynamics 365, which would be more powerful when deal with enterprise data, and the corresponding scenarios. You may start from here : Common Data Service.

For Data import or Export, see: Import or export data from the Common Data Service

2. CDS doesn't open its API for public access currently, but you could access it through CDS SDK, take a look at the response from staff pvillads on 08-02-2017 05:11 PM:

"

We have an API that can be used to access the data in the Common Data Service. This SDK works by creating a document that is then sent as  JSON file to a REST endpoint for execution. However, we do not publish that endpoint at this time. You can always create a web api that accepts your document, and then uses the CDS SDK to get the data and then send back the results, so two hops instead of one. 

I believe that is the best you can do for now. Let us know if you wish to partake in the private preview of the CDS SDK.

BR PV

"

To answer your second question, you may take a look at the CDS SDK, to see if the 3rd BI tools could work with the CDS API.

3. For the third question, if you mean Server side logs, no, currently auditing is not available.We have feedbacks submitted on this part already. For Microsoft Flow, there is a blog talking about how to export Flow activities, check:

Accessing Office 365 Security & Compliance Center logs from Microsoft Flow

Besides, for Approval part, if here you are using Microsoft Flow, and as recommended by Meneghino, it is much better to keep a table to record the history, and update the table per Approval status. Adding Flow blog for reference: Error handling process

4. Check the Approval part in Microsoft Flow:

Creating Approvals

You could simply switch the Approver in the Approval Action.

For delegation part, if the Approval is not executed after a range of time, then we could configure a timeout action to forward the Approval to another person. (Refer Error handling process ).

Hope the information above is helpful.

Regards,

Michael

[LC]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for your prompt response.

Understand the CDS SDK is the only option to extract information and to use with 3rd party tools. This is currently in private beta (since May 2017). Is there a timeline when this will be public? Seems like SQL server is the only viable option if I were to meet the audit and 3rd party tool requirement.

Thanks.

[v-micsh-msft]

Hi @LC,

Thanks for the update.

I also want to know when the API would be public. I believe the Product team is working on this part, and will make it available when it is ready for the Public.

Regards,

Michael

[Anonymous]

We, too, are trying to use the CDS SDK. I have created entities in CDS and can connect to them thru PowerApps but have not had success with writing APIs to connect to the CDS. Directly connecting to CDS is fine unless you need business logic in an API to *selectively* pull data from the CDS.

Also, we are using Core 2.0 and the SDK apparently does not work with this technology. Any other ideas???

Pat