Business Central (Part 4)

Neil Haddley • December 1, 2024

Integrating with Dataverse using Dataflows

Power PlatformMicrosoft DynamicsBusiness Centraldataversedataflowsintegrationbusiness-central
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In this post I connect Business Central to Dataverse in two ways. First I set up the connection, install the Business Central virtual table app, and sync contacts and customers. Then I build a Dataflow that copies Employee records from Business Central into a Dataverse table, using the OData connector. I wrote more about OData in a separate post.

I created a new Business Central Company

I created a new Business Central Company

I named the Company Integration

I named the Company Integration

I clicked Next

I clicked Next

I reset my Develop Power Platform Environment

I reset my Develop Power Platform Environment

I created a new Power Apps Solution

I created a new Power Apps Solution

An empty solution was created

An empty solution was created

I navigated to the Integration Company and clicked the Set up a connection to Dataverse link

I navigated to the Integration Company and clicked the Set up a connection to Dataverse link

I clicked the Next button

I clicked the Next button

I clicked the Next button

I clicked the Next button

I selected the (reset) Develop Dataverse environment

I selected the (reset) Develop Dataverse environment

I clicked the Next button

I clicked the Next button

I clicked the Next button

I clicked the Next button

I clicked the Install Business Central Virtual Table app link

I clicked the Install Business Central Virtual Table app link

I clicked the Get it now button

I clicked the Get it now button

I selected the Develop Dataverse environment

I selected the Develop Dataverse environment

The installation completed

The installation completed

I clicked the Finish button

I clicked the Finish button

I clicked the Sync All button

I clicked the Sync All button

I reviewed the records in the Business Central Contacts table

I reviewed the records in the Business Central Contacts table

I reviewed the records in the Business Central Contacts table

I reviewed the records in the Business Central Contacts table

I reviewed the records in the Dataverse Contacts table

I reviewed the records in the Dataverse Contacts table

I reviewed the records in the Business Central Customers Table

I reviewed the records in the Business Central Customers Table

I reviewed the records in the Dataverse Accounts Table

I reviewed the records in the Dataverse Accounts Table

Under the hood: Customers and accounts

In the last few screenshots I compared the Business Central Customers table with the Dataverse Accounts table, and the Business Central Contacts with the Dataverse Contacts. As I understand the standard integration, a Business Central customer corresponds to a Dataverse account, and a contact corresponds to a contact. That is why the two tables hold the same people under different names.

Integrating with Dataverse using Dataflows

I added a D365BC Employee table to Dataverse. I set up a Dataflow to copy Employee records from Business Central to Dataverse.

I created a new table

I created a new table

I named the table D365BC Employee

I named the table D365BC Employee

I reviewed the Primary column

I reviewed the Primary column

I added a First Name column

I added a First Name column

I added a Last Name column

I added a Last Name column

I added a Phone Number column

I added a Phone Number column

I added a Job Title column

I added a Job Title column

I added a Key (this will be used to sync the employee data)

I added a Key (this will be used to sync the employee data)

The Key was added

The Key was added

I clicked the Import data button

I clicked the Import data button

I selected the OData connector

I selected the OData connector

I navigated to the web services page in Business Central

I navigated to the web services page in Business Central

I was unable to find an employee web service

I was unable to find an employee web service

I clicked the + New button and provided web service details

I clicked the + New button and provided web service details

I copied the OData V4 URL

I copied the OData V4 URL

I entered the url into the Connect to data source dialog. Notice that I removed the https:// prefix when I copied the url to the connection textbox

I entered the url into the Connect to data source dialog. Notice that I removed the https:// prefix when I copied the url to the connection textbox

A preview was provided. I clicked the Next button.

A preview was provided. I clicked the Next button.

I selected the Load to existing table option and clicked the Next button

I selected the Load to existing table option and clicked the Next button

Three of the field mappings were created automatically

Three of the field mappings were created automatically

I completed the last two field mappings. I clicked the Next button

I completed the last two field mappings. I clicked the Next button

I set the refresh schedule

I set the refresh schedule

I reviewed the D365BC Employee table records

I reviewed the D365BC Employee table records

I added the Dataflow to the solution

I added the Dataflow to the solution

The Dataflow was added to the solution

The Dataflow was added to the solution

References

OData

OData Web Services, Business Central

Part of the Business Central series

← Previous in series
Business Central (Part 3)
PromptDialog (Part 3)
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Business Central (Part 5)
Integration Tables