Microsoft released a public preview of Connection References, which store Power Automate (and some Power App) connections in solutions, and prompt for connection when the solution is moved to another environment. This is a big deal because currently connections are not moved with solutions, which means that Power Automate flows are not connected after the solution is moved, and editing flows in Production environments are tedious and cause problems with ALM processes. This change is also significant because it brings the value of solutions and ALM to non-CDS connected flows. Since Sharepoint, SQL, and custom connections can be automated using connnection references, deployment automation and CI/CD can now appply to connections other than CDS. Listen to today's podcast as George Doubinski, Joel Lindstrom, and Shawn Tabor discuss connection references. We also touch on environment variables and how these changes work with environment variables. And we celebrate Shawn "Hobbit" Tabor's 50th birthday!

CRM Audio

Connection References

In today's podcast, Joel Lindstrom and George Doubinski talk about Dataverse, the new name of Common Data Service. Microsoft has also renamed some of the CDS components. Entities are now tables, Option Sets are now choices, and fields are not columns. These new names may be confusing for long time platform users, but they move the platform to be more consistent with other platforms and will help makers moving from SharePoint to Dataverse, as the naming is now consistent.

Microsoft Dataverse

It's autumn in the the US, the leaves are falling, and we are back with another episode of CRM Audio. In today's episode, Joel Lindstrom, George Doubinski, and Shawn Tabor talk about George's new in-line code editor function for Power Automate--how does it work, why would you want to use it over plain expressions, and is it secure? We also get into Oakdale, the new light version of Common Data Service included in Microsoft Teams. After using it for several weeks, how does it compare with full CDS? Are there any performance differences? And what about storage capacity?

In-line code editor and Project Oakdale

This week Jon Stypula from Dynamic Consulting joins CRM Audio to talk about the DynamicsCon virtual conference coming up on September 9-10. Watch this episode on YouTube at https://youtu.be/lyL9dSO3wfc. Find out how DynamicsCon is different than other Power Platform virtual events. Who is paying for it, and how the money will be spent. You can register for DynamicsCon at https://dynamicscon.com/ Connect with Jon Stypula on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonstypula/  

Getting ready for DynamicsCon with Jon Stypula

RPA is getting a lot of buzz these days, but what does it really mean? Today Cody Erickson from Microsoft (and formerly Softmotive) joins CRM Audio, along with Joe (Flow Joe) Unwin, to discuss RPA: Why did Microsoft acquire Softmotive when they already had RPA? How can Power Automate customers use Softmotive RPA today? When should you use RPA (and when should you not use RPA? Setting proper expectations for RPA deployments Using RPA to empower users -Common RPA mistakes Links: Cody Erickson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-erickson-b0663a74/ Joe Unwin on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeunwin CRM Audio Podcast: https://crm.audio  

What's new with RPA in Microsoft Power Automate

 In this Service based episode of CRM Audio, Shawn & Sarah talk about how notifications within Dynamics 365 aren't just emails anymore!  They talk about how notifications can be more actionable and meaningful for Dynamics 365 users!  Also, Shawn talks about the upcoming Field Service Bootcamp coming to 365 Saturday on August 12-15!   365 Saturday - Field Service Bootcamp (August 12-15) https://events.powercommunity.com/field-service-bootcamp-2020/#   Sarah Jelinek on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahJ_ND   Sarah's blog: https://sarahjelinek.com   Shawn Tabor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/crmhobbit   Shawn's blog: https://crmhobbit.com 

Notifications in Dynamics 365

It’s been my observation that with a few notable exceptions, people in the Power Platform community primarily focus on Power Apps or on Power Automate. Lots of people will use both, but generally, people are more “app people” or “flow people.” I don’t have a strong preference between the two, and I regularly use and enjoy both platforms, but I’ve had conversations with people in the community that say something along the following lines: Flow Person: “I love Power Automate, but Power Apps (canvas apps) are confusing.” Apps Person: “I can write canvas apps all day long but you need to be a developer to use Power Automate.” I’ve also noticed that if you suggest a flow solution in the Power Apps forum or an app solution in the Power Automate forum at powerusers.microsoft.com, people will give you funny looks. Intrigued by this phenomenon, I interviewed some of my friends in the Business Applications community to see what they thought was behind this divide. Why does one tool seem accessible and easy to some while difficult to others? In today's podcast (and on Power Platform Tip Of The Day) George Doubinski and Joel Lindstrom explore this phenominon and what makes people gravitate toward Power Automate or Power Apps?

Are you an app person or a flow person?

Last week at Microsoft Inspire, Microsoft announced DataFlex, a light version of Common Data Service that will be included with Microsoft Teams and make it easy to build low-code applications inside of Teams with simplified security. They also announced that CDS will be rebranded as DataFlex Pro. Joel, George and Shawn discuss what this change means, along with the confusion over the name.

What is Dataflex

New in preview, Microsoft has released a CRUD API for Power Apps Portals. Why do we need this when Common Data Service already has a web API? Hint: It's not for integration, it's for user experience. See the official documentation here: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powe...  

Why Power Apps Portals needs an API

MVP's Shawn Tabor and Joel Lindstrom review the top announcements in the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Release Notes Wave 2. Power Apps Portals PCF Controls Model-driven search enhancements Canvas pages Power Automate Power Virtual Agent Dynamics 365 Sales Dynamics 365 Marketing Customer Insights Dynamics 365 Service 

We react to the Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Release Plan Wave 2

Julie Yack joins CRM Audio today to talk about brain dumps, and why you should avoid them when studying for Microsoft certification exams.  Brain dumps are unauthorized copies of certification test questions and answers. If you use brain dumps you are violating the terms of your certification, and you are selling yourself short. Julie talks about how Microsoft's certification and training options have improved over the years and how to prepare for certification the right way. LInks: Microsoft Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com https://365.training 

Training, Certifiaction, and Brain Dumps with Julie Yack

In this episode, Shawn is joined by Dian Taylor, Director – TMC for Business Apps with RSM US to talk all about Field Service Mobile!  They talk about the key differences between the two apps (1st party Microsoft and the Microsoft Field Service Woodford based app), where there is a fit for both and what the future holds for the new Field Service Mobile app!  Dian and Shawn also talk about the Dynamics Community and how they both love being a part of this great family. Dian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/d365goddess Dian’s blog article on Field Service Mobile: https://d365goddess.com/field-service-dynamics-365-mobile-app/ Dian’s blog article on Inventory Transfers using the Inventory Dashboard: https://d365goddess.com/inventory-transfers-using-the-inventory-dashboard/ Shawn on Twitter: https://twitter.com/crmhobbit Shawn’s blog: https://crmhobbit.com

Field Service Mobile with Dian Taylor

In this episode, Shawn (@crmhobbit) and Sarah (@SarahJND) talk about how to access Public Preview features within Dynamics 365 Field Service as well as how to enable the new Schedule Board, currently in Public Preview. Watch this episode on the CRMHobbit YouTube channel (demo enabling the new Schedule Board at the 9:30 mark) : https://youtu.be/gohUVmO5vKc How to install preview features for Dynamics 365 Field Service: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dyna... How to preview the new schedule board in Dynamics 365 Resource Scheduling: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dyna... Shawn Tabor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/crmhobbit Shawn's blog: https://crmhobbit.com Sarah Jelinek on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahJND Sarah's blog: https://sarahjelinek.com

At Your Service: Preview features in field service

At Build 2020, Microsoft highlighted Microsoft Teams as a platform, and announced lots of new enhancements to the integration between Power Platform and teams, including making it easier to build Power Automate flows for Teams and integrate model-driven apps with Teams, and more easily publish Power Virtual Agents with Teams. https://www.forbes.com/sites/moorinsights/2020/05/27/spotlight-on-teams-as-a-platform-at-virtual-microsoft-build-2020/#12ce03631f14 On today's episode of CRM Audio, Shawn Tabor and Joel Lindstrom talk about why Teams+Power Platform matters, and how embedding apps within Teams can remove friction from user adoption of Power Apps. We also revel in our recent victory in the Power Platform Virtual Pub Quiz.

Teams + Power Platform as a platform

In this episode, Shawn & Sarah talk about the pandemic and how it has affected opportunities to present to the community.   Sarah discusses a virtual session she held at D365UG Focus on optimizing Customer Service implementations and the blog article that supports it: https://sarahjelinek.com/2020/05/19/create-a-case-with-the-email-body-in-the-case-description-field-in-dynamics-365/

At Your Service: Pandemia and Customer Service

CRM Audio is a network of podcasts about Dynamics 365, Dynamics CRM, personal productivity, and Power BI hosted by Microsoft Business Solutions MVP's Joel Lindstrom, George Doubinski, Shawn Tabor, Mark Smith, and Scott Sewell and productivity expert Matthew C. Anderson. We are the original CRM MVP Podcast. Podcasts in the feed: CRM Audio - a roundtable discussion of all things CRM, including what's new, best practices, and answers to your CRM questions and Power BI. Power BI and More - Microsoft Business Solutions MVP Scott Sewell teaches you how to learn Power BI and effectively use it with Dynamics 365. Prodcast - All about personal productivity. We get deep into productivity and cut through the hype around productivity tools, and tell you what's not productive.

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Connection References

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