CREATE AND MANAGE TABLES IN DATAVERSE

Dataverse tables are similar to tables in a database. Every instance of a Dataverse database includes a base set of tables that provide structure for data that is commonly used by business applications.

Types of tables

The four types of tables are:

Standard - The base set of tables that are created for every instance of a Dataverse database. You can add more columns to any table, but you cannot delete any column from a standard, premium, or restricted table.

Complex - tables that contain complex, server-side business logic, including real-time workflows or plug-ins. Some of the tables that are used in Dynamics 365 applications are complex. To use complex tables, users are required to have a P2 or Dynamics 365 license. Care must be taken if you add server-side logic to ensure that users have the proper license to use the complex table. Additional information about complex tables can be accessed by following the link within the summary unit of this module.

Restricted - Certain tables that are tied to Dynamics 365 application functionalities require each user to have the corresponding license for that Dynamics 365 application if they want to create, update, or delete rows within the restricted tables.

Custom - Are created for a specific business application. All licensed users of Dataverse can access custom tables if they are assigned proper security permissions to do so.

Create a custom table:

After you have verified existing tables and have decided that you need a new custom table, follow these steps:

Sign in to Power Apps.

On the navigation pane, select or tap Data to expand it and then select or tap Tables.

Select New table in the command bar.

In the New table panel, in the Display name box, enter the name of your new custom table.

Plural display name - This column is auto populated when you enter a display name, but you can change it if needed. The plural display name is the name of the table in the Dataverse .

Name - This column is also auto populated when you enter a display name. The prefix was set up when the environment was created and ensures that the tables you create can be exported and imported into other environments without conflicting with other table names.

Under the Primary Name column section and in the Display name box, enter a name for Display Name. In the Name box, replace Name with a name of your choosing for the new primary column.

By default, every table contains a Primary Name column that is used by lookup columns when establishing relationships with other tables. Typically, When you are finished, select Create.

To add a column to the table, use the following procedure:

In the command bar, select or tap Add column to open the column properties panel.

In the Display name box, enter the name of the column that you want to add.

From the Data type drop-down list, select the type of data that you want to add.

Select and change the Required dropdown if desired.

Select or tap Done.

You will learn much more about columns in a later module.

Select Save table to save your table and make it available for use in apps.