Power automate Dataverse Lookup - How to write to the hard column

[@williamrhopkins]

Shane these types of videos may not attract the most views but they are highly valuable. I am sure I could have figured this out but you saved me hours of work (and frustration).

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks William. I agree, this one I even rewatch if I need to do this. 🤪 It is hard and annoying.

[@aadam909]

I REALLY need to see Dataverse videos! Please keep them coming!

[@ShanesCows]

Noted. 🐶

[@wajeehrehman7522]

Shane I can't thank you enough I stumbled upon your video by accident after countless hours of troubleshooting a dataverse issue even after finding a lot of blogs my issue wasn't listed but your video gave me the insight needed to finally finish my flow. Thank you.

[@cvpeters90]

I think the more people understand about Dataverse the higher the demand will be. I'm really struggling to find resources to help me understand Dataverse and it's still very new and a lot of people haven't heard of it yet. On another note...I really appreciate all the videos Shane you've transformed my life and career so THANK YOU!

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome. Glad to help. More Dataverse content is needed but isn't popular so hard to make too much of it. I am always trying to find that balance. :)

[@rembautimes8808]

Thanks so much for this Shane. I was doing some development work during my holidays and this stumped me totally yesterday night. So then with much trepidation this morning, I did the magic URL incantation, found out the secret Entity Set Name word and placed in in that pesky lookup field. And it worked :) Like how you took the time to research all the hidden nuts and bolts behind Data verse. Hopefully Microsoft gives you the due recognition because a lot of enterprise clients aren't using Dataverse because of the lack of knowledge. Your video helps demystify this and can help spur adoption.

[@sheikx800]

Thanks Shane. I have been on the Dataverse/Powerapps journey for a few years now and there have been a few challenges that I dont think I would have gotten over if it wasn't for your videos. Just as you described at the beginning of this video, there are a few explanations on how to complete this task around, but none of them offer a definitive and repeatable process to achieve it. Your trick with the URL/API call provides the right result every time rather than guessing. In a flow in my case where I needed to write to multiple lookup fields at the same time, the error output is totally useless as it doesn't elaborate on which field is causing the error and increases the diagnostic time exponentially. You are another member of this community that has brought me closer to my goals. I'll be sure to pay it forward.

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help. 😀

[@tayfun5452]

Thanks so much Shane, saved my day

[@ShanesCows]

Glad that it helped you 😎

[@Congnitive_Dissenter]

Subscribed and will be reviewing all your Dataverse vids... there is a large gap in what knowledge on this topic!

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks David 😎 I have more Dataverse planned this year. So much to cover and always evolving it seems.

[@davideribezzo8021]

Thanks a lot Shane for another awesome video! I suggest another simpler trick to get the plural internal name without resorting to the API. In PowerAutomate, add a Dataverse action, select the table of your interest, and then peek code. You'll find its plural name right next to "entityName" :)

[@ShanesCows]

I didn’t know that. I will give it a look. Thanks. 😎

[@AnthonyGUERRA69]

Allways the same. Blocked on a triccky issue on PowerPlatform, looking for the solution for hours on Google and finally found a Shane Young video explaining everything I need to solve my issue. Thanks a lot, fun videos, very clear explainations, always learning something. Please, continue to make us progress on this techno!

[@billkuhn9886]

Ran my Power Automate, wringing my hands waiting for the test to come back...and you nailed it! Thanks Shane.

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome Bill 😎

[@AbdulsalamNamier]

Thanks! I've been looking for a workaround for the past three hours and finally saw your video, Man, you are a life saver.

[@ShanesCows]

Glad I could help

[@mouctechy]

Two days and finally you saved me Shane Young thanks a lot. Dataverse lookup columns are sometimes crazy to handle.

[@poat5404]

Thanks! I had about 20 tabs up of Microsoft docs and forum posts and didn't find this way to find the plural entity name.. I was looking in all the wrong places the whole time - finally got my first green checkmark after this video!! 🍻

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome 😎

[@derdelm]

I could kiss you right now for the frustration you have saved me! I have been trying to figure this thing out for days, thank you for explaining it quickly and efficiently!

[@ShanesCows]

You are welcome. 😊 The problem also drove me crazy.

[@ScottKFraley]

Could not agree with you more Shane about how stupid HARD this is. I sure hope someone, if not several someone's over at MS are totally embarrassed at what a pain this is! (I wonder if it's this big a nightmare in Azure Logic Apps?!) THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this video! I've been banging on this issue all dang day!

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help Scott. 😀

[@muriwangul.chinyerere5381]

We were watching a master doing his thing right there!!!! Thanks Shane!

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help

[@osamaalam6336]

This video saved my life Doing God's work my man

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome. Glad to help

[@shajeershajeer]

Thank you very much Shane the Young man. I have been spending all day sorting it out. You did it man, kudos champ.

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help

[@tristangeoffroy9286]

Thank you Shane, ... If it is of any consolation, I had to view your video several times before thinking I understood ;-) . Thank you for your work. This is amazing that we call it low / no code, ... just to bulk upload a table containing lookup.

[@barrypyle1]

Shane you are THE MAN!!! This was exactly what I was looking for to solve the same issue you had - spending hours trying to figure this out. Thank you, thank you thank you! I only needed to get to the 12 minute mark where you explain how to get the plural name of the lookup table and bingo! WOOOOHOOOOO....

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome Barry glad you got it working. I wish it wasn’t so difficult. 😬

[@AssassinUK]

Thank thank thank! Nothing else left to say. (Came here after watching your video on how to save to Lookups within PowerApps, thanks for that as well.)

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help. 😀

[@jenniferkimball1225]

Wish I had found this video yesterday before I wasted my day. Excellent resource!

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks 😊

[@seanmcevoy5076]

You are my hero! I was literally trying to figure this out and just put your name in front of the issue and boom, solution!

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome 🤩

[@andrewdperkin]

This is now my Go To video for this way too convoluted process - Thanks Shane/Chewy

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome, we are both happy to help 🐶

[@Fernando_Calero]

Thank you for this great video Shane. This is why is so important to create tables with singular names so we avoid that strange entity name. I think it's not sufficiently emphazised in the documentation. It says the following: "Display name This is the singular name for the table that will be shown in the app. This can be changed later."

[@ShanesCows]

Good point

[@cbovikings]

Great tips Shane. I struggled myself to get these values and using the first function. More Dataverse please.

[@ShanesCows]

Got it. 😎

[@shrimp909]

The set name is now available to be copied directly from the properties view of the table in Dataverse rather than using the URL. Click the `Tools` drop drown and you will see an option to `Copy Set Name` 👍

[@priyavartrajain2166]

Dude, you saved my ass big time. Thank you so much! ~ An anxious intern

[@darlenesuarez7542]

You are a lifesaver, thank you for sharing. I had it close just didn't know about the / before the GUID. Been trying every combination.

[@berggrog1]

Thanks Shane... Again you saved me like hours and hours. Watched this 4 times. Still figuring it out man.

[@priyavartrajain2166]

Thanks, Shane! Your videos have always helped me!

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome, I am glad to help

[@hayleeadamson6449]

Thank you Shane! Another day, another video to help solve my problem at work. :)

[@robertboehmer363]

Thanks Shane, this is an amazing video and thanks for not missing any steps!

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help!

[@sakuny2775]

Man i can not thank you enough, even though this video is two years old, you pulled me out of my frustration. I just had to remove those damn single quotes xD

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help. This stuff can be very frustrating. :)

[@saqnevermind]

16:43....I wasted my whole day to figure out this.... That "es" ate up my whole day 🙃.. Thanks a lot Shane!! At last your video helped me as always......Thanks a million!! 😀

[@ShanesCows]

Such a hard problem to solve. Was happy to help. To be honest not sure I could do it again without rewatching. 😳

[@timmiller9390]

Just came across this bit of gold - Thank you!! I always struggle with this. Often, I'm able to use the OData Id, where I expect this method would also work (and using just the "unique identifier for the ..." does not work). Not sure if that Odata Id is a new thing since this video was created. It also doesn't always work, so I'm glad to have the right method.

[@MrHamidG]

Thank you sooo much for your great tutorial. I was desperately searching for a solution.... no where else, but you :D

[@stevenwheeler3573]

Thanks so much for this! That was way too difficult! Please keep the videos coming!

[@ShanesCows]

It is tough for sure. 😊

[@Macedragon37]

Just wanted to let you know that you showed me that my cast to a lookup was supposed to be "systemusers" and not "systemuser". I hadn't used any plural names before so I had no idea. I was stuck on that for awhile, so thank you.

[@Eagle_Ridaz]

You have saved me big time !! Thank you so much for this precious tutorial.

[@ShanesCows]

Glad it helped!

[@ToddWheeler253]

Needed this refresher today and you were there for me. Thanks dude.

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help!

[@jenluckins5998]

Hey Shane! I'm really struggling with this - I have a Column in my table called, 'full name' which is a text column. In the same column I have a lookup called, 'system user'. I just want to copy the full name column into the lookup column to save me having to manually key in each one. I have 1000 rows of data and I cant seem to get this video to run the flow on each item to copy it over - please could you help?!

[@cbtjoe]

I'm doing this same scenario now... did you solve it?

[@davidgreen6486]

Another great video Shane. Please please please make more Dataverse videos. fFor security reasons my employer only uses Dataverse. One idea: what are the pros and cons of using an auto number and/or the GUID in Dataverse. This is causing me pain at the moment. Thanks, Dave

[@ShanesCows]

Noted. Thanks Dave!

[@MrPrasenjit90]

Thanks a lot Shane for such an informative video. Just one point to add here is that for Dataverse(legacy) actions, it will be just GUID instead of the plural name and then GUID.

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks for sharing!

[@facqns]

Just another time you save me hours of trying and failing. Thank you so much dude!

[@larrygleaner1683]

Thanks Shane! This Compose function seems more trouble than it is worth though. Any harm in limiting the list rows to one row, and then keeping the For Each loop (which would only run on one record)?

[@ShanesCows]

Nope. If that works for you then go for it. :)

[@joshpilson7986]

Thanks, Shane! Your videos are always helpful! Any idea how the process would change if you inserted a new row that had two favorite toys (option set that allows multiple selections)?

[@NarnawareSunil]

This is awesome , Shane. Thank you for sharing with us.

[@ShanesCows]

You are welcome 🙏

[@alekth]

Don't know if this has changed in the meantime but I just went into using Dataverse and got stuck at first on this - thanks for the video! However, I ended up also finding out that if I defined a table relationship in advance, I could simply use the OData Id.

[@ShanesCows]

Cool thanks for sharing.

[@jessicaburcher4434]

Thank you, you saved me HOURS of figuring this out!

[@ShanesCows]

Glad I could help! This one was tricky.

[@AndyTuke-e4e]

Wow, glad you worked that out. I'm just trying to finish a piece of customer work and hit this and thought wtf! Then found this ..phew

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help

[@geralddahl9159]

I find Dataverse useful because it allows me to reference views in Dataverse that have 2000 items or fewer in which is how I try to skirt delegation. (Please correct me if I’m wrong about that.) My point is that although it’s not as common as SharePoint, Dataverse is my go-to. I also find the way you can custom create query filter views from model driven apps is helpful. If I’m not sure of results returned from a canvas created expression I check it using the model driven Dataverse views. Bottom line, Dataverse can do more than SharePoint so more Dataverse is very much appreciated. Thank you.

[@davidservice8770]

Hi Shane - *definitely* keen to see more Dataverse videos - the primary data source isn't always Sharepoint...

[@VvkVvv-vc9rk]

Great Video Shane...Helped a lot !!....I'm just stuck now for a choice column....can you do a video on that as well ?...it seems to be very hard to do

[@mohamedraihane8586]

Hello Shane, Thanks for your amazing videos ! Juste for some who will encoure an error ( Bad Request Error ) Try to put just the id of the lookup field that would be fine ( i faced this error and did that ) Sharing is caring

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks for sharing.

[@stephendarier1390]

Hi Shane awesome video!!!! Have you done a patch attachments to SharePoint?

[@ShanesCows]

I have done to a doc library. As far as I can tell it is not possible to patch an attachment. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aYLEmoBuiMqKnK8

[@jamesambrose2834]

Thanks Shane! 😊 I wish I found this video before I lost my entire Friday fighting with Dataverse/PA before giving up 😂

[@ShanesCows]

Sorry James make sure you subscribe and I will send it to your directly next time. 😜

[@jamesambrose2834]

@@ShanesCows Don't worry I have been subscribed for over a year now. I wouldn't want to miss a Chewy Barktastic Update! 🤣🤣🐶🐶

[@bengin9272]

Thanks for the great video. I was trying to load data using a DataFlow, but it didn't allow me to write to a relationship lookup column. This video helped me get a Power Automate Flow working! I found that when Exporting data from a table, the CSV file that is downloaded is named with the table Plural name, at least for the ones I exported. I'm not sure if it will always hold true.

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks for sharing!

[@louiscutmore]

Thanks for doing the homework! That was a tough one! Well done 👍

[@nb7kw]

Shane, can't seem to find the URL in the video description and chance it changed or is out of date? If not, could you please update the description?

[@ShanesCows]

This one? org7c481c88.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/EntityDefinitions(LogicalName='cr662_chewystoys')?$select=EntitySetName

[@traveldirt]

Great video man, I am heavily using Dataverse with Flows so more videos on this would be great. Especially when working with data from external sources like MS SQL ie Dataflows.

[@jimmyjohn7490]

I keep getting an error in the add row step : ')' or ',' expected at position 4 in '(test-ID-4)'. test-ID-4 is the correct output of compose... what is happening? Thanks

[@harkinrb]

Great video again Shane! Could you consider a video on Dataverse Search Preview?

[@ShanesCows]

I don't know what that is but I will go looking around.

[@derek_shannon]

Great, Shane, thanks--Am wondering if this could be a workaround towards creating relationships while I wait to see if my org will turn on the PowerApps Office Add in. Since we don't have the Automate add-in either, probably not, so it would be challenging to get all the dimensions entered so there would GUID's to look up in the first place. But maybe initial data could go from Excel to a SharePoint list to a Flow to Dataverse...but for Teams? I did see "Premium" on the connectors you were using so not sure if this will for for Teams vs Pro. Ponder ponder....

[@ShanesCows]

I have used exactly this to import related data tables. So I think you are thinking the right way. 😎

[@derek_shannon]

@@ShanesCows Finally taking the plunge here, Shane! I tried Andrea Pinillos' approach during the dataflow stage to no avail (kzbin.info/www/bejne/iabIdGSaZ92IhLM) then gave a ForAll / Relate formula within an app one last try (using a 3rd data source so the ForAll wouldn't be operating on itself), and am now back to Power Automate. I think it might be easier with existing records using the "Relate Rows" Dataverse Power Automate function, but PA doesn't list my custom relationship, just some default ones, and it doesn't like when I enter it as a custom value, hmmmm.....

[@sharepoint1231]

very nice video. Thank you ! I try to find a way to get dataverse choice column guid but cant find any info on line. Can you also give some direction on choice column? Thanks!

[@petershelley3982]

Hi Shane. Great video, thanks for your advice on this. I have a query which may take this one step further.... I have a flow where I am doing exactly what you have shown here, and inputting data into a lookup field using the plural of the entity list. That one is working well. I have an additional field which is an "Expand Query", where I am pulling contact information from a related table, and it also needs to go into the target table also with a lookup field. The expression "create new row" expression which uses the output from an "Expand Query" appears to be different from what you have outlined here. Have you discovered the expression for this? Thanks again. Peter

[@Freteleven]

Hi Shane, That was a great video. Thanks. I'm wondering if you could help me out. I have a contact record that I've done another lookup to the contact table to add that users manager. I'm having trouble accessing the GUID of the lookup table. I thought this should be easy but everything I have tried has not returned anything.

[@ChinoMurray]

Hi I have been trying for days to do something as basic as getting the list of child rows of an entity. I have an entity A with a one to many relationship with a table B that has details. The problem is when I do the Get list to the details table (B) filtering with the GUID of the parent in the Odata filter. I get a data type error and I can't solve it. Does anyone know how to do it?

[@darinjohnson4275]

Thanks!

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help. Have a great day. 🐶

[@taijuhataya2130]

Hi Shane, Great video. Watching this from Tokyo Japan. Did follow your steps as exact but still receiving the error "error": {"code": "0x0","message": "Bad Request - Error in query syntax."). for /cr1da_projects(@{variables('ProjectID')}) . Is this version issue? Please let me know if you have any advise I can try. Thank you.

[@umarfarooq6541]

Great Video Shane! Any tricks or tips to handle Many-to-Many relationship scenarios?

[@sabirrehman8733]

Thanks Shane, it was realy helpful for me .....bundle of thanks

[@chrisgeronimoseeh1739]

Hi Shane, this was very helpful indeed, do you also have an answer how to do this for a Choice field?

[@maritheron3150]

I am also looking for the choice field option to do this,. Have you found anything to help?

[@chrisgeronimoseeh1739]

@@maritheron3150 Hi Mari, I have note found a solution to this. Sorry.

[@SpideyVerse001]

Thanks Shane young you are amazing person i have learned many things from you and i will remember this on every moment of my life that you are providing me really hard core MS CRM Consultant Thhhhaaaannnnnnnnkkkkkssssss !!!!!! aaaaaaa LooTTTTTTTTT

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help

[@shyamgopalsamy631]

I get the below error when I used this logic - The supplied reference link -- /systemusers() -- is invalid. Expecting a reference link of the form /entityset(key).

[@debraharrisga]

Thank you for all your good work.

[@ShanesCows]

My pleasure!

[@avinoamrothenberg1244]

As an idea for a QTT - Compare Microsoft Power Automate and Azure Logic Apps

[@ultimejerry]

This was a lifesaver - thankyou so much

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help Alison. 😎

[@robbfergus8150]

Thanks, Shane. Very very useful. Kind regards, Robb

[@rafianumrex6384]

hi shane you are a life saver... I was struggling to fix this for hours.... well I have the exact reaction as your's....yyyyyyaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh 🙌

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help. 😀 have a great weekend

[@muriwangul.chinyerere5381]

Does this also work on virtual tables e.g., aaduser because always giving me an error related to syntax?

[@ShanesCows]

I am not sure, I haven't treid.

[@julireid9574]

How did you get underlying column names that are not prefaced with the identifier code, example cr9f7_name

[@WildPedal]

YES! More Dataverse please!!!

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks

[@alexsegal5397]

Thanks for the video Sane - is there a way to trigger a Dataflow refresh by using the API? Thank you again for the great videos!

[@Nasxtye]

Thanks, very helpful. This thing shouldn't be this complicated

[@ShanesCows]

Agree!

[@mtamitolanga]

Hi Shane, how does it work f the data source is excel and destination Dataverse? Thank you

[@ShanesCows]

The Excel data would most likely just be text. So you would need to write logic to take your Excel Text value of "Red" and then find the correct record in Dataverse to map to. Not trivial but possible. Probably end up using an oData filter or lots of conditionals or a switch. Sorry, I don't have an exact video

[@yainaya_]

Is there still no way to fill the lookup column using an Alternate Key? Why does Dataverse allow setting keys for tables if we can't use them in Power Automate?

[@ShanesCows]

I have never tried with the alternative key but I doubt it 😐

[@MitanshuGarg101]

Thanks Shane. If we go to Dataverse -> Tables, and click on a particular table name and then Settings on top, that gives Plural name too. Is that always same as the one we get from that URL using org name?

[@ShanesCows]

I don’t think so 😔

[@federicolablasca4197]

Hi Shane! I am in need of your mastery! Could you do a video or explain how to mimic a 1:1 relationship on dataverse? I would like to create a 1:1 relationship between contact and contact spouse or other family members (without using the connections functionality). I create a 1:N lookup in contact called spouse, but then when i insert the name of the spouse I would like to autopopulate the counterpart lookup! How is it done on Power Automate? Please, help!

[@paulhaley5876]

Hi Shane . Using your example, you can now use /cr622_chewytoyses/'_cr662_chewystoys_value' which gives you the GUID of the toy. This returns the Primary Name Column of the lookup table. So the format is /lookup table/'_lookup column name_value'. If you List Rows in Chewy's Toys, Chewy's Toy (Value) is available in the dynamic content of the Add new row section of your Flow.

[@tristangeoffroy9286]

Hi Paul, I'm very interested in your alternative expression. I failed to get the GUID with Shane expression: First(...?['chewystoysid'])). But if I type in directly the GUID retrieved from the Lookuptable Excel export then it works. ; /LookupPluralNametable(GUID) ; If I type your expression as input of Favorite Toys(Chewy's Toys) I have a syntax Error. It's amazing why it's so difficult to get dynamically a row GUID, while a few connectors ask for Row GUID input. I certainly missed something or the entire picture ;-)

[@antivirus___]

u just saved my job buddy that you and god bless you !!

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome! I am glad I could help. This video took me forever to learn so glad it saves others.

[@Fitequip200]

Great video Shane (as always)!. It works perfect. I tried the same to Update a row, but I get a BadRequest error message. Is there something I should do differently?

[@Adin7785]

Very helpful, great work! Can you also kindly do a power automate between SQL server tables and Dataverse tables?

[@ShanesCows]

Yes, same concept. :)

[@UsamaNiaz-u1z]

Man YOU ARE A SAVER!!!! thank you so much....

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help. Have a great day. 🐶

[@AbramCardoza]

Would love to see how to take Customer Voice responses in Dataverse and populate a SharePoint list.

[@ShanesCows]

Interesting I haven’t done it but noted.

[@HenryVegaOrtiz]

Is there a method for this in Teams?

[@JonDoesFlow]

As always, legend, cheers for this

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks Jon 🤩

[@STATICRaiding]

I never comment but I have been racking my brain on this issue. I have a SPO list that I need to import nightly and in that list there is a lookup column. I need it to convert and get the name into the dataverse table. Running into a lot of issues. This is great if I KNEW what name would be picked every time but I don't :(

[@ShanesCows]

Taylor you have to build logic that dynamically deals with it. Maybe use a Switch action and then have a path for each column value you have. It sucks, but I don't have a magic bullet other than brute force.

[@Mario-jv2dc]

Thank you Shane! My problem is when the relationship between the tables is many to many and the tables have thousands of records.

[@AKP_TECH]

Hey Shane, nice video! Got an idea for a similar one, albeit with a connection to an external source. On this video you populate a single value and you choose first item, right? Could you make a video on how you could populate Lookup columns with data from Excel, to update all rows existing at once? Like this: Say you've got a list of Chewy's bones and colors. Your Excel has duplicates colors to create 1 to 1 reference so each bone has a color. The Dataverse instead, picks the color from a lookup and auto assigns it to every bone record. Possible? :P

[@JD_JR]

This is exactly what I'm looking for as well