Summary
Designing data table sources for PowerBI reports for CE may be getting a bit easier as Microsoft have released a preview connector for the Common Data Service.
For those keeping up, the Common Data Service is now the behind the scenes database for the likes of Power Apps, Flow and CE.
What does this mean for me?
Currently using the CE connector if you have a lookup field you can expand the column and get the fields of the related tables, which is great.
However, for option sets (like status etc) all you get is the option code and not the name, which means currently you must make tables in BI for the choices, link to them and then get the names. Plus, you must maintain these tables when new options are added.
Connecting to CE using this new connector to the CDS shows that for option set fields there is a new field added called {fieldname}_display and this will show the option set names.
Don’t get too keen yet though as the CDS connector is in preview and is therefore subject to change before it gets its general release, but it does make the future look a lot easier. Stay tuned for updates.
Further Information
If you have any questions or need assistance then please contact the GCC Group Support Team on 0845 260 1151 or servicedesk@gccgroup.co.uk
