Work with Dataverse tables using code
Providing storage for data is the most important function of Dataverse. Dataverse includes a base set of tables that provide structure for data used by business applications.
You can view the base set of tables in the Dataverse table/entity reference.
Modify tables
You can modify the table design using several different methods.
Use designers
There are several ways to edit table design using designers.
| Designer | Description |
|---|---|
| make.powerapps.com | The easiest and most common approach to modify the schema is to use the https://make.powerapps.com/ to edit Dataverse tables in an environment. Changes applied here are performed in the context of an unmanaged Common Data Service Default Solution. |
| Solution explorer for your solution | If you will distribute a solution you should create any new tables, attributes, or relationships in the context of the unmanaged solution that you will use to develop your solution. More information: Solution publisher |
| From the form editor | When editing a model-driven app form for an entity, you can click the New Field button in the Field Explorer. If you create a lookup field, you will create a new relationship to support it. |
Import a solution
A solution can contain table and other customized components. Importing a managed or unmanaged solution into your Dataverse environment will include those tables or extend existing tables with the new table they contain.
From a data source using Power Query
You can create new tables and fill them with data using Power Query. More information: Add data to a table in Dataverse by using Power Query
Use web services to work with table definitions
The web services exposed in Dataverse include capabilities to create, read, write, and delete tables. These services are most frequently used to read because that data can inform your code at runtime about how the environment has been customized. More information: Work with table definitions using code
Table definitions
The data model is stored within Dataverse.
- The EntityMetadata Class defines this with the SDK for .NET.
- The EntityMetadata EntityType defines this for the Web API.
The table definition includes the following information:
| Data | Description |
|---|---|
| Properties | Each entity has nearly 100 properties that describe how it is identified and what can be done with it. More information: Entity definition |
| Attributes | The entity Attributes property is a collection of attributes or columns. Each column has around 50 properties to describe how it is identified, the type of data it contains, how it is formatted, and what can be done with it. More information: Attribute definition |
| Relationships | Three of the entity properties are collections of relationships between tables. These collections contain different types of relationships: Many-To-Many, Many-To-One, and One-To-Many. More information: Relationships definition |
| Privileges | One of the properties is a collection of between 0 and 8 privileges that identity the kinds of data operations that can be performed on that table with a unique identifier associated with each one. These operations include: Append, AppendTo, Assign, Create, Delete, Read, Share, and Write. |
| Keys | By default, each table has a single GUID (globally unique identifier) attribute and the Keys property is an empty collection. You can add alternate keys to a table. More information: Keys |
Tip
Developing an understanding of the table definition in the system can help you understand how Dataverse works. Many of the properties also control what tables in model-driven apps can do. The designers available to edit metadata cannot show all the details found in the metadata. You can install a model-driven app called the Metadata Browser that will allow you to view all the hidden tables and metadata properties that are found in the system. More information: Browse table and columns definitions in your environment
Private tables
Dataverse contains some tables that are not intended for third-party developers to use. These tables are added by Microsoft to enable feature functionality. Private tables are indicated by the EntityMetadata.IsPrivate property. These tables are not included in the Web API CSDL $metadata document. However, you will find them when querying entity metadata.
Caution
You should not use private tables in your solutions. By marking a table as private, Microsoft is explicitly indicating that we do not support other apps to use the table. Microsoft may remove the table or introduce breaking changes at any time. Use of these tables by anyone other than Microsoft is not supported.