A connector refers to a wrapper or a proxy around Application Programming Interface which allows an underlying service to develop a connection with Azure logic, Microsoft Power Automate, and Microsoft Power Apps. It helps users to build workflows and applications by providing a process of linking their accounts and leveraging them. PowerApps connectors consist of a large ecosystem of Saas ( Software as a service) which helps the users to connect data, devices, and applications in the cloud. The most known examples of Powerapps connectors that most of us use in day to day activities are Twitter, Google services, Office365, and others.
PowerApps connectors expedite app creation. The web interface of power apps offers toolboxes that help users to design and develop applications via GUI, therefore applications do not necessarily have code. It helps to connect with a variety of online services and data sources with just a few development requirements. For instance, integrations such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, and services of third parties such as Salesforce, Dropbox, and Adobe.
Development and deployment of applications have several costs associated for example licensing of both developers and components. With the help of Powerapps a low code and no-code platform, the cost of development reduces drastically. Powerapps also enables its users to build intelligence using AI builder features for business applications.
PowerApps helps organisations not only build but also quickly deploy applications to the designated platform using the main platform. Users generally developing mobile applications need to undergo Google or Apple’s review before rolling out the applications to catalogs or stores. Developers can access and share any application developed by using a tablet, mobile device, or web interface within Power Apps. This will help users to eliminate the complexity that is seen with traditional application development.
Find the list below of some of the most popular PowerApps connectors in the market.
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Every connector provides a set of operations that can be classified into triggers and actions. Once an underlying service is connected by the user the operations can be leveraged easily within applications and workflows.
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You can find connectors available in multiple products for use.
Power Automate: Power Automat makes the use work smartly by building the workflow and also automating the processes across the application and services. One can streamline all the notifications, Data can be synced between the systems, Automate the approval, and more.
Power Apps: Power Apps permit the user in building cloud-connected and cross-platform applications in business by using minimal code and clicks. The user can also create a rich user experience across the web, tablets, and phones. Add logic to business, assemble forms, and take utmost advantage of all the device capabilities with complete creative freedom.
Logic Apps: It represents a Workflow engine for Power Automate. It permits the user to create visually or even programmatically configure the workflows in Azure. A connector in this app helps the user to automate the EAI, B2C ( Business to customer) B2B ( Business to Business) scenarios, so that benefits of support, testing, source control, and operations can be reaped.
Custom Connectors: As the name implies these refer to the connectors that are customized with their triggers and actions. There is a broad variety of connectors but on a few occasions, the user might need to call the API’s services, system, and services that are not available as pre-built connectors. The connectors here are function-based. This means the data is returned only based on a specific function in the service.
Certified Connectors: When a user makes a custom connector that is created for publicly available to benefit all its users either in Power Automate, Logic Apps, and Power Apps, then the person can submit the connector to Microsoft for its certification. The company will review it and if the certification criteria are met, approval for publishing will be received.
Independent Publisher Connectors: These refer to the connectors that are submitted by publishers that can be either developers, MVPs, or organizations. They have ownership of the underlying service at the back of the connector. The Independent connectors can be deployed and made available out-of-box in the power platform as premium connectors.
A user will have to obtain an Application Programming Interface (API), to create a custom connector. The user can either create an account or sign in to power apps. Click on the icon of Dataverse and choose custom connectors. Then, navigate to the top-right hand, and select the New Custom Connector. The user can choose from multiple options, let us now understand how to create a custom connector from blank!
The next step is to fill the parameter label as the “Key” and also select the parameter name as the “Authorization” Also, choose Header as the Parameter location in the box.
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Defining an action for our custom connector: The user can define more than a single action in the customer connector in the definition section. Here we are explaining with just one action if the user wants he can add one or more actions at different endpoints. Select the new action and fill in details such as description and summary in the general section tab. Also, the operational ID field has to be named so that the user can remember the name and it has to be meaningful as the user will require the field while using the canvas application later.
Import from Sample: The user needs to define all the requirements for the request. Use of GET is required as we get all the data from the API. Use the URL to provide the endpoint which was used earlier for testing by using the city name and then select import.
Defining a Response in our custom connector: Now, the user will have to fill the response section, by clicking on the Add default response. Copy the response that we received from an endpoint when we tested and paste it into the section of the body and choose to import.
A message will pop that the customer connector has been successfully created as shown in the image below.
Now, use the dropdown list to select the test.
Then, provide the API key and then select create
Now, As seen in the image below you can select Mumbai or any other city in the place section. The city selected is the one which the user wants to query and then enter the app ID ( identification) key and choose the Test operation.
If the user has created a successful request, then a return response will be received with a 200 status code, and also the body section will specify a JASON response as shown in the below image
Using our custom connector in the canvas app: After the user creates the custom connector, Let us learn how the custom connector can be added to the canvas application and then use it as the data source.
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Now, create a new latest canvas application and provide the application name and then click to create.
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A blank screen will be displayed, choose the data icon and click on the Add data.
As seen in the above image the customer connector will be available. Choose the custom connector and click on it.
Use the label to check whether it is in working condition or not. The below formula can be used to test it. As seen in the image the customer connector is the name of the connector that the user has assigned earlier and the place refers to the operation ID. i
Please Note - The API key which is used in the application ID should belong to the user.
PowerApps connectors help the users to link accounts and leverage all the pre-built activities to create applications and workflow. A user can also create custom connectors and includes one or more actions. Hope you have now understood the concept of the PowerApp connector and its different types. In case you have any queries or feedback please leave a comment in the section below.
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A connector is a proxy or a wrapper around an API that allows the underlying service to talk to Microsoft Power Automate, Microsoft Power Apps, and Azure Logic Apps. It provides a way for users to connect their accounts and leverage a set of prebuilt actions and triggers to build their apps and workflows.