We will learn to upload, download and delete a file in Dynamics 365 CRM. Before we start, make sure to subscribe to CRM Crate so that you can stay up to date in the field of Dynamics 365 CRM.
Understanding the File type attribute in Model-Driven App
A file attribute / column is used for storing file data up to a specified maximum size. A custom or customizable table can have zero or more file columns plus a notes collection with zero to one attachment in each note. The SchemaName of the file column is “EntityFile”.
We can create a File data-type field within a Model-Driven App as shown below.
Download, Upload & Delete the data in a File using Power Automate
We will learn to automatically download or retrieve data from a file, upload or push data into a file and delete or remove a data from a file data-type field using Power Automate flow as given below.
Download a file data using Power Automate –
In our scenario, we will download the data from a file type attribute called “File A” as shown below.
We will use the Power Automate’s connector called “Download a File or an Image” for performing the operation.
Below are the properties and parameters required by the “Download a file or an image” connector.
| Table Name | Select the table / entity in which the File type attribute is present |
| Row ID | Pass the row / record’s GUID for patching the request |
| Column Name | Select the File type attribute as per your requirement |
Upload a file data using Power Automate –
In our scenario, we will upload the data into a file type attribute called “File B” which was previously downloaded from attribute called “File A”.
We will use the Power Automate’s connector called “Upload a File or an Image” for performing the operation.
Below are the properties and parameters required by the “Upload a file or an image” connector.
| Table Name | Select the table / entity in which the File type attribute is present |
| Row ID | Pass the row / record’s GUID for patching the request |
| Column Name | Select the File type attribute as per your requirement |
| Content | Pass the content data downloaded from the previously used “Download a file or image” connector |
| Content Name | Pass the name of the file from which the data is getting copied. In our example, we will be retrieve the file name present in the attribute “File A”. Thus, it will be “outputs(‘Get_Row’)?[‘body/cc_filea_name’]“ |
Delete a file data using Power Automate –
In our scenario, we will delete the data from a file type attribute called “File B”.
There is no out of the box connector available for deleting the data from File attributes. Therefore, we will use the out of the box action called “DeleteFile” for sending a file deletion request. The Power Automate’s “Perform an unbound action” connector will be used for calling the DeleteFile action.
Click on the given link to learn more about DeleteFile action- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/developer/data-platform/webapi/reference/deletefile?view=dataverse-latest
Below are the properties and parameters required by the “Perform an unbound action” connector.
| Action Name | Select the out of the box action called “DeleteFile” |
| FileId | Pass the ID of the file attribute captured during retrieving the row (Get Row By ID connector) |
Validate the implementation in Dynamics 365 CRM
Once the above shown Power Automate flow is designed, navigate to the Dynamics 365 CRM and validate the implementation as shown below.
Note: – We have developed an additional JavaScript logic for triggering the Power Automate flow during the “OnChange” event of form’s field.
Thus, we learned to upload, download and delete a file in Dynamics 365 CRM.
