Dataverse Actions – Complete Guide (Model-Driven Apps)

Dataverse Actions – Complete Guide (Model-Driven Apps)


Dataverse Actions are a powerful feature in Microsoft Dataverse that allow you to execute custom business logic directly from model-driven apps, Power Automate, or external systems. Actions are typically used when you want to perform an operation that goes beyond simple create, update, or delete actions on a table.

What are Dataverse Actions?

A Dataverse Action represents a reusable business operation. It can accept input parameters, perform logic, and return output values. Unlike workflows or plugins that automatically trigger, actions are explicitly invoked by users or automation.

In model-driven apps, actions are commonly exposed as command bar buttons, allowing users to trigger business logic manually from a form or grid.

Types of Dataverse Actions

  • Bound Actions – These actions are associated with a specific Dataverse table. They operate on a selected record and appear on the form or grid command bar.
  • Unbound Actions – These actions are not tied to any table. They are used for global operations such as bulk processing or system-level logic.

Real-Time Example in Model-Driven App

Consider a custom Dataverse table used to manage user requests. A business requirement might be to apply validation rules and send notifications when a request is submitted.

Instead of embedding logic in multiple places, a Dataverse Action can be created to handle the entire process. This action can:

  • Validate the current record data
  • Update status fields
  • Trigger email notifications
  • Return a success or failure message

This action can then be invoked from:

  • A command button in the model-driven app form
  • A Power Automate flow
  • Custom JavaScript or external integrations

Why Use Actions in Model-Driven Apps?

Dataverse Actions help keep business logic centralized and reusable. Instead of duplicating logic across workflows, plugins, and flows, actions provide a single execution point that can be called from multiple places.

This approach improves maintainability, consistency, and performance, especially in complex enterprise model-driven applications.

Key Takeaway: Use Dataverse Actions when you need controlled, reusable, and user-invoked business logic in model-driven apps or Power Automate.

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