XrmToolBox & FetchXML Builder – Complete Setup Guide (Dataverse)

XrmToolBox & FetchXML Builder – Complete Setup Guide (Dataverse)

XrmToolBox is a community-driven Windows application that hosts a collection of tools for managing and customizing Microsoft Dataverse environments. One of its most powerful extensions is FetchXML Builder, which enables crafting, testing, and validating FetchXML queries without writing code manually.

Installing XrmToolBox

Download the latest XrmToolBox release from the official source and extract the application to a folder on your system. XrmToolBox runs as a standalone executable and does not require an installer.

After extraction, launch XrmToolBox. On first run, the application may prompt to install community plugins. You can skip this initially if you want to install only specific tools later.

Connecting to Dataverse

In XrmToolBox, open the connection dialog and choose the appropriate organization from your Dataverse environment. Authenticate using your preferred method (Azure AD, MFA, application user, etc.).

Once connected, you can see entities, metadata, and records in your environment. This lets you select tools that require context about your Dataverse organization.

Installing FetchXML Builder

In XrmToolBox’s plugin store, search for FetchXML Builder and install it. FetchXML Builder allows you to design, execute, and refine FetchXML queries visually.

After installation, open FetchXML Builder from the XrmToolBox main window. You can now:

  • Create new FetchXML queries
  • Convert query results into usable formats
  • Test queries against live Dataverse data
  • Generate FetchXML for use in other tools or custom code

Using FetchXML Builder Effectively

FetchXML Builder provides a grid view and design surface that speeds up query design. Use the visual editor to drag and drop entity attributes and filters, then switch to FetchXML text view to fine-tune the query.

You can preview results directly within the tool, export query text, and use it in Power Apps, Power Automate, or custom plugin code requiring specific record sets.

Benefits of This Setup

XrmToolBox consolidates multiple utilities into a single workspace, reducing context switching. FetchXML Builder empowers developers and administrators to construct complex queries without manually writing XML.

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