CDS data flows How to import data with many to many relationship

[SandraSoniec]

Dear community

I have built a model-driven app and I am in process to import data to CDS using data flows.

The data source is in Excel.

I have been able to map look-up fields based on this article 

https://dynamicscitizendeveloper.com/2020/04/21/how-to-map-a-lookup-field-in-a-power-platform-datafl...

Is it possible to import data to a field that has a many-to-many relationship to my entity?

Thanks in advance

[HSheild · Accepted solution]

hi @SandraSoniec 

This is not possible at the moment using dataflows as the relationship entity (hidden entity that joins entities in a many to many relationship) does not seem to be available to select on the mapping page.  As an example, I just had a look at mapping the Lead - Product many to many relationship and these two entities are related via LeadProduct entity.  This entity doesn't exist as an option to map.

Additionally this article also says that many to many relationships for dataflows are not supported

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/developer/common-data-service/cds-odata-dataflows-migrati...

You could add an Idea so that the product team know that people want this https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Ideas/ct-p/PA_Comm_Ideas

[jlindstrom · Accepted solution]

Yes. Use power automate and the relate records step. You need to create a flow from a solution and use the connector called cds current environment. Here is a great post about it https://www.google.com/amp/s/tattooedcrmgirl.com/2019/10/30/microsoft-flow-the-relate-records-action...

you can put your excel in onedrive and connect with flow and create or update records in cds