Dataverse Primary Name Column

[todaytoo]

Hello! I keep seeing conflicting details around the 'Primary Name Column' in dataverse when creating a table. What should be populated in this column or is it even needed? Some documentation I see says that it should have your Primary Key in this column, others say to leave this column alone.

Can someone help to explain what this column is and how it should be used, or point me to clear documentation around this topic?

Thanks!!

[AhmedSalih · Accepted solution]

Hello, @todaytoo, A Primary Name column is always created by Microsoft Dataverse when you create a new custom table. This is the first column that is listed and available so you have a way to identify a record in the new custom table by using a business value or an autogenerated whole number. In the model-driven apps, the value in the Primary Name Column will be clickable so you can navigate to the Form of that record. So, it needs to be user friendly value, like company name, or Order number. 

Also, when you have relationship between tables through lookup column, the Primary Name column value will show as the value of the Lookup column in the Child tables. 

It is needed and as a best practice you should use it and you can't avoid using it.

 

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