Can we upload / Read a pdf, excel file from Portal to store in CDS Table using custom Code

[Anonymous]

Hi Experts,

I have one portal where we have created all the objects i.e DataTable to display data in Table structure using Custom Code i.e JavaScript / JQuery Library to display the data using FetchXML/Liquid Code/ Ajax call and insert the data to CDS using Entity Form and Power Automate flow.

Now Client is asking to upload a PDF, Excel file from Portal to save it in CDS table, and also once stored then other users can see and download those files.

File Upload

Can we do that in Power Apps Portal?

Please help me with this requirement. Any help will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Amit

[OOlashyn]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Well, standard approach would be to just use standard attach file/notes functionality on Entity Forms. You can read more here. However, if you would like to have some custom UI datatables like style for creation/reading attachments you can use Web API to create as it allows to create any custom entity as far as you have proper entity permissions and you can fetch notes related to entities via fetchxml. Web API is now in preview but should be GA in February.

[Anonymous]

Hi @OOlashyn 

Thanks for the response.

Yeah I am using custom scripts not an Entity Form.

User can add multiple files and the design will not be fulfill by entity form. So have to create custom ui for that. And have to use fetchxml to read the data.

But the web api is in preview state, so it won't be good to use it in a production environment.

Is there any alternative way by which we can achieve this requirement?

[OOlashyn]

Hi @Anonymous,

Being honest as we are really close to Web API go GA and overall good performs of Web API I think there is no issue with using it in prod. But I completely understand your concerns as sometimes MS are not very reliable with preview features.

Yes, there are different ways you can achieve this requirement - you can create an HTTP trigger Flow which will create necessary files in your environment; you can create an azure function (or any other serverless service you like) that will create notes in your system. For example you can see how to call flow from portal in this post from Nick Doelman. Problem with those approaches is that you need to think about security ie how to verify that this request comes from the portal and not from some random endpoint, etc.

[Anonymous]

Hi @OOlashyn 

Thanks for the response!

Currently, we are using power automate flow only to send the data from the portal.

but

Is there any blog/documentation or any reference site from where I can get some understanding on how I can store the file from portal to CDS using Power Automate flow (Https) and from fetchxml how can I get the uploaded file to show in portal?

Thanks,

Amit

[ragavanrajan]

Hi @Anonymous ,

You can have a look at Nick Doelman blog for how to trigger http request 

https://readyxrm.blog/2019/12/28/trigger-power-automate-flows-from-power-apps-portals/ 

and then the following official docs for adding file names and file type 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/portals/web-api-perform-operations 

Hope it helps. 

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