So you’ve installed Connection Explorer, but not sure how to go about adding it to your form? In this article we’ll layout a few short steps for teaching you how to customise your forms and add a reference to Connection Explorer. If you haven’t already, head over to AppSource to install our free solution and let’s get started.

Where is Connection Explorer?

Connection Explorer is a PCF (Power Apps Component Framework) control, custom code used to create components in model-driven and canvas apps. In simple terms, this means we can bind components to a field to change its original functionality and design for displaying data in a customised way.

Once Connection Explorer has been installed, it is then available to be added as a custom control to fields across all entities. Below are the steps for adding a new field and binding the Connection Explorer component to it within the PowerApps form designer.

In our example, we’ll bind Connection Explorer to a new field in the contact entity, by heading to Tables>Contact.

Within the table editor, go to New>Column, and give the field a display name. We’re calling it Connection Explorer, but you can give it any name you like. Click ‘Save’ and wait for the new field to be generated.

Next, we need to add the field to a form. For this example, we’ll add it to the main Contact form, which can be found in Forms>Contact.

When in the Form Editor, go to the navigation bar and click ‘+Component.’ In the newly opened Component menu, add a tab under the Layout column.

In the New Tab sidebar, update the label to ‘Connection Explorer’ or another name.

In the form previewer window, click the Connection Explorer tab and select ‘New Section’ under this tab. This enables you to add new fields and components within this section.

Back in the navigation bar, click the ‘+ Form Field’ button and type ‘connection’ in the search bar to filter the options to the newly-created field.

Click the highlighted field to add it to the form section.

Use the field editor sidebar to add your component. Click ‘Component’ at the end of the sidebar and ‘Add New.’

In the ‘Add Component’ sidebar, search ‘Connection’ and click the XRM Connection Explorer component and make sure it’s set to show on all device types. Save and publish your changes.

And that’s it, You’re all set! Connection Explorer is now installed and activated in your environment! Go to a contact record and click on your newly-created Connection Explorer tab and start comparing your connections now.

Need more from Connection Explorer? We offer an unlimited version of Connection Explorer with extended customisation suited to your environment. Contact us now to discuss your requirements and a member of team will get in touch shortly.


Zachery Walsh O'Brien

Written By: Zachery Walsh O'Brien

Zachery is a Web Developer with a great eye for front end web development. He has studied Graphic Design, received a Higher National Diploma in Visual Communications, and interned as a Graphic Designer upon leaving college in a digital design agency in Ireland. Zachery originally focused on WordPress web design but has now diversified his skillset towards a web development role being able to leverage many front end languages and frameworks.

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