Overview: The Power Platform CLI in August was updated and 1 of the new features is the ability to use the CLI command line to generate a Canvas app using an Open API as the data source.
The Power CLI supports the GET and POST endpoints. Which is normally +85% of the endpoints anyway.
In this post I walk thru the steps to add books using an Open API and retrieve all the books as well as the new book added.
Solution:
1. I used the free postman API endpoints (2 gets and a post) > Exported the collection
2. In
Power Apps > using a
Solution > Add a
new Custom Connector (
tip: I used Automate)>
Upload from a Postman Collection > Pass in the
Postman collection generated in the last step. Save the Custom Connection as shown below. Lastly test the Custom Connector.
3. I used Visual Studio code with the Power Platform Extension
Using the
Power Platform CLI, in the terminal run ps>
pac to verify the Power Platform extension is available.
// Get the environment you want to work on
ps> pac admin list
// Get the Custom Connector Name or Id you are going to base the Canvas app on
ps> pac connector list --environment a9adbbba-c45d-eac1
// Generate the msapp package
ps> pac canvas create --msapp "C:\Radimaging\BookDemo.msapp" --connector-display-name "BookDemoCN" --environment "a9adbbba-c45d"
4. Import the export Power App. Select your environment, and create a new Canvas driven Power App. "Open" has recently changed in the UI.
The app will get created, I had to add the Custom Connector to the App and you are ready to customise
Beware: Custom Connectors and Connection References in Managed Solutions. It's a good idea to check they work in the deployment pipelines as the rework can be a pain.
Summary: This is a great way to build an application quickly using the pac create. It is a bit rough, and needs amending after import on the 3 endpoints I've used but a great start to a new feature.
