Generating a Canvas App from a Custom Connector (Open API)

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.  

Connection references in solutions - Power Apps | Microsoft Learn

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. 

More Info:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/developer/cli/reference/canvas