Write a Custom API call from Clout Flow

In a previous article, we check how we Write a Custom API and calling it from classic workflow. It worked well, yet we encountered some hiccups in deployment. Actually, recommended way it co call it from a Cloud Flow than a workflow.

Lets check that using a simple sample Cloud Flow. Implementation of the Custom API remains the same. Please refer that part from previous post. 

Lets do the calling part from a Cloud Flow. I would select a flow that would could be triggered on demand from the custom entity (in our case so_office).

First I am selecting a task to trigger when selecting a record from Office where I need to select the environment along with entity.

Then I need to select Perform a bound action from list of actions of Microsoft Dataverse.

Now interestingly, we can see our Custom API within the Action lists shown, which we would select as below. Then we need to pass the row Id passed by trigger from the first action.

Now if you go open and office record, you are able to runt he Flow on Demand as any other workflow is triggered. 

Here I demonstrated only simple on demand flow for ease of demonstration, but what we need to learn is, in any flow we can call out Custom API using Performa Bound Action of Microsoft Dataverse. Most importantly, this is the recommended way than calling from a workflow. 

Check if deployed assembly got your code

While we have all the processes in place for deployments, I still sometimes feel like checking if my code change was actually deployed. This happens when we work with many developers at the same time where anyone can deploy a new version of assembly to DEV environment. What is in the DEV at the time of the deployment will be pushed to other environments. Here we explain a way to decompile and check the assembly using two tools.

A. Download the Assembly using Assembly Recovery Tool (Xrm Toolbox)

Once we connect to an environment and load the tool, it list down all the assemblies of the environment.

Then its a matter of selecting the correct assembly and download.

B. Decompile the code using JetBrains DotPeak (https://www.jetbrains.com/decompiler/)

Download and install the JetBrains DotPeak tool in your PC/ Laptop.

Then you are able to open the folder where you saved the Assembly in the previous step where you can go down to classes and identify the method you are interested in. Then double click it and you will get the code in right hand side pane.

Hope this helps.