Step-by-Step Guide to Connecting Power Platform Apps with Fabric Data

You can link your Power Platform App to Microsoft Fabric data with low-code tools. This way, you get real-time business data and can make apps faster. Many businesses see these benefits:

• You can make apps and automate things faster with less code.

• You spend less money because you do not need regular developers.

• Microsoft Fabric gives strong security and can grow with your needs.

• You get all your data in one place without making extra copies.

You can make smart apps and set up easy workflows.

Key Takeaways

• Make sure you have the right permissions and licenses first. This helps keep your data safe and makes connecting easier.

• Set up your environment with care. Give admin roles, turn on needed features, and get your workspace ready. This helps make a strong and safe connection.

• Use virtual tables to connect your app to live Fabric data. You do not need to copy the data. This saves storage and keeps your app updated with real-time info.

• Keep your data safe by using Microsoft Entra ID and conditional access. Use Data Loss Prevention rules to control who can see and use your data.

• Put Power Apps inside Power BI reports. This lets you work with data and apps in one place. It helps you work faster and make better choices with data.

Prerequisites

Permissions and Licenses

Before you connect your Power Platform app to Microsoft Fabric data, you need the right permissions and licenses. These things help keep your data safe and make sure everything works well.

💡 Tip: You can use "Run-Only Users" in Power Automate. This lets flows run with the creator’s credentials. It helps keep backend data safe from people who do not need direct access.

It is smart to use special service accounts for backend connections. This keeps user permissions and data access separate. It also makes things safer. If you use SharePoint, change permissions to protect sensitive data. For more control, you can use Dataverse or SQL Server instead of Excel files.

Environment Setup

You need to get your environment ready before building your app. Follow these steps to set up everything the right way:

• Make sure you have the Systems Administrator security role in your Power Platform environment. This role lets you turn on Link to Fabric or Synapse Link.

• Become an administrator of the Power BI workspace you want to use.

• If you need a new Power BI workspace, get Power BI Capacity Administrator access to a capacity in the same Azure region as your Dataverse environment.

• Get a Power BI premium license or Fabric capacity in the same Azure region. You can also use a free Fabric trial capacity.

• Ask your Fabric admin to let you create lakehouses and artifacts in the Fabric admin portal.

• Check that tenant settings let users make Fabric items, workspaces, and use OneLake data with outside apps.

• Turn on change tracking on Dataverse tables you want to link to Fabric.

• Make or pick a Fabric workspace during the linking process.

• Share the connection with other users who need the data.

When you meet these requirements, you build a strong base for connecting your Power Platform apps to Microsoft Fabric data. This setup helps make sure your integration is safe, works well, and can grow.

Prepare Fabric Data

Create Virtual Tables

You have to set up virtual tables before you connect your Power Platform app to Microsoft Fabric data. Virtual tables let you use data from Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse without moving it into Dataverse. This way, you save both time and storage space.

Here are the steps to make a virtual table:

1. Make sure you have a Dataverse environment. If you do not, create a new developer environment.

2. Get contributor or administrator access to a Microsoft Fabric workspace with the data you want.

3. Open Power Apps and go to the Tables section.

4. Start a new virtual table by picking New table and then Create a virtual table.

5. Choose Microsoft Fabric as your connection source.

6. Pick the Fabric workspace you can use.

7. Select a Lakehouse in that workspace.

8. Choose the table you want from the Lakehouse data.

9. Change table and column names if you need them to match Dataverse rules.

10. Make sure you pick a unique primary key for the virtual table.

11. Check your settings and finish making the table.

12. Use this virtual table as a data source in your Power Apps.

⚠️ Note: Virtual tables from Microsoft Fabric OneLake are read-only in Power Apps. You cannot change data directly from your app.

When you make virtual tables, always use a unique primary key. This step helps your app find and use records the right way. You can also use Solution Explorer in Power Apps to control custom settings and manage your virtual tables.

Configure Data Access

You need to set up safe data access to protect your business information. Microsoft Fabric uses Microsoft Entra ID to check who you are and apply security rules.

• Use conditional access policies. You can limit access by user, device, or location.

• Use private links and managed endpoints to keep data traffic inside your network.

• Set up trusted workspace access to connect safely to Azure Data Lake accounts.

• Assign roles in both Dataverse and Fabric to control who can see or use data.

• Make Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies. These rules block risky connectors and stop data leaks.

• Watch activity with audit logs and alerts in Microsoft 365 Security Center.

💡 Tip: Use Microsoft Intune to protect Power Apps on mobile devices. This step adds another layer of security.

By following these steps, you make sure only the right people can get to your data. You also keep your Power Platform apps safe and follow the rules.

Connect Power Platform App

When you connect your Power Platform App to Microsoft Fabric data, you get live updates and can automate tasks. There are different ways to do this. Each way has good points and some limits. Follow these steps to make sure your connection is safe and works well.

Use Virtual Tables

Virtual tables let your app use Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse data without making copies. This creates a live link. Your app always shows the newest data.

How to connect with virtual tables:

1. Open Power Apps and go to your Dataverse environment.

2. Make a new virtual table. Pick Microsoft Fabric as the source.

3. Choose your Fabric workspace and Lakehouse.

4. Match the table and columns. Set a unique primary key.

5. Save and publish your virtual table.

ℹ️ Note: Virtual tables only let you read Fabric Lakehouse data. You can see and use the data, but you cannot change it from your app.

Virtual tables work like live bridges between your app and Fabric. This setup stops you from making extra copies of data. You use less storage. You can build apps that show live Fabric data. This makes your Power Platform App stronger and faster.

Comparison of Connection Methods:

CRUD Operations

CRUD means Create, Read, Update, and Delete. These actions help you manage data in your Power Platform App. With virtual tables, you can do CRUD on some sources.

Steps for CRUD operations:

1. Connect your app to the data source, like Fabric or SharePoint.

2. Use Filter and Lookup to read records.

3. Make new records with Patch or Forms.

4. Change or delete records using Edit Forms or Remove.

💡 Tip: For model-driven apps, add the virtual table and use built-in forms for CRUD. For canvas apps, use Patch and Forms for more control.

Some sources, like Fabric Lakehouse, only let you read data. If you want full CRUD, use Fabric Databases with primary keys or Dataverse tables.

Write-Back to Fabric

Write-back lets your app send changes to Microsoft Fabric. This is useful for planning, approvals, or fixing data.

How to turn on write-back:

• Use Fabric Databases with SQL Server. These need primary keys and identity columns for writing.

• Connect your app with the SQL Server Data Connector. Use the right Data Warehouse name.

• Set up Power Automate flows to run SQL commands (INSERT, UPDATE) on the Fabric SQL Endpoint. Start these flows from your app.

• Put your Power Platform App in Power BI reports. This lets users write back data while looking at reports.

⚠️ Caution: Fabric Lakehouse SQL Endpoints are read-only. Use Fabric Databases or Data Warehouses for write-back. Power Automate can be tricky and may need extra licenses.

The November 2024 Fabric update makes write-back easier. It puts both transactional and analytical work in one place. This helps you manage data better and makes your work smoother.

Use Connectors

Connectors help your Power Platform App talk to many data sources, like Microsoft Fabric. You can use direct connectors for live data or automate tasks with Power Automate.

How to use connectors:

• In Power Apps, add a new data connection. Pick the SQL Server or Fabric connector.

• Type in the connection details, like server name and login info.

• Use the connector in your app to read or write data, depending on the source.

🛠️ Troubleshooting: If you get connection errors, check your permissions. Make sure your Fabric and Dataverse are in the same region. Keep all connections safe and do not use shared connections.

Common challenges and solutions:

• Delegation limits can stop your app from working with lots of records. Watch for warnings and make your queries better.

• Some connectors do not support all columns or libraries.

• If Power Automate flows break, add them again to your app.

Best Practices for Secure and Reliable Integration:

1. Use Microsoft Entra ID to log in.

2. Set up Data Loss Prevention (DLP) rules to keep data safe.

3. Watch capacity and speed with the Fabric Capacity Metrics App.

4. Test connections in a test area before going live.

5. Write down your integrations and teach your team about safety and fixing problems.

✅ Pro Tip: Start with your most important workflows. Add more as you learn. Use a hub-and-spoke setup to keep development, testing, and production separate.

By following these steps, you can connect your Power Platform App to Microsoft Fabric data in a safe and smart way. You will get live insights, automate tasks, and keep your data safe.

Embed in Power BI

Add Power Apps to Reports

You can put Power Apps right into your Power BI reports. This helps you do everything in one place. You do not have to leave your dashboard to act on data. This makes it easier to focus and work better.

To add a Power App to a Power BI report, do these steps:

1. Open your Power BI report in Power BI Desktop.

2. Use Direct Query mode for real-time data.

3. Add the Power Apps visual from the Visualizations pane.

4. Pick the fields you want to send to your app.

5. Make a new app or pick one you already have in the Power Apps visual.

6. Design your app so users can submit, update, or delete data.

7. Publish your report to the Power BI Service.

💡 Tip: Putting Power Apps in Power BI lets you do tasks, enter data, and start workflows right from your report. You save time and make fewer mistakes by working in one spot.

Enable Data Interaction

When you turn on data interaction, users can explore and change data right away. Power BI shows big sets of data and cool visuals. Power Apps lets users do things with the data.

Here are some good things you get:

1. You do not have to switch between tools as much.

2. You get nice visuals and forms that help you decide things.

3. Power BI works with lots of data, so your app stays quick.

4. Users can drill down, filter, and pick data points to look closer.

5. Row Level Security makes sure each user only sees their own data.

To set up real-time interaction:

• Use the PowerBIIntegration.Refresh() function in your app to update visuals after data changes.

• Make sure users have permission for both Power BI and Power Apps.

• Set up Row Level Security for safe, personal data views.

• Publish and share your solution, and check that everyone has the right licenses.

🛡️ Note: Putting Power Platform App in Power BI makes a safe, all-in-one place to work. You get better data, faster work, and more done.

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There are different ways to link your Power Platform App with Microsoft Fabric data. Pick the best way by thinking about if you need a data gateway, how you will handle passwords, and how private your data is.

Remember: Security, licenses, and rules are important. Use Microsoft Purview to keep your data safe and make Data Loss Prevention rules.
Low-code tools let you grow fast and use real-time analytics. If you set things up right, you can make safe and strong solutions that can grow as your business gets bigger.

FAQ

How do you refresh data from Microsoft Fabric in your Power Platform app?

You can use the Refresh() function in Power Apps. This gets the newest data from Microsoft Fabric. If you use virtual tables, your app always shows live data. You do not need to do anything extra.

Can you write data back to Microsoft Fabric from Power Apps?

You can write data back if you use a SQL connector with a Fabric Database or Data Warehouse. Virtual tables from Lakehouse only let you read data. For more advanced write-back, use Power Automate flows.

What should you do if you see a connection error?

First, check your permissions. Make sure your app and Fabric workspace are in the same region. Look at your connector settings. If it still does not work, try reconnecting. You can also ask your admin for help.

Is it safe to connect Power Platform apps to Fabric data?

Yes, it is safe if you use Microsoft Entra ID to sign in. Set up Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies. Always give the right roles to users. Watch activity with audit logs.

Do you need a premium license to use these features?

You need a Power Apps Per User plan and Power BI Pro or Fabric capacity for most features. Some special connectors or write-back options may need extra licenses.