Enable Microsoft Dataverse Virtual Entities In Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations

Introduction

Integrating Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations (F&O) data with the Power Platform allows organizations to build apps, automate processes, and analyze business data without duplicating information. This integration is made possible through Virtual Entities, which expose F&O data inside Dataverse without storing it physically.

However, by default, not all Finance and Operations data entities are visible in Power Platform. Administrators must enable or disable virtual entities depending on business requirements.

Understanding Virtual Entities

Virtual entities allow real-time access to F&O data in Dataverse without copying the data. When enabled, these entities can be used in Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, Dataverse queries, and Advanced Find searches.

Option 1: Traditional Method Using Advanced Find

Open the Power Platform Admin Center.
Select the Environments tab.
Choose the environment linked to your Finance & Operations environment.
In the Details section, click the Environment URL.
Select the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner.
Click Advanced Settings.
Open the Advanced Find icon.
In the Look for dropdown select Available Finance and Operations Entities.
Apply filters if needed and click Results.
Open the entity you want to enable.
Select the Visible checkbox.
Save the record.

After Microsoft introduced the new Power Platform Environment Settings, the Advanced Find option is no longer visible in the UI. However, it can still be opened directly in the browser using:

https://EnvironmentURL.crm4.dynamics.com/main.aspx?pagetype=AdvancedFind

Option 2: Enabling Virtual Entities Using Power Apps

Go to Power Apps
Select your Environment.
Navigate to Tables.
Search for ‘Available Finance and Operations Entity’.
Open the entity record.
Set Visible = Yes.
Save the record.
Note: It may take a few minutes for the entity to appear in Dataverse.

Option 3: Enabling Virtual Entities Using Power Automate

Set up Power Automate and ensure you have permission.
Create a new flow with a trigger such as manual, scheduled, or event-based.
Use the Dataverse connector and add the ‘List rows‘ action.
Configure columns such as: mserp_physicalname, mserp_hasbeengenerated.
Use filters such as contains(mserp_physicalname,’HcmEmployee’) to limit results.
Add the ‘Update a row‘ action in Dataverse.
Table Name: Available Finance and Operations Entities.
Row ID: Use the Row ID from the List rows action.
Set Visible = Yes and optionally Refresh = Yes.

Reference article for this

Enabling Virtual Entities In Dynamics 365 Finance And Operations Using Power Automate – Parag Chapre

Option 4: Enable Multiple Entities Using a Custom Power App

You can use Option 2 which provides entities to enable entities one by one but if you need to enable multiple data entities, can you create a new Power Apps with multiple option selection. For example, I created a new power app which can enable multiple data entities at one go.

Here you can search for the entity, check visible (Yes/No/All).

Select multiple data entities as below and click on visible (Yes) and Save

Option 5: Auto Create property in data entity

When you create a new data entity, make Auto Create to Yes in Visual Studio.

Conclusion

Virtual entities play a crucial role in integrating Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations with the Power Platform. Administrators can manage them using Advanced Find, Power Apps, Power Automate, or custom Power Apps depending on the requirement. Proper management of virtual entities improves automation, reporting, and application development scenarios across the Power Platform.

Parag Chapre

Parag Chapre is a Microsoft MVP in the fields of Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations, Human Resources, and Power Platform, recognized for his outstanding contributions to the Microsoft Dynamics community.

With over 15 years of hands-on expertise in various Microsoft Dynamics 365 areas, Parag has designed and delivered complex, innovative solutions for customers across industries and geographies. He has also provided leadership and technical guidance to project teams, managed offshore and onshore resources, and worked closely with Microsoft Product teams. Parag is passionate about sharing his knowledge and insights through his personal website, blog posts, articles, and community events. He is a member of the Microsoft Biz Apps Community Advisory Board, a Dynamics 365 Human Resource Community star, a Dynamics 365 Community contributor, and a Dynamics 365 Community Spotlight honoree.