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Using Power Platform CLI

Posted on by Rishan Solutions

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Introduction

The Microsoft Power Platform offers powerful low-code tools that allow organizations to automate processes, build custom applications, and analyze data with minimal coding. However, managing and automating tasks in Power Platform at scale can be challenging without the right tools. That’s where the Power Platform Command-Line Interface (CLI) comes in.

The Power Platform CLI is a powerful tool for developers, administrators, and IT professionals who need to manage, automate, and streamline their work with the Power Platform. It provides a set of commands that allow users to interact with Microsoft Dataverse, Power Apps, Power Automate, and other Power Platform components in a programmatic way, all from the command line.

This article explores the capabilities, setup, and best practices for using the Power Platform CLI, highlighting how it can help automate tasks, manage environments, deploy solutions, and integrate with DevOps processes.

What Is Power Platform CLI?

The Power Platform CLI is a set of command-line tools that enable developers and administrators to manage and automate various tasks in Microsoft Power Platform environments. This tool integrates with the Microsoft Dataverse, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents. It allows users to perform tasks like:

  • Deploying and exporting solutions
  • Managing environments and resources
  • Automating repetitive tasks
  • Integrating with CI/CD pipelines
  • Managing environment variables and settings

The CLI is designed to work seamlessly with automated deployment processes, enabling efficient integration into your Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) pipeline. It also offers a consistent experience for users familiar with command-line interfaces, making it easier to script and automate Power Platform tasks.

Key Features of Power Platform CLI

The Power Platform CLI provides a wide range of functionalities to simplify and automate management. Some of the key features include:

1. Solution Management

The CLI allows you to export, import, and delete solutions within your Power Platform environments. You can automate the deployment of solutions and their components, such as apps, flows, and tables, with simple commands.

Key Commands:

  • pac solution export
  • pac solution import
  • pac solution delete

2. Environment Management

Power Platform CLI helps you manage environments more effectively. You can list available environments, create new environments, or update environment settings without having to navigate through the Power Platform admin center.

Key Commands:

  • pac environment list
  • pac environment create
  • pac environment set

3. Dataverse Management

Managing Microsoft Dataverse entities, tables, and records is another significant feature of the Power Platform CLI. You can manage your data model, import data into Dataverse, and perform actions like exporting entities or retrieving metadata.

Key Commands:

  • pac dataverse entity list
  • pac dataverse table export
  • pac dataverse table import

4. Managing Power Apps Components

Power Platform CLI also helps in managing various Power Apps components such as apps, flows, and AI models. This is particularly useful when automating deployment processes.

Key Commands:

  • pac app list
  • pac app export
  • pac app import

5. Integration with DevOps

One of the most significant benefits of the Power Platform CLI is its ability to integrate seamlessly with DevOps pipelines. It enables the automation of builds, releases, and deployments within tools like Azure DevOps.

6. Power Automate Flows

You can also use the CLI to export, import, and manage flows within Power Automate. The CLI allows you to deploy flows from one environment to another, ensuring consistency across different environments.

Key Commands:

  • pac flow list
  • pac flow export
  • pac flow import

7. Environment Variables Management

Power Platform CLI helps in setting and retrieving environment variables in your environments. This is crucial for managing different configurations across environments like development, testing, and production.

Key Commands:

  • pac variable list
  • pac variable set

Setting Up Power Platform CLI

Before you can start using the Power Platform CLI, you need to set it up on your machine. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get started:

1. Install Power Platform CLI

To install the Power Platform CLI, you’ll need .NET Core 3.1 or later. You can download and install it from the official .NET download page. After that, you can install the Power Platform CLI using NuGet or by downloading the installer directly.

Here’s how to install it using NuGet:

dotnet tool install --global Microsoft.PowerPlatform.Cds.Client

Alternatively, you can use the Power Apps CLI installation method, which includes the necessary tools.

npm install -g pac-cli

2. Authenticate to Power Platform

To use the Power Platform CLI, you need to authenticate it to your environment using a Microsoft account with the appropriate permissions.

Run the following command to authenticate:

pac auth create --url https://<your-tenant>.crm.dynamics.com

This command will open a browser window where you can log in using your credentials. Once authenticated, the CLI will store your session for future use.

3. Set Environment and Org

You can set your environment using the pac commands:

pac org list
pac org set <organization_name>

You can list all available environments and select the one you want to work with.

Using Power Platform CLI for Common Tasks

Now that your CLI is set up, let’s explore some common use cases:

1. Export and Import Solutions

Power Platform CLI simplifies exporting and importing solutions, making it easy to deploy customizations across multiple environments.

  • Exporting a Solution:
pac solution export --name <solution-name> --path <path-to-save>
  • Importing a Solution:
pac solution import --path <path-to-solution> --async

The --async flag ensures that the import happens in the background, allowing you to continue other tasks while the solution is being imported.

2. Managing Dataverse Tables

With the CLI, you can perform actions like exporting, importing, or retrieving metadata from Dataverse tables.

  • Exporting a Dataverse Table:
pac dataverse table export --name <table-name> --path <path-to-save>
  • Importing Data to Dataverse:
pac dataverse table import --path <path-to-import>

These commands make it easy to migrate data between environments.

3. Integrating with Azure DevOps

You can use Power Platform CLI to automate the deployment process using Azure DevOps pipelines. This integration is essential for implementing CI/CD workflows, enabling you to automatically deploy solutions and other components from one environment to another.

Here’s an example of how you might use the CLI in an Azure DevOps pipeline to export a solution and import it into another environment:

steps:
- task: PowerPlatformToolInstaller@0
  inputs:
    powerPlatformCliVersion: 'latest'

- script: |
    pac auth create --url https://<your-tenant>.crm.dynamics.com
    pac solution export --name <solution-name> --path $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)/solution.zip
  displayName: 'Export Solution'

- script: |
    pac auth create --url https://<destination-environment>.crm.dynamics.com
    pac solution import --path $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)/solution.zip
  displayName: 'Import Solution to Target Environment'

This YAML configuration automates the deployment process, making it easier to push updates between environments.

4. Managing Environment Variables

Environment variables help you manage different configurations (e.g., API keys, service endpoints) across different environments. With Power Platform CLI, you can set or retrieve environment variables as part of your automation.

  • Setting an Environment Variable:
pac variable set --name <variable-name> --value <value> --env <environment-name>
  • Listing Environment Variables:
pac variable list --env <environment-name>

This ensures your environments are always configured correctly, even during deployments.

Best Practices for Using Power Platform CLI

1. Use Consistent Naming Conventions

Naming conventions are crucial for maintaining consistency across solutions, tables, and environments. Use a standard naming format for your solutions, apps, and components, making it easier to manage them in the CLI.

2. Automate Repetitive Tasks

The CLI is particularly useful for automating repetitive tasks. Use it in scripts to automate the export/import of solutions, data migrations, and configuration changes.

3. Integrate with Source Control

For better management and traceability, use source control systems (like Git) to manage your solution files. This helps keep track of changes and ensures collaboration between teams.

4. Test Changes Before Importing

Always test your solutions in a sandbox environment before importing them into production. Use the CLI to replicate the environment in a controlled setting and validate changes.

5. Leverage CI/CD Pipelines

Integrating the Power Platform CLI with CI/CD pipelines enables seamless and automated deployments, reducing human errors and increasing efficiency.

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