In today’s digital age, harnessing the full potential of technology is vital for businesses and individuals alike. One tool that has revolutionized app development is Microsoft Power Apps. If you want to take your app-building skills to the next level, you need to know how to create a custom connector in PowerApps. Today, will guide you through the process, step by step, ensuring you unlock the true power of this remarkable platform.
Custom Connector in Powerapps
PowerApps is an incredibly versatile platform, but its true magic happens when you create custom connectors. These connectors allow you to integrate your apps with various data sources, extending their functionality and making them more powerful. Let’s dive right in and explore how to create a custom connector in PowerApps.
Do you want to know more details about how to create Custom Connector in PowerApps / Power Automate?
We will detail the different options and scenarios of how to create a Custom Connector in Powerapps / (or on Power Automate).
Microsoft Power Apps / Microsoft Power Automate allows you to connect to almost every web service out there. There are a wide variety of connectors available for you to use.
If you need a connector that doesn’t exist yet, you can create your own Custom Connector. You can even create custom connectors for any web service with an API.
Getting Started: What is a PowerApps Custom Connector?
A custom connector is a tool that allows you to connect your custom APIs to the Microsoft Power Apps or Microsoft Power Automate and Azure Logic Apps.
A Custom Connector is a wrapper around an API that allows communication.
Custom connectors act as bridges between PowerApps and external services (APIs) or data sources. They enable you to access, retrieve, and manipulate data, expanding the capabilities of your apps.
How to configure a Custom Connector in Power Apps to call an API?
For adding an API in Power Apps or Power Automate, there are different options available, which can be resume in 2 scenarios:
- Scenario 1: Create a new custom connector from scratch (New).
- Scenario 2: Create a new custom connector from an existing definition file (Import).
Creating a Custom Connector: Prerequisites
Before you embark on your custom connector journey, ensure you have the following in place:
Microsoft Power Apps: You must have a Power Apps account to create custom connectors.
Access to the API: You’ll need access to the API of the service or data source you want to connect to.
Basic knowledge of REST APIs: Familiarize yourself with REST APIs, as custom connectors are typically built around them.
API Information for the PowerApps Custom Connector example
For this example, we will be using a free API called Reqres.
Reqres – is a hosted REST-API ready to respond to your AJAX
URL: https://reqres.in
API Get List of users method: https://reqres.in/api/users
Scenario #1- Start Creating a Custom Connector in Power Apps from Scratch
You will need to:
1- Sign in to Power Apps or Power Automate.
2- Select Custom connectors (Navigation pane on the left).
Update: Where is the Custom Connector tab in Power Apps? 👇 On the latest version of Power Apps Studio, the Custom Connector tab is no longer available by default. 👇
3- Select New custom Connector -> choose to Create from blank.
4-Enter a name for the custom connector, then select “Continue“.
Important: Notice that nowadays after creating the Connector, you cannot change the Connector name.
Step 1: General details of the API and Power Apps Connector
On the General tab:
- In the Description field, enter a meaningful value. This description will appear in the custom connector’s details, and it can help others know if the connector could be useful to them. Example with: test api
- Schema: HTTP or HTTPS. Example with: HTTPS
- Update Host to the address for the API Url. The connector uses the API host and the base URL to determine how to call the API. Example with: reqres.in
Note: Not enter the full API URL, as you select first the Schema (HTTP/HTTPS)
Select on Security to continue.
Step 2: Power Apps Custom Connector Security: Choose authentication type
On the Security tab:
2.1- Choose the authentication type. Example with: No Authentication.
Select on Definition to continue.
Step 3: Custom Connector in Powerapps definition
On the Definition tab:
3.1- Create a New Action – Actions > Select New Action
3.2- Complete the Summary / Description / Operation ID for the new action.
3.3- Request – Import from sample – Get List
Select Import from sample.
Example with:
Verb: GET
URL: https://reqres.in/api/users
Click Import
3.4- Response – Add default response – JSON Get List Response
Select Add default response
3.5- Select Import from sample
3.6- Copy a RAW JSON response from URL
In example case from the URL: https://reqres.in/api/users
Or Copy an RAW JSON response from Postman:
3.7- Paste Body example (as shown below):
Then, select Import
Finally you will see the properties loaded in the response.
3.8- Select on Code to continue.
Step 4: (Optional) Using custom code on a Custom Connector in Power Apps
- This step is optional. You can complete creating your connector by passing this step and going to Step 5: Test the Custom Connector in Powerapps.
Using C# code, you can transform request and response payload data beyond the scope of existing policies. Transformations include sending an external request to fetch additional data.
On the Code tab:
4.1- Select on Test to continue.
Step 5: Test the Custom Connector in Powerapps
On the Test tab:
- For testing:
First, you have to create the connector and create a connection. Don’t worry, have the steps before.
5.1- Create Connector
Select Create Connector.
5.2- Create a new connection
Select New Connection.
Then, select Create.
5.3- Test Operation
Select Test Operation.
Congratulations! Now you are done, you can use the Custom Connector in Power Apps or Power Automate (ex Flows).
Select Close
How to export/download an existing custom connector on PowerApps?
It is a Best Practice to download all your connectors and use GIT or any other source code management system to save the files.
Easy, Select download on the custom connector:
Scenario #2: How to import an existing custom connector in PowerApps?
1- Select Custom connectors (Navigation pane on the left).
2- Select New custom connector, then choose Import an OpenAPI file.
Note: Another good option is to import a Postman collection (previously, you need export the Collection from Postman).
Insert the new name of the custom connector.
Then, select import for searching the file (select your file).
Finally, select Create.
Download working example: API-Test-Connector.swagger.v1.json
Finally, Select Create Connector
Integrating PowerApps with APIs (Custom Connector):
1- Sign in to Power Apps.
2- Create a new app or use an existing one.
Home > Blank app
3- Add the existing Custom Connector:
On the left pane, Data, Select Add Data,
Select Connectors tab or Find your custom connector name on the list.
Select the custom connector (it will load and create a connection).
4- Verify the Custom Connector:
In the list of connectors, select the custom connector.
On the Data pane, verify that the custom Connector (in this example APITestConnector) is listed.
5- We will add a new Gallery to use the Custom Connector and API.
-Insert a Gallery (example vertical).
6- On the Gallery properties, set Items:
APITestConnector.GetUsers().data
7- Change image property to “API.Response.data.avatar”
ThisItem.avatar
8- Change the Text property to:
ThisItem.first_name & ” ” ThisItem.last_name
9- Final Result
Congratulations! Now you are done!. You created a custom connector in Power Apps from Scratch and integrated it into a Canvas Power App.
Power Apps Premium Connector pricing and cost
Important: A premium license is required for using custom connectors.
Power Apps pricing
Conclusion
Creating a custom connector in Power Apps might seem like a complex task, but it is the key to unlocking the platform’s full potential.and extend the capabilities of your apps. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently build custom connectors tailored to your specific needs.
By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a custom connector expert. So, don’t hesitate—start creating custom connectors today and unleash the true power of Power Apps!
Power Apps Tutorials:
Do you want to continue learning about Power Apps? Take a look at the simple and easy Tutorial for beginners 👨💻👩💻 to Create an application with a Sharepoint List or with Excel:
How to build an app in 30 Seconds – Sharepoint | Microsoft Power Apps
👉 Contact us for more information or schedule a meeting.
Power Apps Custom Connector Extras
How to import an API into Power Apps Video
Power Apps Useful Links
Use a custom connector from a Power Apps
Power Apps List of all Power Apps connectors
Custom Connector Power Apps Example information:
– Custom Connector in Power Apps example (GitHub)
Do you want to know more details?
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