Creating and Authenticating a Microsoft Dynamic 365 CE Connector

The Create connector wizard guides you through the configuration when creating a Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE connector. You can only create one Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE type connector in a Smart Flows project. If you have multiple instances of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE, you’ll need a Smart Flows project for each one.

1. In the Project Console's Control panel, select the Connectors button.

The Connectors List view displays.

 Control panel- Connectors

2. Select the +Create button.

The Create connector wizard displays.

Open Create connector wizard

3. In the Name field, input the name of your connector.
4. (Optional) In the Description field, input a description for your connector.
5. In the Type dropdown menu, select Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE.
6. Select the Next button.

The Create Connector URL window displays.

Create Connector Wizard - Dynamic 365 CE

There are two types of instances. You can select the one based on your preference.

On-premise: The customer has a Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE running on a server they can manage themselves.

Cloud: The hosting is done by a cloud provider. Example: Microsoft allows you to start a Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE they host for you.

7. In the Type dropdown menu, select the instance.
8. In the URL field, input the URL of your Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE instance.
9. (Optional) Select the checkbox to connect your project to a specific Business UnitClosed A business unit is a logical grouping of related business activities..

You can choose which Business Unit you want to connect. This option is adjustable throughout the project. Suppose you reconfigure the Business Unit and change it in Smart Flows. In this case, you must manually adjust the Business Unit in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE configuration record for Smart Flows and save your changes. You should update the changes in both Smart Flows and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE records.

Selecting the correct Business Unit ensures you only see information acessible to your department. If you don't select the specific business unit, you could get errors through Smart Flows indicating that Smart Flows can't access the Dynamics instance.

The Edit Connector Business Unit window displays.

10. Select the Next button.

The Create connector Authorize Smart Flows window displays.

11. Select the Authorize Smart Flows button.

The system opens the Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE website.

Authorize Smart Flows

12. Confirm your credentials for Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE.

The system redirects you to the Smart Flows.

Smart Flows is authorized and displays under the Authorize Smart Flows button.

13. Select the blue Next button.

The Edit connector Choose the API version window displays.

Smart Flows Success Message

14. In the API version dropdown menu, select the latest API version.

Import Smart Flows Solution window displays.

API Version

Decision Point

Determine how you import data into Smart Flows(Import the Smart Flows solution for Dynamics 365).

Import Automatically: requires a System Administrator role for creating a connector. The easiest way would be to install the solution automatically.

Import manually: requires Service Writer and UIIAdministrator role for creating a connector.

Skip import: skips the import process altogether.

15. Under Import the Smart Flows solution for Dynamics 365, select your desired import method.
16. Under the Solution version, select the solution compatibility for your Dynamics versioning to import the Smart Flows solution for Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE.
17. Select Import the Smart Flows workflow solution for Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE checkbox to trigger Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE workflow.
18. Select the blue Next button.

The Import is in progress notification displays.

19. Select the blue Next button.

Add Smart Flows Configuration window displays.

20. (Optional) Select checkbox Update Smart Flows Configuration Record automatically to edit the configuration.
Selecting Update Smart Flows Configuration Record enables the dropdown menu options for Fly-out behavior, Browser tab behavior, Smart Flows Buttons in the ribbon, and Smart Flows button visibility.
21. (Optional) Select checkbox Create API Key.
Smart Flows will generate an API key associated with the system user. The system uses this API Key to establish the communication between Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE and Smart Flows.
22. Select the blue Next button.

Smart Flows displays a summary of the configuration.

Smart Floes Configuration

23. Select the Finish button to conclude the creation of your Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE connector.

The configuration summary of Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE connector displays.

Microsoft Dynamic 365 CE connector summary

Authenticating a Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE Connector

Smart Flows allows two authentication mechanisms for creating a Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE connector.

Authentication mechanism

Connector authentication

End user authentication

AD FS 2016/2019 (4.0/5.0)

OAuth2

(OAuth2)

AD FS 2012 R2 (3.0)

Username / Password

OAuth2

Active Directory

Username / password

Username / password

Suppose you select OAuth2 as the connector authentication mechanism. Use the Get-AdfsEndpoint to get the authorization endpoint and the Add-AdfsServerApplication cmdlet to generate a Client Id and Client Secret.