Missing Fields from Common Data Service

[JordanImran]

Hi,

I noticed when connecting Power BI Desktop to Common Data Service, we have the option to connect to 'Entities' or 'System':

Unfortunately, it seems that Primary Name fields (User, Organisation) etc. are not visible in Power BI if you look under 'Entities', only under 'System'

Can anyone explain why?

[DonalMc]

I came across this post when researching Entity vs System tables.

Re the missing primary name field, I have noticed is that if the primary field has the same name as the entity, it will not appear in the entity table, but will appear in the system table.

I am compiling list of differences to better understand the two:

• Entity tables include option set labels, system tables do not
• With Entity tables, if the primary name field has the same name as the Entity, it will not display in the entity table, but it will in the system table
• System tables include the ability to expand related tables and get values from them (this saves you having to do lookups and so on)

Often, I find the best thing to do is to connect to both versions of the table and merge them.

Then use Choose Columns to only keep the fields that I really need for now

[kstiegler]

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@DonalMc wrote:

I came across this post when researching Entity vs System tables.

Re the missing primary name field, I have noticed is that if the primary field has the same name as the entity, it will not appear in the entity table, but will appear in the system table

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I am encountering this exact situation. We have an entity named "Hours" and a decimal number field on the entity named "psa_hours". We have to use the System table rather than the Entity table in order to obtain the value of this field. 

This does seem like a bug. 

[Madsen]

Hi.

I'm experiencing the exact same bug. 

When importing, the primary field name from one table is not showing in entities - only in systems.

Just copied some text from @JordanImran post as it explains in perfectly:

"Example - My entity 'Categories' does not have the field Category which is the primary identifier for lookup fields - when importing from Entities.

The workaround is to import the entity 'Categories' from system, in which case the field appears as [prefix]_name1"

It's not consequently doing it for all tables.

Thanks. 

[Anonymous]

@JordanImran

All entities are grouped in to Entities and System folders.

• Entities - are standard entities and custom entities that you have created or imported in your environment.
• System - contains all entities in your environment, including system entities.

Please refer to: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-powerbi-connector

Paul Zheng _ Community Support Team
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.
  

[JordanImran]

Hi @Anonymous 

I'd tentatively suggest it's a bug then - the required name field in Custom CDS entities does not display if the data is imported from 'Entities'.

Example - My entity 'Categories' does not have the field Category which is the primary identifier for lookup fields - when importing from Entities.

The workaround is to import the entity 'Categories' from system, in which case the field appears as [prefix]_name1

It's not a huge deal in practice but may be confusing for users.

[P3Sven]

Hi @Anonymous ,

I've exactly the same issue. Just created custom entity and just can find some fields, but not my primary name field when I've choosen Entity mit CDS Connector.

I also guess its a bug, already have compared Entity settings with standard entity like 'Contacts', everything the same. In Contacts as a standard entity I can see the primary name field, in my custom entity not.

Hopefully someone can clarify it..

BR,

Sven