What is the use case of the common data model?

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Posted on by HamidBee

932 Super User 2024 Season 1

I read this on Microsoft's site:

"In addition to the metadata system, Common Data Model includes a set of standardized, extensible data schemas that Microsoft and its partners have published. This collection of predefined schemas includes entities, attributes, semantic metadata, and relationships. The schemas represent commonly used concepts and activities, such as Account and Campaign, to simplify the creation, aggregation, and analysis of data."

I can't get my head around why the common data model is used and how one uses it. Some clarification would be greatly appreciated.

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KeithAtherton 3,709 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @HamidBee. The Common Data Model aims to make data management and app development easier by providing a collection of commonly-required entities, attributes, semantic metadata, and relationships.

For example, an entity (think of a table) called Contact is provided which could be used by multiple apps instead of each app having its own version of Contact. Also, this entity contains attributes (think of table columns) we'd typically expect such as firstName, jobTitle, and company.

This can be a good starting point when developing an app. However, these objects can be extended if required, such as adding new attributes to an existing entity, or by creating new custom entities.

Common Data Model info (including the section you quoted): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/common-data-model/
Common Data Model poster: https://aka.ms/cdmposter

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HamidBee 932 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Hi @KeithAtherton. Does this mean that standard tables are part of the 'Common Data Model'?.

"Standard - Several standard tables, also known as out-of-box tables, are included with a Dataverse environment. Account, business unit, contact, task, and user tables are examples of standard tables in Dataverse. Most of the standard tables included with Dataverse can be customized. Tables that are imported as part of a managed solution and set as customizable also appear as standard tables. Any user with appropriate privileges can customize these tables where the table property has customizable set to true."

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/introduction-common-data-service/3-identify-entities-fields

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KeithAtherton 3,709 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Yes, the standard tables (or entities), such as Account and Contact, are part of the Common Data Model and are built in to each Dataverse database.

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HamidBee 932 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Thanks for the clarification. If I have understood correctly then this would mean that all of the tables below are part of the Common Data Model:

I can't seem to find the 'address' table in the poster for Common Data Model tables but I imagine the list is not exhaustive.

Okay this sort of leads me onto my next question.Take the table 'Accounts' for example. The table has over 130 predefined columns. Let's say I have a table that I would like to populate into this table but I only need say 10 of those columns. How would I go about populating them. Would I have to only show those 10 columns and then copy and paste them from say Excel straight into the table?. Would this be the common way of doing it?.

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KeithAtherton 3,709 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Yes, the tables in your screenshot are part of the Common Data Model, and are provided out-of-the-box with the Dataverse database.

You are also correct in that the poster is not exhaustive, and the ellipsis (...) icons denote that each of the lists continue beyond what is displayed.

As you say, Address is not displayed on the poster but is part of the Common Data Model. Reference info here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/common-data-model/schema/core/applicationcommon/address

Yes, copying data into a Dataverse table is possible using Excel (or a CSV file), and that approach works fine for a one-off manual process. As you say, there are a lot of columns provided but in most cases we may only use a select few of them.

Here is more info on how to import data into Dataverse using Excel or CSV files: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/data-platform/data-platform-import-export#import-from-an-excel-or-csv-file

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timl 37,199 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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@HamidBee

Just to add a bit more detail around this question:

1 - The common data model provides a simple way for novice app builders to start building apps that are based on the standard tables. For a complete beginner, it's easier to re-use a standard table instead of creating one from scratch.

More importantly, beginners without any database experience can often create tables that are poorly designed. That is, tables with repeating data and tables without properly defined lookup fields and relationships. The common data model provides a means to overcome this difficulty.

2 - The common data model encourages the centralisation of data. It can help avoid the situation where multiple app builders create separate 'customer' tables, and avoid the future requirement of having to consolidate data do you want to share that's now ended up in separate tables.

3 - The schema of the common data model attempts to closely align with the schema of Microsoft competitor products like SAP or Salesforce. For organisations that use other products, the task of synchronising or importing/exporting data is less challenging because data mappings between products should be more aligned.

>> Let's say I have a table that I would like to populate into this table but I only need say 10 of those columns. How would I go about populating them. Would I have to only show those 10 columns and then copy and paste them from say Excel straight into the table?. Would this be the common way of doing it?.

In answer to your data population question, you would typically create a dataflow that carries out the import process and you would only select only the 10 columns that you want to match.

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