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Unable to figure out how to use Connection References in canvas app.

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Posted on by crowleysoftware

I'm trying to learn how to use Connection References in canvas apps.

I created a Solution just for this project. I created a connection reference in the solution to Sharepoint. I added an existing (completely blank) canvas app to the solution. I don't know if Status "Off" is significant; I can't find any setting that controls that or any documentation about what it means.

When I edit the app and try to add a connection I can find something that says "Connection References" (but only if I type in a search), but that does not let me choose a list in Sharepoint, it only gives me properties of literally my solution's Connection References so I don't think this is what I'm looking for.

How do you connect to a Sharepoint list through a Connection Reference?

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RandyHayes 76,299 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@crowleysoftware

If you want to connect to a SharePoint list, you need to add that connector to your App. You are currently selecting an Entity in the CDS datasource.

Instead of typing "conn" In your search box, type SharePoint. You will see the SharePoint connector come up. Select that. It will then prompt you for whatever it needs and then you will see your recent sites. You can select the site of your list, then then you will see a list of lists...choose the one you want.

I hope this is helpful for you.

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crowleysoftware 29 on at

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Thank you for taking the time to reply. I guess I should have mentioned that I know how to connect to Sharepoint, but I want to do so through a Connection Reference so that deployment to a new environment, against a different Sharepoint instance, is more streamlined.

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RandyHayes 76,299 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@crowleysoftware

Ah, gotcha. Connection references are not available in a Canvas App. (At least to my knowledge). I you have discovered something different and are having issues with that, then share any documentation and I'd be happy to look at it to discover what might be the issue.

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crowleysoftware 29 on at

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Connection References are still in preview for canvas apps, which might help explain it. I created one against SQL Server and it worked so maybe Connection References to Sharepoint are not supported or are buggy.

This is the announcement which does mention "canvas apps only use them for implicitly shared connections". I cant find a clear answer on whether or not Sharepoint qualifies but to me it implies that it should.

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