Adding a Custom Entity to the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook

Adding a Custom Entity to the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook

Out of the box, the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook is phenomenal when you need to regard an email to a Contact, Account, Lead, Opportunity or other main entity. But what happens when you need to set it regarding a custom entity? There are a few necessary steps in order to achieve this. Additionally, you will need the System Administrator or System Customizer security role.

First: Customize the Regarding Lookup to Add Entities

If you need to add a Custom Entity to the Regarding lookup, there are two simple steps.

  1. In your Sandbox system, add your Custom Entity to a solution file.
  2. On your Custom Entity, ensure that Activities are enabled.
Screenshot from Microsoft documentation: How to enable Activities on a Custom Entity
Screenshot from Microsoft documentation: How to enable Activities on a Custom Entity in the Classic Solution Explorer

In make.powerapps.com, when you add a Custom Entity, you can enable Activities under the Collaboration section:

enabling a custom entity for activities on make.powerapps.com
Enabling a custom entity for activities in PowerApps.

Second: Edit Your Power App

Now that you have added the ability to set an email regarding your Custom Entity, you may want to add it to your Site Map for the App for Outlook.

1. Add the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook App to your solution file.
2. Open the App Designer

App designer for the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook
App designer for the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook

3. At the top, click the plus icon (+ Add) and select Entities

Add Entities to the App Designer
Add Entities to the App Designer

4. Find the entity you want to add to the Dynamics 365 App for Outlook and check the box next to its name. This will add all assets to the App Designer page. (Note: If you want to streamline which assets appear for this or any other entity (forms, views, charts or dashboards), check out this article which describes more about components in the Power App.)

5. Save your changes and publish the App.

Heidi Neuhauser
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Heidi is a Partner at Reenhanced. She is a Microsoft MVP for Business Applications and is passionate about user adoption, out-of-the-box configuration tools, Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform.
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