Official Power Platform Tools: CLI, NuGet, Packager and Configuration Migration Tool

Q: When should I use the Configuration Migration Tool?

It is recommended for migrating configuration or reference data between Dataverse environments.

Q: What is the difference between Solution Packager and Package Deployer?

Solution Packager breaks down solutions into source files, while Package Deployer deploys solutions and data to other environments.

Q: How do I install NuGet Developer Tools?

They can be installed from Visual Studio using the NuGet Package Manager or downloaded from NuGet.org.

A complete guide to official Microsoft tools for developing, managing, and migrating Power Platform solutions.

Microsoft CLI Documentation Integration Patterns

Overview of Official Tools

Microsoft provides a suite of official development tools for Power Platform that enable developers to efficiently manage the application lifecycle, data configuration, and solution deployment. These tools are essential for anyone working with Dataverse, Power Apps, Power Automate, and the entire Power Platform ecosystem.

The main tools include:

Power Apps Command-Line Interface (CLI) – for creating and managing PCF components and automations from the terminal.
NuGet Developer Tools and Assemblies – packages and libraries for custom development, migration, and solution packaging.
Solution Packager Tool – to unpack and repack solutions into files manageable by version control systems.
Configuration Migration Tool – to migrate configuration data between Dataverse environments.

Power Apps Command-Line Interface (CLI)

The Power Apps CLI is a command-line tool used for advanced Power Apps component development, especially Power Apps Component Framework (PCF) controls. It is an essential tool for developers working with Visual Studio Code or lightweight development environments.

With the CLI, you can:

Initialize a PCF project with the pac pcf init command.
Manage dependencies with npm install and build components with npm run build.
Deploy components directly into Dataverse.

The CLI also allows interaction with Power Platform environments, solution creation, and package management. For more details, see the official Microsoft documentation.

NuGet Developer Tools and Assemblies

NuGet Developer Tools and Assemblies are a set of tools and libraries provided by Microsoft to facilitate custom development and solution lifecycle management for Power Platform. They can be installed using the NuGet Package Manager in Visual Studio or downloaded directly from the NuGet.org repository.

The package includes key tools such as:

Code Generation Tool – generates classes for early-bound programming against the Dataverse SOAP API, providing IntelliSense and reducing typing errors.
Plug-in Registration Tool – registers plug-ins, custom workflow activities, and connections to Azure Service Bus, Event Hubs, and webhooks.

These tools are essential for developers who want to automate development and deployment processes within the Power Platform ecosystem.

Solution Packager Tool

The Solution Packager Tool is designed to extract and repack the components of a Power Platform solution package. This enables developers to save individual files in a version control system such as Git, allowing for comparison and change management.

Main operations include:

Extracting XML files and resources from managed or unmanaged solutions.
Repacking files into a solution package ready for import.

This tool is a crucial part of ALM (Application Lifecycle Management) processes and integrates seamlessly with Azure DevOps for automated pipelines.

Configuration Migration Tool

The Configuration Migration Tool is used to create migration packages that transfer configuration data between Dataverse environments. It is ideal for migrating small amounts of static or configuration data while maintaining relationships between tables.

Its key features include:

Migrating configuration data between Dev, Test, and Prod environments.
Support for defining multiple data sets in a single package.
Preserving record relationships during export and import.

This tool is often used together with the Package Deployer Tool to automate complex solution deployments in enterprise environments.

Integration with Visual Studio and Azure DevOps

All these tools can be integrated with Visual Studio and Azure DevOps to create automated deployment pipelines. Power Platform Build Tools for Azure DevOps include dedicated tasks such as:

Power Platform Tool Installer
Power Platform Export Solution
Power Platform Import Solution
Power Platform Unpack/Pack Solution
Power Platform Checker (for quality checks)

These pipelines enable versioning, deployment, and quality control of Power Platform solutions across enterprise environments, ensuring consistency and traceability throughout the ALM process.

Frequently Asked Questions about Official Power Platform Tools

Can I use Power Apps CLI on any operating system?

Yes, Power Apps CLI is cross-platform and compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. It is often used together with Visual Studio Code.

When should I use the Configuration Migration Tool?

It is recommended when you need to migrate configuration or reference data between Dataverse environments, maintaining relationships between records and tables.

What is the difference between Solution Packager and Package Deployer?

Solution Packager is used to break down and manage solutions as source files, while Package Deployer is used to deploy solutions and data into different environments.

How do I install NuGet Developer Tools?

They can be installed directly from Visual Studio through the NuGet Package Manager or manually downloaded from NuGet.org.