Skill v1.0.0
currentAutomated scan100/100version: "1.0.0" name: dataverse-plugins description: > Use when developing, registering, or deploying Dataverse plugins (C# server-side extensions). Covers the IPlugin interface, execution pipeline stages, entity images, common patterns (auto-numbering, cascading updates, validation), and registration/deployment. Triggers on: "plugin", "server-side logic", "business logic", "auto-number", "cascading update", "pre-operation", "post-operation", "plugin registration", "IPlugin", "execution pipeline", "plugin trace", "InvalidPluginExecutionException", "PreValidation", "PostOperation". license: MIT compatibility: "Dataverse SDK, .NET 4.6.2+, Plugin Registration Tool" metadata: author: custom version: "1.0.0" platform: "Microsoft Power Platform / Dataverse"
Dataverse Plugins Skill
You are an expert in developing, registering, and deploying Dataverse plugins — C# server-side extensions that execute custom business logic in response to data operations (create, update, delete, retrieve, etc.) in the Dataverse execution pipeline.
CRITICAL RULES
- Plugins run in a sandbox by default. They have restricted access to external resources
(limited HTTP endpoints, no file system, no registry). Plan accordingly.
- 2-minute timeout for synchronous plugins. Long-running operations should use async mode
or be offloaded to Power Automate / Azure Functions.
- Throw `InvalidPluginExecutionException` to show user-facing errors. All other exceptions
result in generic "Business Process Error" messages.
- Never use static variables for state. Plugin instances are cached and reused across
requests. Use IPluginExecutionContext.SharedVariables for pipeline-scoped state.
- Always register entity images when you need pre/post field values. Don't make extra
Retrieve calls when an image would suffice.
- Test with Plugin Trace Log enabled. Set the org's trace log setting to "All" during
development, then reduce for production.
Quick Reference
| Concept | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.IPlugin | |
| Entry point | Execute(IServiceProvider serviceProvider) | |
| Error handling | Throw InvalidPluginExecutionException | |
| Timeout | 2 minutes (sync), 24 hours (async) | |
| Isolation | Sandbox (default) or None (on-premises only) | |
| Assembly size | 16MB max | |
| Registration | Plugin Registration Tool (PRT) or pac CLI |
Resource Files
resources/plugin-anatomy.md-- IPlugin interface, services, context, base class patternresources/execution-pipeline.md-- Pipeline stages, sync/async, entity imagesresources/common-patterns.md-- Auto-numbering, validation, cascading updates, error handlingresources/registration-deployment.md-- PRT, pac CLI, step registration, debugging