FormulaInsights.XrmToolBox 1.0.15

Formula Insights - XrmToolBox Plugin

Overview

Formula Insights is a comprehensive XrmToolBox plugin designed for analyzing and visualizing Microsoft Dataverse calculated columns, rollup fields, and formula columns. Transform complex XAML FormulaDefinitions into user-friendly, structured displays with advanced parsing capabilities.

Features

🔍 Advanced Formula Analysis

• Calculated Fields: Parse and display IF-THEN-ELSE logic with condition analysis
• Rollup Fields: Visualize source entity aggregation with filter conditions
• Power Fx Formulas: Modern formula expressions with validation support

🎯 User-Friendly Interface

• Tabbed Interface: Organized display with multiple viewing modes
• Syntax Highlighting: ScintillaNET integration for raw XAML display
• Accessibility Support: Full WCAG 2.2 compliance with screen reader support

📊 Export Capabilities

• Excel Export: Generate comprehensive reports using ClosedXML
• Multiple Formats: Support for various output formats
• Batch Processing: Handle multiple formula definitions efficiently

Installation

Via XrmToolBox Tool Library (Recommended)

1. Open XrmToolBox
2. Go to Configuration > Manage Plugins
3. Search for "Formula Insights"
4. Click Install

Manual Installation

1. Download the latest release from NuGet
2. Extract to your XrmToolBox Plugins folder
3. Restart XrmToolBox

Manual Cleanup (Uninstall)

When uninstalling the plugin, manually delete the FormulaInsights.XrmToolBox folder from:

%AppData%\MscrmTools\XrmToolBox\Plugins\

This ensures all DLLs are removed and avoids file lock conflicts on reinstall or update.

Usage

Getting Started

1. Connect to Dataverse: Establish connection to your environment
2. Open Plugin: Launch Formula Insights from the Tools menu
3. Select Entity: Choose entity containing calculated/rollup fields
4. Analyze Formulas: View parsed formula definitions in user-friendly format

Key Workflow

Connect → Load Entities → Load/Refresh Formulas → Select Entity -> Select Field from formula list -> View Analysis → Export Results

Supported Formula Types

1. Calculated Fields

• Conditional logic parsing (IF-THEN-ELSE)
• Variable context building
• Operator extraction (Equal, Contains, GreaterThan, etc.)
• Nested condition support

2. Rollup Fields

• Source entity identification
• Filter condition analysis
• Aggregation function display
• Related entity mapping

3. Power Fx Formulas

• Modern formula syntax validation
• Error detection and reporting
• Expression tree visualization

Technical Architecture

Core Components

• Parser Layer: Advanced XAML processing with namespace-aware parsing
• Service Layer: Dataverse Web API integration for real-time formula retrieval
• UI Layer: WinForms controls with tabbed interface design
• Data Models: Structured representation of formula metadata

Technology Stack

• .NET Framework 4.8: XrmToolBox compatibility
• Microsoft.PowerFx.Core: Power Fx formula parsing and validation
• ClosedXML: Excel export functionality
• ScintillaNET: Syntax highlighting for XAML display
• Dataverse Web API: Real-time formula retrieval

Requirements

• XrmToolBox: Version 1.2022.10.58 or later
• .NET Framework: 4.8 or later
• Dataverse Access: System Administrator or System Customizer role
• Permissions: Read access to entity metadata

Configuration

Connection Settings

• Supports all standard Dataverse authentication methods
• Connection caching for improved performance
• Multi-environment support

Display Options

• Customizable syntax highlighting themes
• Adjustable panel layouts
• Export format preferences

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Q: Plugin doesn't load

• Verify .NET Framework 4.8 is installed
• Check XrmToolBox version compatibility
• Ensure all dependencies are present

Q: Formula parsing errors

• Validate Dataverse connection
• Confirm field contains valid formula definition
• Check user permissions for metadata access

Q: Export functionality not working

• Verify ClosedXML dependencies are loaded
• Check write permissions to output folder
• Ensure Excel is not already open on target file

Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Documentation: Doc reference
• Community: XrmToolBox Community Forums

Changelog

Version 1.0.15

Enhanced Functionality: Added built-in date/time functions and improved expression/parameter resolution in the parser for more accurate value handling. Refactored CalculatedFormulaViewer and adjusted rendering order for clearer, consistent display of calculated formula sections. Enhanced Formula Definition Editor layout and entity selection handling for a smoother editing experience.

Version 1.0.13

Major Update: Complete rebranding to "Formula Insights" plugin with enhanced Power Fx support, improved formula parsing capabilities including advanced IF-ELSE structure handling, and comprehensive UI enhancements featuring new visual icons, accessible formula editors, and user-friendly formula display panels with Maker Portal integration.

Key Features Added: Power Fx formula support, enhanced parsing for complex expressions, improved accessibility controls, button icons for better UX, and streamlined project structure with updated namespaces for better organization and maintainability.

About

Author: Prakash Kalimuthu
Package: FormulaInsights.XrmToolBox