What Are Component Controls in Dynamics 365 CRM?

Component controls are customizations you can add to CRM forms and lists to change how information is displayed or how users interact with it. Think of them as optional widgets or enhancements. They use technologies such as HTML, CSS, and code to modify the default behavior of CRM elements. A control might change how users interact with a field, enhance a list, provide access to the CRM knowledge base, or display attachments associated with a record in a more convenient way. Component controls can improve the CRM experience without necessarily changing the underlying data.

Use a Toggle for Yes/No Fields

A simple example of a field control is changing how a Yes/No field appears. By default, a Yes/No field such as Credit Hold may appear as a traditional option set. That works, but it may not provide the easiest experience for every user. Someone working from a tablet, for example, may find a toggle easier to use with a touchscreen. Microsoft provides a Toggle component that can change how the field is presented. To add it:

1. Open the appropriate form at make.powerapps.com.
2. Select the field you want to change.
3. Expand Components in the field properties.
4. Select + Component.
5. Choose Toggle.
6. Select the devices where the control should be available.
7. Save and publish the form.

You need System Administrator or System Customizer access to make these changes. After publishing and refreshing CRM, the field appears as a toggle that users can switch on and off instead of selecting an option from a list.

Configure Controls for Different Devices

Some component controls let you determine where they're used. For example, you might enable a control for:

• Web
• Phone
• Tablet

This gives you flexibility when a particular interface makes more sense on one type of device than another. A toggle might be especially useful for people interacting with CRM through a touchscreen, while you could choose to leave the standard field experience in place elsewhere.

Make a List Editable with the Power Apps Grid Control

Component controls aren't limited to individual fields. They can also change how users interact with lists and subgrids. For example, imagine an Account form that contains a subgrid of related Contacts. In a traditional list, a user may need to open an individual Contact record to update something as simple as the person's Job Title. The Power Apps grid control can make that list editable. In the form designer:

1. Select the subgrid you want to modify.
2. Locate Components in the subgrid properties.
3. Select + Component.
4. Choose Power Apps grid control.
5. Enable editing.
6. Configure any additional options you need.
7. Save and publish the form.

Once the form has been published, users can edit supported information directly from the grid instead of opening each related record. A visual indicator shows the user when their change is being saved and when the save has successfully completed.

Choose the Modern Power Apps Grid Control

When adding a grid component, you may also see an option called Editable Grid. This is an older offering. For a more modern option, use the Power Apps grid control, which also supports editing along with numerous additional configuration options. Not every available component will automatically appear in the initial component list. If you don't see the control you're looking for, select Get More Components. Dynamics 365 filters the available controls according to the type of element you're customizing, such as a field or subgrid.

Add Controls That Don't Require a Field or Subgrid

Not every component control needs to be attached to an existing field or grid. The Attachment Control is an example. It can provide a dedicated area where users can see attachments associated with a record's Timeline. Rather than making users search through Timeline entries to find documents contained in emails or notes, the Attachment Control can collect those attachments in one place.

Add the Attachment Control to a Form

You can add the Attachment Control directly through the Components area of the form designer. For example, you could create a new section immediately above the Timeline and place the Attachment Control there. To add it:

1. Open the form at make.powerapps.com.
2. Add a new section in the desired location.
3. Open Components on the left side of the designer.
4. Expand More Components.
5. Search for Attachment Control.
6. Add the control to your new section.
7. Configure its settings.
8. Save and publish the form.

Because this control isn't bound to a regular field or subgrid, you add it through the main Components area rather than through a field's or subgrid's properties.

Configure the Attachment Control

The Attachment Control includes several configuration options. On an Account form, for example, you can configure it to display attachments from:

• Emails
• Notes

Additional options exist for Customer Service scenarios and Cases. The Table Column setting is specifically used with Case forms to support uploading attachments directly to a Case. Similarly, the option to allow adding attachments directly through the control is specific to Cases. On other forms, such as an Account form, the control can instead bring together attachments from the record's emails and notes. You can also hide the control title if you don't need an additional label on the form.

Give Users Easier Access to Attachments

Once the Attachment Control is configured and published, users can see the attachments associated with the record in a dedicated area. Selecting an attachment opens an attachment preview experience. Users can also search the available attachments and switch how the files are displayed. For records with extensive Timeline histories, this can provide a much more convenient way to locate supporting documents without scrolling through individual emails and notes.

Finding Other Component Controls

Microsoft provides many additional component controls beyond these examples. Some controls appear automatically when you're editing an appropriate field, grid, or form. Others may need to be added manually through Get More Components. Because the available options aren't always self-explanatory, use Microsoft's published documentation when determining which controls to add and how they should be configured.

Be Careful with Open-Source Controls

There is also open-source code available for creating additional CRM controls, but use it cautiously. Open-source controls aren't necessarily maintained indefinitely by the developers who created them. Future Dynamics 365 or Power Platform updates could cause an unsupported control to stop working. A safer approach is to use component controls that:

• Microsoft publishes and supports
• Come from credible software vendors
• Your organization has developed and actively maintains

For custom requirements, developers can also create controls using the Power Apps Component Framework. However, developing and maintaining custom controls can require significant development effort.

Test Component Controls in a Sandbox

As with other Dynamics 365 customizations, test component controls before introducing them into your production environment. A control may change how users interact with an important part of CRM, so verify its functionality in a sandbox first. Check that:

• The control works as expected.
• Users can complete their normal processes.
• The experience works appropriately on the intended devices.
• Other form functionality hasn't been negatively affected.

Testing becomes especially important for controls that aren't provided and maintained directly by Microsoft.

Monitor Changes in Microsoft Release Waves

Component controls can evolve as Microsoft updates Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. Monitor Microsoft's release waves for controls that are being changed or deprecated. If a control your organization relies on is affected, you can update your customizations before the change creates problems for users. This is especially important when controls play a significant role in your organization's day-to-day processes.

Use Component Controls to Improve the CRM Experience

Component controls can make Dynamics 365 CRM more intuitive without requiring you to redesign your underlying data. A Yes/No field can become a touchscreen-friendly toggle. The Power Apps grid control can let users update information without repeatedly opening individual records. The Attachment Control can bring documents from emails and notes into a convenient location on the form. The key is to use controls intentionally. Choose controls from trustworthy sources, configure them around the way your employees actually use CRM, test changes in a sandbox, and monitor Microsoft updates over time. With those practices in place, component controls can provide a practical way to make Dynamics 365 forms and lists easier and more efficient for end users.