> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.powerdevbox.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.powerdevbox.com/dev-tools/power-automate-utility-vs-code.md).

# Power Automate Utility VS Code

## Power Automate Utility

A VS Code extension providing IntelliSense for Power Automate and Logic App expressions (great for scratch padding expressions to copy/paste into ui), along with the ability to edit cloud flows directly from VS Code via the Dataverse API.

### Features

#### Expression IntelliSense

* **Auto-complete** for all Power Automate / Logic App expression functions in `.json`, `.jsonc`, and `.txt` files
* **Hover documentation** showing function signatures, descriptions, and examples
* **Signature help** displaying parameter info as you type inside function parentheses ![intellisense](https://powerdevbox.com/images/vsCode/intellisense.gif)

#### Copilot Skill

* **Skill files** — load custom expression definitions to extend copilot capability

#### Flow Editing (Dataverse API)

Edit Power Automate cloud flows directly from VS Code by reading and writing the `clientdata` field of the Dataverse `workflows` table.

![edit flow](https://powerdevbox.com/images/vsCode/editFlow.gif)

> **Note:** Only solution-aware flows (flows added to a Solution) are supported. Flows created under "My Flows" outside of a solution are not accessible via this method.

**Prerequisites**

* A Power Platform environment with Dataverse
* A browser for the OAuth2 sign-in prompt
* The environment URL (e.g. `https://yourorg.crm.dynamics.com`)
* Your tenant ID (e.g. `contoso.onmicrosoft.com` or a GUID)

**Commands**

| Command                                          | Description                                                                                                                                                     |
| ------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Power Automate Utility: Sign In to Environment` | Prompts for tenant ID and environment URL, then opens a browser for OAuth2 sign-in. Tokens are cached in memory for \~55 minutes.                               |
| `Power Automate Utility: List Flows`             | Fetches all solution-aware cloud flows from the environment and displays them in a QuickPick. Selecting a flow opens its `clientdata` for editing.              |
| `Power Automate Utility: Open Flow ClientData`   | Downloads the `clientdata` JSON for a specific flow and opens it in the editor as a `.clientdata.json` file.                                                    |
| `Power Automate Utility: Update Flow ClientData` | Reads the active `.clientdata.json` file and PATCHes it back to Dataverse. A cloud-upload button also appears in the editor title bar when editing these files. |

**Workflow**

1. Open the Command Palette (`Ctrl+Shift+P`)
2. Run **Sign In to Environment** — enter your tenant ID and environment URL, then complete the browser sign-in
3. Run **List Flows** — pick a flow from the list
4. The flow's `clientdata` opens as a JSON file in the editor
5. Make your edits
6. Run **Update Flow ClientData** (or click the ☁↑ icon in the editor title bar) to save changes back to Dataverse

Tip - Use [AutoReview VS Code Extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=PowerDevBox.autoreview-powerautomate) to see diagram view of the flow

#### Bash Script (Alternative)

A standalone bash script is also provided at `scripts/flow-commands.sh` for use outside VS Code. It requires Python 3 and a browser.

```bash
source scripts/flow-commands.sh

# Sign in (opens browser for OAuth2)
flow_sign_in "contoso.onmicrosoft.com" "https://yourorg.crm.dynamics.com"

# List all solution-aware flows
flow_list "https://yourorg.crm.dynamics.com"

# Open a flow's clientdata as a JSON file in VS Code
flow_open "https://yourorg.crm.dynamics.com" "<workflow-guid>"

# Update a flow's clientdata from a local file
flow_update "https://yourorg.crm.dynamics.com" "<workflow-guid>" "myflow.clientdata.json"
```

### Admin Commands

| Command                                       | Description                                              |
| --------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| `Power Automate Utility: Toggle IntelliSense` | Turns intellisense ON/OFF                                |
| `Power Automate Utility: Show Function Count` | Displays the total number of loaded expression functions |
| `Power Automate Utility: View Skill File`     | Opens a skill file for viewing                           |
| `Power Automate Utility: Delete Skill File`   | Removes a custom skill file                              |

### Known Limitations

* Only solution-aware cloud flows are supported for flow editing
* OAuth2 tokens expire after \~60 minutes; re-run **Sign In** to refresh
* The local callback server uses port 5500 — ensure it is available during sign-in