New Era of Formula Fields: Replacing Calculated Fields in Dataverse and PowerApps
Inkey Solutions, June 6, 2025204 Views
Formula columns in Microsoft Dataverse are special fields that display calculated values based on other fields within a table. These formulas use Power Fx. Power Fx is designed to be automatic.
One of the key advantages of Formula columns is that they leverage the same Power Fx functions used across various Microsoft platforms. This means you can perform operations like mathematical calculations, conditional logic and date adjustments without writing complex code. Power Fx makes it simple to define dynamic logic directly within Dataverse, enhancing the ability to work with data in real-time.
For PowerApps developers, applying these formulas is straightforward. The formula box in Dataverse allows developers to directly input Power Fx expressions.
As shown in the screenshot below, we can use ‘Formula’ as a data type in PowerApps.
Example: We created an example to demonstrate the use of a Formula column. Two lookup fields, Account and Contact, were created to retrieve names. Using these fields, a formula is written as shown in the screen below. The output of the formula is AccountName_ContactName.
Output:
Benefits of formula field
- Easy to Use with Power Fx
- Real-Time Calculation
- Flexible Business Logic
- Built-In Error Handling
- No-Code Solution
Conclusion
Formula Fields in Microsoft Dataverse and PowerApps make it easier to automate calculations and apply business logic. With their simple use of Power Fx, real-time updates, and ability to work across different platforms, they help improve accuracy and efficiency. Replacing older calculated fields, Formula Fields offer better performance, scalability, and consistency, making them a valuable tool for building business applications.
