Manage Dataverse connections and authentication directly from VS Code. This is the foundational extension in the Dataverse Tools suite — all other extensions depend on it for auth, environment access, and the shared explorer tree.
Features
Environment Management
- Add environments via a guided wizard with auto-discovery from the Global Discovery Service — browse all orgs in your tenant grouped by region, or enter a custom URL
- Edit environments — change auth method or credentials without removing and re-adding
- Remove environments — safely clears cached tokens and stored secrets
- Test connection — validates connectivity with a WhoAmI call and reports latency
Authentication
Four methods, configured per environment:
| Method |
Description |
| VS Code |
Browser-based sign-in via VS Code's built-in Microsoft authentication provider. Silent token refresh when possible. |
| Azure CLI |
Uses your existing az login session. Requires Azure CLI installed and signed in. |
| Device Code |
MSAL device code flow — works in headless/SSH environments. Optionally use a custom app registration. |
| Service Principal |
Client ID + secret for app-based access. Secrets stored in the OS keychain via VS Code SecretStorage — never written to disk. |
Token caching with proactive refresh 60 seconds before JWT expiry.
Explorer Tree
A unified, extensible tree view in the activity bar that other Dataverse Tools extensions contribute nodes to:
- Select environment — pick which org to browse
- Select solution — optionally scope the tree to a specific solution (managed or unmanaged)
- Solution management — add or remove components from a solution directly from the tree, with entity inclusion mode selection (all objects / metadata only / shell)
- Filter controls — toggle between all components and unmanaged only; show or hide out-of-solution items
- Details panel — select any tree item to view its properties in a sidebar webview
Copilot Chat Integration
Three language model tools for use with GitHub Copilot Chat:
| Tool |
Description |
List Dataverse Environments |
Returns all configured environments |
Get Environment Details |
Returns details for a specific environment |
Test Dataverse Connection |
Runs a WhoAmI call (with confirmation prompt) |
Extension API
Exports DataverseAccountApi for other extensions in the suite:
getAccessToken() — acquire/refresh tokens for any environmentgetEnvironments() / onDidChangeEnvironments — read and watch environment listpickEnvironment() — reusable environment + solution pickershowDetails() — push detail items to the shared Details panelexplorer.registerProvider() — register tree node providersexplorer.getContext() / onDidChangeContext — read and watch explorer stateexplorer.refresh() — trigger tree refresh
Commands
| Command |
Description |
Dataverse Tools: Add Environment |
Launch the environment setup wizard |
Dataverse Tools: Edit Environment |
Change auth method or credentials |
Dataverse Tools: Remove Environment |
Remove an environment |
Dataverse Tools: Test Connection |
Verify connectivity and report latency |
Dataverse Tools: Select Environment |
Choose the active environment for the explorer |
Dataverse Tools: Refresh |
Refresh the explorer tree |
Dataverse Tools: Add to Solution |
Add a component to the active solution |
Dataverse Tools: Remove from Solution |
Remove a component from the active solution |
Settings
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
dataverse-tools.authMethod |
vscode |
Default auth method shown in the Add Environment wizard (vscode, azcli, devicecode, clientcredentials) |
dataverse-tools.logLevel |
info |
Log verbosity (debug, info, warn, error) |
dataverse-tools.requestTimeoutMs |
30000 |
HTTP request timeout in milliseconds |
Requirements
- VS Code 1.96+
- For Azure CLI auth:
az CLI installed and signed in
- For Service Principal auth: an Azure AD app registration with Dataverse permissions
Acknowledgements
Inspired by the connection management in the Plugin Registration Tool from the Dynamics 365 SDK and XrmToolBox.
This extension is part of the Dataverse Tools suite for Dynamics 365 / Power Platform developers.
