Updating custom connectors in Power Automate is a crucial task for maintaining seamless integration with evolving APIs, ensuring your automated workflows always utilize the latest functionalities and definitions. This process is generally straightforward and can be accomplished in a few key ways, primarily through updating from an OpenAPI file or by direct manual modifications.
Why Update Custom Connectors?
Keeping your custom connectors up-to-date is vital for several reasons:
- New API Features: Your backend API might introduce new operations, endpoints, or data structures that you'll want to expose in Power Automate.
- Bug Fixes and Improvements: Updates can incorporate fixes for issues in the API or enhance its performance, which your connector should reflect.
- Parameter Changes: Existing API operations might have their input or output parameters modified, requiring a connector update to prevent errors in your flows.
- Authentication Changes: If your API's security model evolves, your connector's authentication settings will need to be adjusted.
- Policy Enhancements: You might want to refine custom policies within the connector to handle specific request/response transformations more effectively.
Methods for Updating Custom Connectors
There are primarily two ways to update your custom connectors in Power Automate: updating from an OpenAPI (Swagger) file or making manual edits directly within the connector definition.
Updating from an OpenAPI/Swagger File
This is often the most efficient method when your API's definition has significantly changed and you have an updated OpenAPI (formerly Swagger) file. This file describes your API's capabilities in a machine-readable format.
To update your custom connector using an OpenAPI definition, follow these steps:
- Navigate to Power Automate: Open your web browser and go to the Power Automate portal.
- Access Custom Connectors: In the left-hand navigation pane, expand Data and then select Custom connectors.
- Select Your Connector: Locate and select your specific custom connector from the list presented.
- Initiate Update: Click the context menu (three dots
...) located at the end of the connector's row. - Choose Update Option: From the dropdown menu, select Update from OpenAPI file.
- Upload New File: You will be prompted to upload your updated OpenAPI file (
.jsonor.yaml). Upload the file and follow any subsequent prompts to apply the changes.
After the update, it's recommended to test the connector to ensure all operations function as expected.
Manual Definition Updates
For minor adjustments or specific changes that don't warrant a full OpenAPI file refresh, you can directly edit the connector's definition within the Power Automate interface. This is particularly useful for:
- Modifying General Information: Changing the connector's icon, description, or host URL.
- Adjusting Security Settings: Updating API keys, OAuth 2.0 configurations, or other authentication details in the Security tab.
- Refining Definitions: Adding, modifying, or removing specific actions or triggers, and tweaking their request/response parameters in the Definition tab.
- Implementing Custom Policies: Editing or adding custom policies in the Code (preview) tab to handle request/response transformations or other logic.
To perform manual updates:
- Navigate to Power Automate: Go to the Power Automate portal.
- Access Custom Connectors: Expand Data and select Custom connectors.
- Edit Connector: Select your custom connector and click the Edit button (pencil icon) or simply click on the connector name to open its configuration.
- Make Changes: Navigate through the different tabs (General, Security, Definition, Code (preview), Test) to make your desired modifications.
- Update Connector: After making changes, click the Update connector button at the top right of the screen to save your modifications.
Common Scenarios for Updating Custom Connectors
Understanding when to use which update method can streamline your development process:
| Scenario | Recommended Update Method | Key Action/Reason |
|---|---|---|
| New API Endpoints/Operations | OpenAPI File / Manual (add action) | Integrate new functionalities or actions from the backend API. |
| Major API Version Change | OpenAPI File | Reflect significant architectural or behavioral changes in the API. |
| Parameter Changes | OpenAPI File / Manual (edit) | Adjust input/output parameters for existing operations. |
| Authentication Updates | Manual (Security tab) | Change authentication type, keys, or OAuth settings. |
| Schema Modifications | OpenAPI File / Manual (edit) | Reflect changes in data structures (requests/responses). |
| Policy/Code Updates | Manual (Code (preview) tab) | Implement new custom logic or modify existing policies. |
| Icon/Description Change | Manual (General tab) | Update visual representation or descriptive text. |
Best Practices for Custom Connector Updates
- Test Thoroughly: Always test your updated connector, especially if flows are actively using it, to ensure all operations work as expected and don't break existing automation. Use the Test tab within the connector's configuration.
- Understand Impact: Before updating, consider how changes might affect existing flows. Parameter changes, for instance, might require updating affected flows.
- Version Control: If possible, maintain versions of your OpenAPI files or export your connector definitions before major changes to facilitate rollbacks if needed.
- Inform Users: If the connector is widely used within your organization, communicate impending changes to users so they can prepare to update their flows if necessary.
- Review Connections: After an update, verify that existing connections to the connector are still valid and working. Sometimes, security updates might require users to re-establish their connections.
Updating custom connectors is an essential part of maintaining robust and reliable integrations within your Power Automate environment. By following these methods and best practices, you can ensure your flows always leverage the most current API capabilities.
