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Solution layers

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Managed and unmanaged solutions exist at different levels within a Microsoft Power Platform environment. In Dataverse, there are two distinct layer levels:

  • Unmanaged layer. All imported unmanaged solutions and unmanaged customizations exist at this layer. The unmanaged layer is a single layer.
  • Managed layers. All imported managed solutions and the system solution exist at this level. When multiple managed solutions are installed, the last one installed is above the managed solution installed previously. This means that the second solution installed can customize the one installed before it. When two managed solutions have conflicting definitions, the runtime behavior is either “Last one wins” or a merge logic is implemented. If you uninstall a managed solution, the managed solution below it takes effect. If you uninstall all managed solutions, the default behavior defined within the system solution is applied. At the base of the managed layers level is the system layer. The system layer contains the tables and components that are required for the platform to function.

Solution layers.

Solution merge behavior

When you prepare your managed solution for distribution, remember that an environment may have multiple solutions installed or that other solutions may be installed in the future. Construct a solution that follows best practices so that your solution will not interfere with other solutions.

The processes that Dataverse uses to merge customizations emphasize maintaining the functionality of the solution. While every effort is made to preserve the presentation, some incompatibilities between customizations may require that the computed resolution will change some presentation details in favor of maintaining the customization functionality. More information: Understand how managed solutions are merged

View the solution layers for a component

The see solution layers feature allows you to view all component changes that occur due to solution changes over time. Within a solution layer, you can drill down to view specific changed and unchanged property details for a component. You can access solution layers from the Solutions area in Power Apps.

The see solution layers feature:

  • Lets you see the order in which a solution changed a component.
  • Lets you view all properties of a component within a specific solution, including the changes to the component.
  • Can be used to troubleshoot dependency or solution-layering issues by displaying change details for a component that was introduced by a solution change.

  1. Sign in to Power Apps, select Solutions, open the solution you want, select ... next to a component, such as Account, and then select See solution layers.

  2. The solution layer page appears. It displays each layer for the component, such as the Account table displayed here, with the most recent layer at the top, which is typically indicated as the Active layer. The active layer determines the runtime behavior of the component. To view the details for a solution layer, select it.

    Solution layers list.

  3. In the Solution Layer dialog box, the Updated tab displays only those properties that were modified as part of the specific solution layer. Select the All Properties tab to view all properties, including changed and unchanged properties, for the solution layer.

    Solution layer changed properties.

  4. If the component includes translations that have been imported, select the LocalizedLabels tab to display information for components that have label columns in the solution layer. The base language and any imported translation text are displayed as indicated in the languageid column. Note that if no labels exist the tab isn't displayed.

    Solution layer localized labels.

    Select a label to see its full layering.

There are additional tabs available for specific component solution layers.

Tab name Description Possible value
RolePrivileges Displays the privileges for a security role. Added, Updated, Removed, Unchanged
AttributePicklistValues (optionset) When selected for a global choice , displays the possible values for a choice . Added, Updated, Removed, Unchanged
AttributePicklistValues (optionset attribute) When selected for a choice attribute, displays the values for the attribute. Added, Updated, Removed, Unchanged

Remove an unmanaged layer

Unmanaged customizations reside at the top layer for a component and subsequently define the runtime behavior of the component. In most situations you don't want unmanaged customizations determining the behavior of your components. To remove the unmanaged layer for a component, follow these steps:

Warning

Removing active unmanaged customizations can't be reversed or undone. All data associated with the unmanaged customization can be lost.

  1. Open the solution you want, select ... next to a component, such as Account, and then select See solution layers.
  2. If an unmanaged layer exists, Unmanaged layer is displayed in the Solution column for the layer.
  3. Select the layer, and then on the command bar, select Remove unmanaged layer.

    Remove unmanaged layer.

See also

Translate localizable text for model-driven apps
Solutions overview