Microsoft Dynamics 365 introduces Offline Table Column Selection, allowing users to download only specific columns

Microsoft Dynamics 365 will introduce a new capability, Offline Table Column Selection, starting this August. This capability will allow users to selectively use their mobile data to download only certain columns inside a Dataverse table.

So, instead of your mobile app eating up data and taking the whole table, you can tell it specifically what pieces to bring back. For example, if a standard Contacts table has 240 columns, and you merely care about some of them, it seems like an inefficient use of time and bandwidth to process the entire table.

This feature has many benefits. Firstly, if you only download the required columns, the duration of the offline sync process will be greatly reduced. This improves users’ experience as they need to wait less for synchronization; sizable updates on the device will also download and install faster.

Secondly, the feature is very useful for controlling data usage, especially when internet access is considered a luxury or if one has limited data plans. Also, it helps to enhance performance: when there’s less data to handle, your mobile application will consume less battery and bandwidth—this feature speeds up the process of getting important information quickly when you require it urgently.

However, it is important to note that this specific feature of offline data synchronization is currently in the preview phase, and its general availability is expected around August 2024.

Whether you are a service technician in the field who needs to see customer details while on the move or a sales representative who wants quick access to product information during client visits, the new Offline Table Column Selection ensures that your experience with mobiles becomes more streamlined and productive.

You can read more here.

In other news, Microsoft 365 introduced an updated permissions UI for Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. This will keep your files secure, especially when they’re located in shared spaces. With the new permissions, you’ll be able to see and control who can edit your files.