If youʼve been looking to supercharge your Power Apps by building custom components, then creating a Power Apps Component Framework PCF control is the way to go. In this blog, weʼll break down the steps to build a PCF control using React, from setting up your environment to deploying it into your Microsoft Dataverse. Letʼs dive in!

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following tools and knowledge:

• Node.js:(Get it here)-Essential for running JavaScript-based projects.

• Power Platform CLI (How to install) – This will help you create and manage your PCF projects.

• Visual Studio Code(Download) – A fantastic code editor for this kind of work.

• A basic understanding of JavaScript, React, and Microsoft Dataverse (Learn about Dataverse).

Step 1: Setting Up Your Environment

First things first – get your tools ready:

1. Install Node.js from the official site.
2. Install Power Platform CLI by following the instructions on Microsoftʼs documentation.
3. Download and install Visual Studio Code or any of your preferred Ide (right here).

Step 2:Creating a New PCF Control

With everything set up, letʼs create our first PCF control:

1. Open your terminal (or command prompt) and navigate to the folder where you want to create your project.
2. Use this command to initialize a new control:3
pac pcf init --namespace <Namespace> --name <ControlName> --template field

1	pac pcf init --namespace <Namespace> --name <ControlName> --template field

Replace with your own unique identifier and with the name of your control.

3. Move into your new project folder
cd <ControlName>

1	cd <ControlName>

4. Install dependencies by running:
npm install

1	npm install

Youʼre now ready to start coding!

screenshot of terminal output showing successful control creation

Step 3: Configuring the Control Manifest

Every PCF control has a ControlManifest.Input.xml file that tells Power Apps what your control can do.

1. Add custom properties inside the tag:
<property name="SampleProperty" type="SingleLine.Text" required="false" />

1	<property name="SampleProperty" type="SingleLine.Text" required="false" />

2. Add any JavaScript or CSS files your control needs inside the tag:

   <resources> <code type="JavaScript" path="index.js" /> <code type="React" path="node_modules/react/umd/react.development.js" /> <code type="ReactDOM" path="node_modules/react-dom/umd/react-dom.development.js" /> </resources>

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   <resources> <code type="JavaScript" path="index.js" /> <code type="React" path="node_modules/react/umd/react.development.js" /> <code type="ReactDOM" path="node_modules/react-dom/umd/react-dom.development.js" /> </resources>

screenshot of ControlManifest.Input.xml file.

Step 4: Developing Your PCF Control

Now for the fun part – coding! Youʼll access properties using the context parameter:

1. Hereʼs how to get a property value:
const propertyValue =context.parameters.SampleProperty.raw;

1	const propertyValue =context.parameters.SampleProperty.raw;

2. Use React to create a component:
const MyComponent = ({ propertyValue }) => {return <div>{propertyValue}</div>;};

1	const MyComponent = ({ propertyValue }) => {return <div>{propertyValue}</div>;};

3. Render your component in the control:
ReactDOM.render(<MyComponent propertyValue={context.parameters.SampleProperty.raw} />,this.container);

1	ReactDOM.render(<MyComponent propertyValue={context.parameters.SampleProperty.raw} />,this.container);

screenshot of code editor showing React component and rendering logic.

Step 5: Implementing Lifecycle Methods

• init – Sets up the control:
init(context, notifyOutputChanged, state, container) {this.container = container; this.notifyOutputChanged = notifyOutputChanged; }

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init(context, notifyOutputChanged, state, container) {this.container = container; this.notifyOutputChanged = notifyOutputChanged; }

• updateView-Called whenever data changes:
updateView(context) { ReactDOM.render( <MyComponent propertyValue={context.parameters.Sam pleProperty.raw} />, this.container ); }

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updateView(context) { ReactDOM.render( <MyComponent propertyValue={context.parameters.Sam pleProperty.raw} />, this.container ); }

• getOutputs-Sends data back to Dataverse:
getOutputs() { return { SampleProperty: this.updatedValue }; }

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getOutputs() { return { SampleProperty: this.updatedValue }; }

• destroy-Cleans up resources:
destroy() { ReactDOM.unmountComponentAtNode(this.container); }

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destroy() { ReactDOM.unmountComponentAtNode(this.container); }

screenshot of lifecycle methods implementation in the code.

Step 6: Building and Testing

When youʼre ready to test your control:

1. Build it by running:
npm run build

1	npm run build

2. Use the local test harness:
npm start

1

npm start

screenshot showing the test harness running the control.

Step 7: Packaging Your Solution

To use your control in Power Apps:

1. Create a Folder:
mkdir solution

1	mkdir solution

2. Change directory to your solution:
cd solution

1	cd solution

3. Initialize a solution:
pac solution init --publisher-name <PublisherName> --publisher-prefix <Prefix>

1	pac solution init --publisher-name <PublisherName> --publisher-prefix <Prefix>

4. Add your control to the solution:
pac solution add-reference --path <ControlPath>

1	pac solution add-reference --path <ControlPath>

Need more details? Check the

screenshot of packaging process output.

Step 8: Deploying to Dataverse

Finally, letʼs deploy your masterpiece:

1. Push the control to your Dataverse environment(from your pcf root folder):
pac pcf push -pp <PublisherPrefix>

1	pac pcf push -pp <PublisherPrefix>

2. Check it out in your Power Apps – add the control to a form or view.

You can find more deployment tips in

screenshot showing the control in use within Power Apps.



By following this guide, youʼve created a fully functional PCF control using React.
With a bit of creativity and practice, youʼll be able to build dynamic, customized
experiences that transform your Power Apps. Happy coding!