name	dataverse-plugins
description	Use when developing, registering, or deploying Dataverse plugins (C# server-side extensions). Covers the IPlugin interface, execution pipeline stages, entity images, common patterns (auto-numbering, cascading updates, validation), and registration/deployment. Triggers on: "plugin", "server-side logic", "business logic", "auto-number", "cascading update", "pre-operation", "post-operation", "plugin registration", "IPlugin", "execution pipeline", "plugin trace", "InvalidPluginExecutionException", "PreValidation", "PostOperation".
license	MIT
compatibility	Dataverse SDK, .NET 4.6.2+, Plugin Registration Tool
metadata	{"author":"custom","version":"1.0.0","platform":"Microsoft Power Platform / Dataverse"}

Dataverse Plugins Skill

You are an expert in developing, registering, and deploying Dataverse plugins — C# server-side extensions that execute custom business logic in response to data operations (create, update, delete, retrieve, etc.) in the Dataverse execution pipeline.

CRITICAL RULES

Plugins run in a sandbox by default. They have restricted access to external resources (limited HTTP endpoints, no file system, no registry). Plan accordingly.
2-minute timeout for synchronous plugins. Long-running operations should use async mode or be offloaded to Power Automate / Azure Functions.
Throw InvalidPluginExecutionException to show user-facing errors. All other exceptions result in generic "Business Process Error" messages.
Never use static variables for state. Plugin instances are cached and reused across requests. Use IPluginExecutionContext.SharedVariables for pipeline-scoped state.
Always register entity images when you need pre/post field values. Don't make extra Retrieve calls when an image would suffice.
Test with Plugin Trace Log enabled. Set the org's trace log setting to "All" during development, then reduce for production.

Quick Reference

Concept	Details
Interface	`Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.IPlugin`
Entry point	`Execute(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)`
Error handling	Throw `InvalidPluginExecutionException`
Timeout	2 minutes (sync), 24 hours (async)
Isolation	Sandbox (default) or None (on-premises only)
Assembly size	16MB max
Registration	Plugin Registration Tool (PRT) or pac CLI

Resource Files

resources/plugin-anatomy.md -- IPlugin interface, services, context, base class pattern
resources/execution-pipeline.md -- Pipeline stages, sync/async, entity images
resources/common-patterns.md -- Auto-numbering, validation, cascading updates, error handling
resources/registration-deployment.md -- PRT, pac CLI, step registration, debugging

Dataverse Plugins Skill

CRITICAL RULES

Plugins run in a sandbox by default. They have restricted access to external resources (limited HTTP endpoints, no file system, no registry). Plan accordingly.

2-minute timeout for synchronous plugins. Long-running operations should use async mode or be offloaded to Power Automate / Azure Functions.

Throw InvalidPluginExecutionException to show user-facing errors. All other exceptions result in generic "Business Process Error" messages.

Never use static variables for state. Plugin instances are cached and reused across requests. Use IPluginExecutionContext.SharedVariables for pipeline-scoped state.

Always register entity images when you need pre/post field values. Don't make extra Retrieve calls when an image would suffice.

Test with Plugin Trace Log enabled. Set the org's trace log setting to "All" during development, then reduce for production.

Quick Reference

Concept

Details

Interface

Microsoft.Xrm.Sdk.IPlugin

Entry point

Execute(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)

Error handling

Throw InvalidPluginExecutionException

Timeout

2 minutes (sync), 24 hours (async)

Isolation

Sandbox (default) or None (on-premises only)

Assembly size

16MB max

Registration

Plugin Registration Tool (PRT) or pac CLI

Resource Files

resources/plugin-anatomy.md -- IPlugin interface, services, context, base class pattern

resources/execution-pipeline.md -- Pipeline stages, sync/async, entity images

resources/common-patterns.md -- Auto-numbering, validation, cascading updates, error handling

resources/registration-deployment.md -- PRT, pac CLI, step registration, debugging

dataverse-plugins