Import Operations

The import command deploys artifacts to a target Dynamics 365 environment.

Import Command Syntax

flowon import [options]

Options:
  -s, --solution <path>           Solution file to import
  -p, --package <path>            FlowOn package (.flop) to import
  -d, --data <path>               Data files directory
  -m, --mappings <path>           Mappings directory
  --apply-mappings                Apply mapping transformations
  --publish-customizations        Publish after import
  --overwrite                     Overwrite existing components
  -c, --connection <string>       Connection string

Import Examples

Import managed solution:

flowon import \
  --solution "./artifacts/solutions/CustomerPortal_1.0.0.0_managed.zip" \
  --publish-customizations

Import FlowOn package with mappings:

flowon import \
  --package "./artifacts/flowon/CustomerPortal.flop" \
  --mappings "./mappings/production" \
  --apply-mappings

Full deployment:

flowon import \
  --solution "./artifacts/solutions/CustomerPortal_managed.zip" \
  --package "./artifacts/flowon/CustomerPortal.flop" \
  --data "./artifacts/data" \
  --mappings "./mappings/production" \
  --apply-mappings \
  --publish-customizations

Import Order

When performing a full deployment, artifacts are imported in this order:

1. Solutions - Base platform customizations
2. FlowOn Package - Logic, APIs, BPM processes
3. Data - Reference data and configuration records

Deployment Workflow

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                      DEPLOYMENT WORKFLOW                             │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                                      │
│  1. PREPARE                                                          │
│     ┌──────────────────┐                                            │
│     │ Disable Plugins  │ ◄── Prevent triggers during import         │
│     └────────┬─────────┘                                            │
│              │                                                       │
│  2. IMPORT   ▼                                                       │
│     ┌──────────────────┐                                            │
│     │ Import Solution  │ ◄── Platform customizations                │
│     └────────┬─────────┘                                            │
│              │                                                       │
│              ▼                                                       │
│     ┌──────────────────┐                                            │
│     │ Import .flop     │ ◄── FlowOn artifacts with mappings         │
│     └────────┬─────────┘                                            │
│              │                                                       │
│              ▼                                                       │
│     ┌──────────────────┐                                            │
│     │ Import Data      │ ◄── Reference data with mappings           │
│     └────────┬─────────┘                                            │
│              │                                                       │
│  3. ACTIVATE ▼                                                       │
│     ┌──────────────────┐                                            │
│     │ Publish Changes  │ ◄── Make customizations active             │
│     └────────┬─────────┘                                            │
│              │                                                       │
│              ▼                                                       │
│     ┌──────────────────┐                                            │
│     │ Enable Plugins   │ ◄── Re-enable FlowOn plugins               │
│     └──────────────────┘                                            │
│                                                                      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Scripted Full Deployment

#!/bin/bash
# Full deployment script

PROJECT="CustomerPortal"
ENV="production"
CONNECTION_STRING="$PROD_CONNECTION_STRING"

# 1. Disable plugins
flowon disable-plugins \
  --project "$PROJECT" \
  --all \
  --connection "$CONNECTION_STRING"

# 2. Import solution
flowon import \
  --solution "./artifacts/solutions/${PROJECT}_managed.zip" \
  --connection "$CONNECTION_STRING"

# 3. Import FlowOn package with mappings
flowon import \
  --package "./artifacts/flowon/${PROJECT}.flop" \
  --mappings "./mappings/$ENV" \
  --apply-mappings \
  --connection "$CONNECTION_STRING"

# 4. Import data with mappings
flowon import \
  --data "./artifacts/data" \
  --mappings "./mappings/$ENV" \
  --apply-mappings \
  --connection "$CONNECTION_STRING"

# 5. Publish customizations
flowon import \
  --publish-customizations \
  --connection "$CONNECTION_STRING"

# 6. Enable plugins
flowon enable-plugins \
  --project "$PROJECT" \
  --all \
  --connection "$CONNECTION_STRING"

echo "Deployment complete!"

Error Handling

If an import fails:

1. Check the error message for specific component failures
2. Verify mapping files are correctly configured
3. Ensure dependencies exist in target environment
4. Check user permissions in target environment

Use verbose logging for troubleshooting:

flowon import --verbose --solution "..." 2>&1 | tee deployment.log