Which connector for a canvas app data source
Verdict: Match the connector to where the data lives: an Excel table on OneDrive uses the Excel Online (Business) connector, an existing list uses SharePoint, and a canvas app reaches Dataverse and SQL Server through their connectors too.
| Criterion | Excel Online (Business) | SharePoint | Dataverse | SQL Server |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use for | An Excel table kept in its cloud location | An existing SharePoint Online list | Enterprise tables with role-based security | An existing relational database |
| Reuse benefit | Staff keep the workbook they already maintain | Officers keep the list they already maintain | Shared with the other Power Platform components | Reaches records already held in SQL |
| Note | OneDrive hosts the file; the Excel connector reads the table | Read and write items directly | Also the only source a model-driven app can use | One of the named canvas connectors beyond Excel |
Rules
- Use the Excel Online (Business) connector to read an Excel table while the workbook stays in its cloud location such as OneDrive for Business.
- Use the SharePoint connector to read and write an existing SharePoint Online list directly, reusing data staff already maintain.
- A canvas app can connect through a connector to a SharePoint list, a Dataverse table and a SQL Server database, not only to Excel.
- Reusing existing SharePoint and Excel sources avoids a new data silo and speeds adoption because staff keep working where they already are.
- Sharing a canvas app is not enough: the underlying data source, such as the OneDrive Excel file, must also be shared or users see no records.
Traps
- OneDrive hosts the workbook, but the table is surfaced through the Excel Online (Business) connector, not a OneDrive connector.
- A blank app for shared users needs the data source shared too; republishing or raising app permissions does not grant data access.