Add comprehensive implementation guidance for Connection References and Environment Variables enhancement

[Copilot]

Issue requests enhanced visibility and management for Connection References and Environment Variables in the CoE Starter Kit Power Platform Admin View. Currently, Connection References show connector service names instead of actual names, display service account as owner, and lack solution relationships. Environment Variables are not tracked at all.

Documentation Created

Complete technical implementation package in /docs:

• Implementation Guide (24KB): Three-phase roadmap with entity schemas, FetchXML queries, API endpoints, and exact file paths for modifications
• Feature Summary (12KB): Architecture, data model relationships, success criteria, and risk mitigation
• Quick Start Guide (11KB): Three contribution paths (easy/intermediate/advanced) with ready-to-use XML templates
• Issue Response (6KB): Community engagement and getting started instructions
• README: Documentation hub with navigation and status tracking

Implementation Approach

Phase 1: Connection References (2-3 days)

• Add admin_actualowner and admin_solution lookup fields to existing entity
• Create enhanced SavedQuery showing actual display names via Power Platform API
• Add dedicated SubArea to admin_PowerPlatformAdminView sitemap
• Update inventory flows to capture proper metadata

Phase 2: Environment Variables (3-5 days)

• New admin_EnvironmentVariableDefinition entity with UserOwned ownership
• Fields: admin_schemaname, admin_type, admin_currentvalue, admin_defaultvalue, owner and solution lookups
• Inventory flow using Dataverse Web API /environmentvariabledefinitions endpoint
• Sitemap SubArea in Monitor group

Phase 3: Testing (1-2 days)

• Validation checklist for display names, owners, solution relationships
• Performance verification for large datasets

Technical Details

Key API Endpoints:

GET /environments/{id}/connectionReferences  # Power Platform API
GET /api/data/v9.2/environmentvariabledefinitions?$expand=solution
GET /api/data/v9.2/environmentvariablevalues

Data Model:

admin_Solution (1:N)
  ├─> admin_ConnectionReference (adds solution lookup)
  └─> admin_EnvironmentVariableDefinition (new entity)

All changes are additive and backward compatible. No breaking changes to existing deployments.

Ready for Implementation

Complete code templates, entity schemas, and step-by-step instructions provided. Community can begin implementation immediately following the guides.

Original prompt

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This section details on the original issue you should resolve

<issue_title>[CoE Starter Kit - Feature]: Connection References and Environment variables should be fully featured</issue_title>
<issue_description>### Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

Hi all,

currently connection references and environment varibables are partially or not featured in the toolkit. As Microsoft is moving away from classic admin centers and we have to make due with the new "environment settings app", it would be great to incorparte some features from the classic version into the toolkit.

Thanks!

Describe the solution you'd like

As of now you can navigate to Connection References using a Flows related property. As they are quite an important part now and need changing in some cases (e.g. when a user leaves the company), they

1. Deserve their only Menu item in the Power Platform Admin View
2. DisplayNames should be the actual displays names, right now it only shows the connection service name and not the connections references actual name
3. Show the correct owner. Right now the owner of connection references seems to be always the service account with which you have installed the toolkit
4. References in their dataverse table are also connected to the solution they are in, this relation should also exist or be shown in the toolkit

Environment variables need owner changing as well, when sombody leaves to company. From my understanding environment variables are not featured at all. They

1. Deserve their own menu item in the Power Platform Admin View
2. DisplayName, Schema Name, Owner as well as other details should be shown there
3. The relation to the solution should also be visible, again this is available in the dataverse table for environment variable defintions
4. Owner reassignment should be possible

Describe alternatives you've considered

Additional context?

I would love to help develop this further. I am a Power Platform developer, but my expertise in Model Driven apps and Dataverse is very basic. I also do not know much about Github :(</issue_description>

<agent_instructions>Analyze this enhancement request and provide clear guidelines or step‑by‑step instructions on how it can be developed and implemented.</agent_instructions>

Comments on the Issue (you are @copilot in this section)

@harini-2-y Hi @rooobeert , Thank you for raising this enhancement request and for sharing the detailed feedback. This request will be reviewed and tracked for consideration in a future update.

Custom agent used: CoE Custom Agent
Specialized agent for triaging and fixing issues in the CoE Starter Kit. Always consult the official CoE docs and the team’s SharePoint notes first, then mine prior GitHub issues and the CoE Common Responses playbook.

• Fixes [CoE Starter Kit - Feature]: Connection References and Environment variables should be fully featured #10632

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