How to get the value from a specific column and row within a Data Source using DataSources[]

Updated October 30, 2024 10:14

About this article

This article explains what the DataSources[] function is and provide examples of how it can be used with the binding syntax in smart templates.

What is the DataSources[] function?
DataSources[] function examples

Prerequisites

Library and at least one Dynamics module enabled
Templafy Desktop and Office VSTO add-in installed on the PC
Tenant admin/owner access or Space owner access

What is the DataSources[] function?

DataSources[] is a function that returns the values from a specific data source row.

DataSources[] logic

Syntax	{{DataSources.DataSourceName[NameValueToLookUp].DataSourceColumnName}}

Please keep in mind that the Data smart field can also be utilized to capture data from a specific data source row.

DataSources[] function examples

In the examples below these data sources are used. The column Country of the Offices data source is a reference to the column Name of the Countries data source:

Please note that creating data sources requires owner or admin rights to the tenant.

Example 1

Using the DataSources[] function with plain text to retrieve the postal code of the Eindhoven office.

Plain text must be enclosed in quotation marks.

Binding	{{DataSources.Offices["Office Eindhoven"].PostalCode}}
Input	n/a
Output	5611 ZB

The DataSources[] function is case sensitive, so for example the binding {{DataSources.Offices["Office Eindhoven"].Postalcode}} will not work.
The binding {{DataSources.Offices["Office eindhoven"].PostalCode}} will work, but as 'Office eindhoven' does not exist ('eindhoven' is not the same as 'Eindhoven'), the output will be empty.

Example 2

Using the DataSources[] function with the "OfficeName" flexible dropdown question originating from the response form to retrieve the correct postal code for the office.

Binding	{{DataSources.Offices[Form.OfficeName].PostalCode}}
Input	Office Copenhagen	Office Eindhoven
Output	1403	5611 ZB

Example 3

Using the DataSources[] function with the "OfficeName.Name" dropdown question originating from the response form to retrieve the correct postal code for the office.

Please note, in the binding you need to use {{Form.OfficeName.Name}}, because it's a dropdown field.

Binding	{{DataSources.Offices[Form.OfficeName.Name].PostalCode}}
Input	Office New York	Office Copenhagen
Output	10007	1403

Example 4

Using the DataSources[] function with the "OfficeName" flexible dropdown question originating from the response form to retrieve the country of the office.

Please note that the Country is stored in the Name column of the Countries data source and is used as a reference in the Offices data source.

Binding	{{DataSources.Offices[Form.OfficeName].Country.Name}}
Input	Office Berlin	Office Sydney
Output	Germany	Australia

Example 5

Using the DataSources[] function with the "OfficeName" flexible dropdown question originating from the response form to retrieve multiple fields from the data source row.

Binding	Location Templafy {{DataSources.Offices[Form.OfficeName].City}}: {{DataSources.Offices[Form.OfficeName].Address}}, {{DataSources.Offices[Form.OfficeName].PostalCode}}, {{DataSources.Offices[Form.OfficeName].City}}, {{DataSources.Offices[Form.OfficeName].Country.Name}}
Input	Office Sydney	Office Berlin
Output	Location Templafy Sydney: 151 Clarence Street, NSW 2000, Sydney, Australia	Location Templafy Berlin: Lützowstr. 100, 10785, Berlin, Germany

Please note, for all examples explained, if no value is resolved then "" is returned.

Example 6

Using the DataSources[] function to insert an image stored in a data source.

Binding	{{DataSources.DataSourceName["ImageName"].DataSourceColumnName}}

Example 7

If you want your email signature or Word document to contain a 'tip of the day' (showing a different tip every day) then create a table containing all 366 possible dates (format 'month/day') and texts like this:

Insert a tip based on today's date:

Binding	{{DataSources.TipOfTheDay[FormatDateTime(Now(),"MM-dd","en-US")].Tip}}
Input	Today's date = "January 2"	Today's date = "December 31"
Output	"To increase the font size, highlight the text and then press Ctrl+]."	"To insert a non-breaking hyphen press Ctrl+Shift+_."

Insert a tip based on the value of the "Date" question originating from the response form:

Binding	{{DataSources.TipOfTheDay[Form.Date,"MM-dd","en-US")].Tip}}
Input	Date = "January 2"	Date = "December 31"
Output	"To increase the font size, highlight the text and then press Ctrl+]."	"To insert a non-breaking hyphen press Ctrl+Shift+_."

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