How to Define a Custom Connector Using a Postman Collection in Microsoft Power Automate

Creating custom connectors in Microsoft Power Automate, Logic Apps, or Power Apps allows you to integrate third-party services with your workflows. This flexibility is invaluable for extending the capabilities of your applications. One efficient way to define a custom connector is by using a Postman collection. In this article, we will walk you through the steps to achieve this, as outlined in the Microsoft documentation.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

• A Postman account.
• A collection in Postman that defines the API you want to connect to.
• Access to Microsoft Power Automate, Logic Apps, or Power Apps.
• Appropriate permissions to create custom connectors in your environment.

Step 1: Export the Postman Collection

First, you need to export your Postman collection:

1. Open Postman and navigate to the collection you want to use.
2. Click on the three dots (...) next to the collection name and select Export.
3. Choose the Collection v1 or Collection v2 format and click Export.
4. Save the exported file to your local machine.

Step 2: Create a Custom Connector in Power Automate

1. Log in to Power Automate.
2. Navigate to Data > Custom connectors.
3. Click on New custom connector and select Import a Postman collection.
4. Provide a name for your custom connector and import the Postman collection file you exported earlier.

Step 3: Configure the Connector

After importing the Postman collection, you’ll need to configure the connector:

1. General Information: Review the general information such as the connector name, description, and icon.
2. Host: Ensure the host URL is correct. This should be the base URL of the API you are connecting to.
3. Authentication: Set up the authentication method required by the API (e.g., API Key, OAuth 2.0, etc.).
4. Definition: Review and adjust the definitions imported from the Postman collection. This includes the actions, triggers, and their respective request and response parameters.
5. Code: Optionally, you can add custom code to handle any specific logic needed for your connector.

Step 4: Test the Connector

1. Save the connector and navigate to the Test tab.
2. Create a new connection using the authentication method defined earlier.
3. Test the various actions and triggers to ensure they are working correctly.

Step 5: Use the Custom Connector

Once you have tested and confirmed that the custom connector works as expected, you can start using it in your flows, apps, or logic apps. Simply add the connector to your workflow and configure the actions and triggers as needed.

Conclusion

Defining a custom connector using a Postman collection simplifies the process of integrating third-party APIs with Microsoft Power Automate, Logic Apps, or Power Apps. By following the steps outlined above, you can quickly create and deploy custom connectors to enhance your workflows and applications.