Microsoft Dynamics 365 CE comes with a basic functionality to generate documents via Word templates. This overview provides a comparison of those native capabilities vs. DocumentsCorePack for Dynamics 365 and Power Apps. Starting with key differences you will find a detailed comparison covering:
- Document Generation
- Document Processing & Delivery
- Template Design & Management
The intent of this head-to-head comparision to help you determine which option is best to meet your document generation, processing, and automation requirements.
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Key Differences | DocumentsCorePack | Native Dynamics 365 |
---|---|---|
Microsoft Word based TemplateDesigner (See Template Design Comparison for details) | ![]() Easy to use Word Add-In | ![]() XML-based mapping via developper ribbon |
Mapping of Dataverse data: – Resolve relationships – Filter results – Sort results Formatting (e.g. date, money values) | Multi-level ![]() ![]() ![]() | limited to 1 level ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Connector for Power automate & Power Apps – Full documentautomation via Flows – Document generation & processing in Canvas Apps | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
One-Click document processes Generate and process documents according to your business needs with a single click (See Document Generation & Processing Comparison) | ![]() All document generation & procesing options | ![]() Only in Sales App Limited to PDF files |
Batch document generation & delivery Load Balancing to ensure high performance | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Template Management – Test templates during the design – Versioning & History – Conditional template selection – Guided provisioning between environments – Customizable sample templates | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Document Generation: Whether you need to send sales or service documents, internal reports or contracts for signature, documents are crucial in every business. Generating professional documents in a simple, streamlined and effective manner is a top priority.
In this section we compare the document generation options provided by the two solutions within the suite of Microsoft Business Applications:
Document Generation | DocumentsCorePack | Native Dynamics 365 |
---|---|---|
Available in: – Dynamics 365 CE – Model Driven Power Apps – Power Automate (Microsoft Flow) – Canvas Apps | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Command bar dialog | All Dynamics 365 CE & Model Driven Apps | Only in Sales App, limited to PDF files |
One-Click Actions – Generate documents – Process documents – Review & edit documents – Access restrictions via security roles | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Only in Sales App, limited to PDF files ![]() ![]() |
Conditional template selection | ![]() | ![]() |
Supported file types | .docx, .pdf, .html, .txt, … | .docx, .pdf |
Batch operations – Batch document generation – Batch document processing | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Generate documents consisting of multiple elements from different sources | Combine templates, SharePoint & Note documents | ![]() |
Dynamic document names | ![]() | ![]() |
Use data from an external database | ![]() | ![]() |
Incorporate user input during document creation | ![]() | ![]() |
Document preview | ![]() | Only in Sales App |
Edit documents upon creation before processed | ![]() In MS Word, the defined process continues | ![]() In MS Word, manual processing required |
Document Processing, Delivery and Automation: Every document generated has a purpose. Thus, providing options to process & deliver documents will not just speed up your document-related business processes, reduce your user’s workload but also bridge the gap to full document automation.
This section outlines the comparison of options to process, deliver & automate your documents:
Document Processing & Delivery | DocumentsCorePack | Native Dynamics 365 |
---|---|---|
Generate email attachments | ![]() | Only in Sales App, limited to PDF files |
Generate email content | ![]() | ![]() |
Generate and attach to activity | All activity types | ![]() |
Attach as a note | ![]() | Only in Sales App, limited to PDF files |
Save to SharePoint – Dynamic save locations – Create SharePoint locations – Write metadata to SharePoint | All file types ![]() ![]() ![]() | Only in Sales App, limited to PDF files ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Send for e-Signing – AdobeSign – DocuSign – AssureSign | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Protect files (PDF & password protection) | ![]() | ![]() |
Run processes upon document generation – Flows – Workflows/Actions | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Printing – Local/Network printing – Cloud printing | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Combine documents | ![]() | ![]() |
Document Automation | DocumentsCorePack | Native Dynamics 365 |
---|---|---|
Via Dynamics 365 workflows | ![]() All document generation & processing options | ![]() Only attach as note |
Via Power Automate | ![]() DocumentsCorePack Connector | ![]() |
Template Design & Management:„Using the power of MS Word“ is key in enabling every user to design good-looking and professional documents.
This section compares the features & options to map the data you need from Microsoft Dataverse into your documents:
Template Design | DocumentsCorePack | Native Dynamics 365 |
---|---|---|
Microsoft Word Template Designer | ![]() via Word Add-In | ![]() Via developer ribbon |
Relationships – One-to-Many, Many-to-One, Many-to-Many – Multiple levels – Filter & sort related records – Unlimited number of related records | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Data Manipulation – Grouping – Calculations – String manipulation – User Prompts | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Conditions & onditional content (if / else) | ![]() Condition Designer | ![]() Word Field Function |
Formatting of Datverse data – Field-type specific formatting (e.g. date, money fields) – Conditional Formatting | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Dynamic Images – Entity images – Images from notes (stored in Dataverse) – Images from URL (stored in Dataverse) | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Dynamic Content – Charts (presenting Dataverse data) – Document name – Hyperlinks – QR Codes – HTML (stored in Dataverse) – Filters | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
e-Signature: Predefine tags for – AdobeSign – DocuSign – AssureSign | ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Work with Sample Data | ![]() | ![]() |
Embed data from Inspection Reports (JSON) | ![]() | ![]() |
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