Add Data Source

Organization

microsoft

add-data-source

Guide the user to add a data source, connection, or API connector to a Canvas App via Power Apps Studio, then verify and continue. USE WHEN the user asks to add a data source, add a connection, add an API, add a connector, connect to SharePoint / Dataverse / SQL / Excel / OneDrive / Teams / Office 365, or any similar request to make new data available to the app. DO NOT USE WHEN the user is asking to list or describe existing data sources — call list_data_sources or list_apis directly instead.

Overview

Publisher	microsoft
Repository	`power-platform-skills`
Skill name	`add-data-source`
Stars	895
Forks	182
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	MIT
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by microsoft on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Add Data Source AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Store

Installed

Skills

Add skills

Import one or more skills from a public GitHub folder or a local .skill or .zip archive, or SKILL.md file.

From GitHub URLFrom .skill, .zip, or SKILL.md

GitHub repo or folder

https://github.com/microsoft/power-platform-skills/tree/main/plugins/canvas-apps/skills/add-data-source

Points to a single skill folder, or any folder that contains multiple skills. Public repos only.

CancelContinue

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/power-platform-skills.git /tmp/power-platform-skills
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/power-platform-skills/plugins/canvas-apps/skills/add-data-source .claude/skills/add-data-source

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Add Data Source in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Add Data Source on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Add Data Source is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Data sources, connections, and API connectors cannot be added by the coding agent — they must be added through the Power Apps Studio interface. This skill informs the user, guides them to add the connection in their Studio session, verifies it is available via the MCP server, and then continues with any pending work.

Phase 0 — Identify the Connection Type

From the user's request, determine what they want to add and how to verify it:

Request type	Verify with
Data source (SharePoint list, Dataverse table, SQL table, Excel file, OneDrive, etc.)	`list_data_sources`
API / connector (Office 365 Users, Teams, custom connector, etc.)	`list_apis`
Unclear	Both `list_data_sources` and `list_apis`

Note what the user is trying to add so you can look for it by name in Phase 3.

Phase 1 — Inform the User

Explain that this step requires action in their Studio session. Tell the user:

The coding agent cannot add data sources or connections programmatically — this must be done directly in Power Apps Studio.
To add the connection, follow these steps in their open Studio session:
1. Open the Data panel in the left sidebar
2. Click Add data
3. Search for the data source or connector they want (e.g., "SharePoint", "Dataverse", "SQL Server", "Office 365 Users")
4. Follow the authentication prompts and select the specific table, list, file, or dataset
Once added, the connection will be available to the MCP server and you can continue.

Phase 2 — Wait for Confirmation

Use AskUserQuestion to pause until the user has completed the steps in Studio:

"Please add the data source or connection in your Power Apps Studio session. Reply here when it's ready and I'll verify the connection before continuing."

Do not proceed until the user confirms they have added it.

Phase 3 — Verify the Connection

Once the user confirms, call the appropriate MCP tools to check that the connection is now available:

If the request was for a data source: call list_data_sources
If the request was for an API / connector: call list_apis
If the type was unclear: call both in parallel

Scan the results for the connection the user added:

Found — Confirm to the user that the data source or connection is now visible to the agent. Include the exact name as returned by the MCP tool (this is how it must be referenced in Power Fx formulas). If it is a data source, call get_data_source_schema to retrieve its column names and types, and include the schema summary in your response so it is ready for use in edits. Similarly, for APIs/connectors, call describe_api to retrieve the available endpoints and their parameters, and include the schema summary in your response.

Not found — Inform the user that the connection is not yet visible. Ask them to:

Confirm they completed the Studio steps and the connection appears in the Data panel there.
Check that their Studio session is still active (the MCP server must be connected to a live coauthoring session).
Let you know when ready to try again.

Use AskUserQuestion to wait for their follow-up, then re-run Phase 3.

Phase 4 — Continue

After the connection is confirmed:

If the user had a pending task (e.g., "add SharePoint as a data source, then build a gallery"), continue with that work now using the verified connection name and schema.
If adding the connection was the only request, summarize what was confirmed (connection name, type, and schema if applicable) and suggest a natural next step (e.g., building a screen or gallery that uses the new data).

Frequently asked questions

What does the Add Data Source AI skill do?

Why use Add Data Source on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Add Data Source is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Add Data Source in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/microsoft/power-platform-skills/tree/main/plugins/canvas-apps/skills/add-data-source. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Add Data Source?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Add Data Source?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Add Data Source with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Add Data Source AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by microsoft under the MIT license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Phase 0 — Identify the Connection Type

Phase 1 — Inform the User

Phase 2 — Wait for Confirmation

Phase 3 — Verify the Connection

Phase 4 — Continue

Frequently asked questions

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