Document uploads are a standard part of most enterprise portals — from vendor registration forms to employee document submissions. In Microsoft Power Pages, handling these uploads securely, cost-effectively, and at scale is critical.

By default, Power Pages stores attachments in Dataverse, but many enterprises ask:
Can we use SharePoint instead?

This blog explains:

• How Power Pages manages attachments out-of-the-box
• The pros and limitations of using Dataverse vs. SharePoint
• Whether SharePoint can be used natively (spoiler: not yet)
• How to implement SharePoint integration using Power Automate
• Step-by-step guidance for setting up this architecture
• How HarjTech helps enterprise IT teams design scalable, secure file strategies

How Attachments Work in Power Pages (By Default)

When a user uploads a file through a Power Pages form, the system stores that file as a Note (Annotation) linked to a record in Dataverse.

This has several benefits:

• Simple to configure — enabled directly in the Dataverse table
• Secure — inherits Dataverse permissions and access controls
• Natively integrated with Power Pages components (like the Notes/File control)

However, it comes with limitations:

• Storage costs for Dataverse files are significantly higher than SharePoint
• No version history or document management capabilities
• Limited collaboration (files can't be accessed or shared outside the portal easily)

For organizations with light document needs, this default setup works well. But if you're handling large files, frequent uploads, or want to connect documents to workflows outside the portal — SharePoint becomes a more scalable option.

Can Power Pages Store Files Directly in SharePoint?

No — not natively.

Power Pages currently does not support SharePoint as a direct file storage target in the form controls. You cannot configure the file upload field to push files to SharePoint without a custom integration.

That said, you can still architect a seamless solution by storing files temporarily in Dataverse and using Power Automate to move them to SharePoint.

This hybrid approach offers the best of both worlds:

• Easy front-end upload experience for users
• Long-term storage and collaboration in SharePoint
• Cost efficiency, version control, and metadata tagging

How to Set Up Power Pages File Uploads to SharePoint (Using Power Automate)

Here’s how to implement this pattern step-by-step:

1. Enable Attachments in Dataverse

Start by enabling attachments on your target Dataverse table:

• Open Power Apps → Tables
• Select the table (e.g., “Vendor Applications”)
• Enable “Attachments” (adds support for Notes/Annotation records)

This ensures uploaded files are saved as Notes related to the record.

2. Add a File Upload Field in Power Pages

• In your Power Pages form, add a File Upload component
• This connects to the Notes feature in Dataverse and lets users attach files
• You can configure validation like file types and max file size via site settings

3. Create a Power Automate Flow to Move Files to SharePoint

Here’s the flow logic:

• Trigger:
  • Use “When a row is added” on the Annotation table (Notes)
  • Add a condition to only trigger when the file is attached to a specific table (e.g., check the “Regarding” field)
• Actions:
  • Use “Get file or image content” to extract the uploaded file from the Note
  • Create a folder path in SharePoint dynamically (e.g., using record ID or user email)
  • Use “Create file” to store the document in SharePoint
  • (Optional) Save the SharePoint URL back to a field in the Dataverse record for reference

4. Organize Documents in SharePoint

For structured storage:

• Create a root document library (e.g., “Portal Submissions”)
• Within Power Automate, use logic to create folders based on context — record ID, submission type, or user name

This makes it easier to audit, search, and manage documents later.

5. Secure the Setup

• Run the Power Automate flow using a service account with access only to the target SharePoint site
• Restrict SharePoint access so that only the app/service account can write to the folder
• Make sure portal users cannot access the SharePoint site directly (files should only be visible through Power Pages, if needed)

6. (Optional) Link the SharePoint File Back to Dataverse

• After uploading the file, you can store the SharePoint link in a Dataverse column
• Display this link in your Power Pages app using a view or subgrid
• This keeps users connected to the document while maintaining security boundaries

When to Use Dataverse vs. SharePoint for File Storage

If you’re deciding between keeping attachments in Dataverse or routing them to SharePoint, consider the following:

Use Dataverse if:

• File volume is low
• Files don’t exceed a few MBs each
• You don’t need versioning or external access
• You want simple, fast setup with no automation

Use SharePoint if:

• You expect high volume or large file uploads
• You need metadata, approval flows, or document versioning
• Files need to be used outside the portal (Teams, OneDrive, workflows)
• You want to reduce Dataverse storage costs

How HarjTech Helps Enterprise Teams Design the Right Document Strategy

At HarjTech, we work with enterprise organizations to build Power Pages portals that are secure, scalable, and fully aligned with Microsoft best practices.

We help teams:

• Architect the right file upload experience for your use case
• Build Power Automate flows that move files seamlessly and securely to SharePoint
• Configure structured document storage with metadata and foldering
• Ensure compliance, access control, and traceability across systems
• Train internal teams on long-term maintenance and support

Whether you’re launching a partner portal, an employee document submission tool, or a public-facing onboarding system — we ensure your file handling is done right.

Conclusion

Power Pages offers a powerful way to build public- or partner-facing portals on top of the Microsoft ecosystem. But when it comes to file uploads, the default setup (Dataverse Notes) doesn’t fit every enterprise need.

For most large organizations, integrating SharePoint via Power Automate provides the flexibility, structure, and cost efficiency needed for enterprise-grade document management.

HarjTech can help you architect the right solution from the start — securely, cleanly, and built to scale.

Ready to modernize your portal’s file management? Let’s talk.

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