In Dynamics 365 (D365), sub-grids play a vital role in displaying related records within a form. However, the out-of-the-box sub-grid often has limitations—especially when you want to display nested relationships or apply custom filters dynamically.

That’s where building a nested, filterable sub-grid replacement in a Power App comes in. With the right approach, you can achieve deeper data visualization, improved user interactivity, and full control over your record display—all within your Power Platform environment.

In this guide, we’ll walk through how to build such a solution, what tools you’ll need, and how Skysoft Connections can help you implement scalable, future-ready Power App solutions for Dynamics 365.

Why Replace the Standard Sub-Grid in D365?

Although D365 sub-grids provide basic functionality, they fall short in areas that modern businesses need.

Here’s a quick comparison:

Feature	Standard Sub-Grid	Custom Power App Sub-Grid
Nested Relationships	❌ Not supported	✅ Fully supported
Dynamic Filtering	⚠️ Limited	✅ Advanced filters
UI Flexibility	⚠️ Minimal	✅ Customizable interface
Conditional Formatting	❌ Not possible	✅ Easy via Power Fx
Performance Optimization	⚠️ Static loading	✅ Controlled loading logic

Step-by-Step: Building a Nested, Filterable Sub-Grid in Power Apps

Let’s break down the process into manageable steps.

Step 1: Plan Your Data Structure

Before you start building, identify:

• The primary entity (e.g., Account or Project)
• The child entities you want to display (e.g., Contacts, Opportunities, or Work Orders)
• The relationships between them

👉 Example: You want to show Accounts → Contacts → Appointments in a single nested layout.

Step 2: Use Gallery Controls to Display Nested Data

Power Apps galleries are highly customizable.

• Use a Gallery control for the main entity.
• Inside it, add a nested Gallery to display related records.
• Bind the nested gallery to a filtered dataset using Filter() and LookUp() functions.

Example Power Fx formula:

Filter(Contacts, Account = ThisItem.AccountId)

This displays only contacts related to the selected account.

Step 3: Apply Dynamic Filtering

To make your sub-grid interactive:

• Add a dropdown or combo box to select filters (like region, date range, or status).
• Use the selected value to dynamically filter the nested gallery.

Example:

Filter(Appointments, Contact = ThisItem.ContactId && Status = drpStatus.Selected.Value)

This allows users to filter appointments for each contact based on status.

Step 4: Enhance UI and User Experience

Consider adding:

• Collapsible nested sections for better readability
• Search boxes for quick record lookup
• Conditional formatting to highlight key data (e.g., overdue tasks in red)

You can also use Power Automate to trigger notifications or updates when certain filter conditions are met.

Best Practices for Performance Optimization

To keep your sub-grid fast and smooth:

• Load data on-demand instead of fetching all records at once.
• Limit delegation by optimizing queries.
• Cache commonly used data locally.
• Use Collections to store intermediate results.

Optimization Tip	Purpose
Use Concurrent()	Run multiple data loads simultaneously
Limit columns fetched	Reduce payload size
Preload filters	Minimize query recalculations

Benefits of a Custom Nested Sub-Grid Solution

Implementing a custom solution provides measurable business benefits:

Improved Data Visibility: View related records in one place without switching screens.
Enhanced User Experience: Filters, collapsible sections, and clear visual hierarchy.
Scalability: Add new layers or filters as business needs evolve.
Automation Integration: Combine with Power Automate for real-time workflows.

How Skysoft Connections Can Help

At Skysoft Connections, we specialize in custom Microsoft Power Apps and Dynamics 365 solutions that empower businesses to visualize, manage, and automate their data more effectively.

Our team has:

• 40,000+ hours of successful project delivery
• Expertise in Power Apps, Power Automate, Dataverse, and Dynamics CRM
• Proven success building tailored sub-grid, form, and automation solutions for enterprise clients

Whether you want to build a nested sub-grid replacement, automate workflows, or integrate Power Platform apps with existing D365 modules — Skysoft Connections can design a solution perfectly aligned with your operational needs.

Key Takeaways

Aspect	Description
Goal	Replace the standard sub-grid with a flexible, nested, and filterable version
Platform	Power Apps (Canvas or Model-Driven)
Integration	Dataverse + Dynamics 365
Benefits	Better UX, real-time filtering, improved control

Conclusion

Building a nested, filterable sub-grid replacement in a Power App for D365 is not just a technical enhancement — it’s a productivity upgrade. By leveraging Power Apps’ flexibility, you can transform how users interact with related data, improving efficiency and decision-making.

If you’re ready to take your D365 customization to the next level, Skysoft Connections is your trusted partner for advanced Power Platform development, CRM customization, and integration services.

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