Xrm Tools 1.5.0 - FetchXML becomes a native language in Visual Studio

For years, Power Platform developers have relied on great tools like FetchXML Builder (by Jonas Rapp) to explore and build FetchXML queries. It’s been the go-to experience for countless projects.

But as I spent more time building and using my Xrm Tools extension inside Visual Studio, I kept finding myself switching back and forth between environments. Write the query in one tool, test it, copy it, then paste it back into the code.

That workflow worked but it always broke the flow.

Now that AI assistance has become an integral part of how we write and reason about code - IntelliCode, Copilot, agent mode - it felt like FetchXML was left out.

FetchXML is a language and it deserves to live where we write our code.

So, after weeks of experimenting, testing, and fine-tuning, I’m proud to introduce a feature I’ve been wanting to build for a long time.

FetchXML becomes Native in Visual Studio

With Xrm Tools 1.5.0, you can now create and test FetchXML queries natively inside Visual Studio, complete with IntelliSense, live preview and automatic code generation.

Here's what's new:

FetchXML Query Files (.fetch)

Add a new FetchXML query file with the .fetch extension and Visual Studio instantly recognizes it. While you write the query you will notice:

• Syntax Highlighting
• Full IntelliSense and code completion.
• Environment-aware suggestions based on your connected Power Platform environment.

This isn't just a static editor, the IntelliSense is connected to your actual metadata.

Live Split-View Preview

Each time you save (by default) or as you write your query (configurable), a split-view automatically shows live results from your environment, giving instant feedback right inside the IDE.

No context switching. No external tools. Just real-time validation in your development flow.

Automatic Code Generation

Every time you save a .fetch file, Xrm Tools automatically generates clean, ready-to-use C# code for your plugin.

You can use it immediately or fully customize the template, just like the other code generation templates in Xrm Tools.

Tweak the Experience

If you prefer a different layout or want to control how preview behaves you can fine-tune everything under Tools → Options → Xrm Tools → FetchXML

AI-Enhanced FetchXML

By making FetchXML a native language in Visual Studio, it now benefits from all the AI-powered features developers already use like IntelliCode, Copilot, and potentially future IDE assistants. That means FetchXML can now take advantage of the same context-aware suggestions, completions, and reasoning as C# or XAML.

You will now have a context-aware intelligent query authoring within the IDE.

Getting Started

1. Install or update the latest version of Xrm Tools either from Visual Studio Marketplace or from Extensions tab in Visual Studio.
2. Connect to your Power Platform environment using just its URL as your connection string.
3. Add a new query, by right-clicking on your project and selecting Add → New FetchXML file...

1. Rename the file to something that represents your query.
2. Write and save your query to see live results.
3. Use the generated C# code-behind directly in your plugin project.

Still a Preview

This feature is still in preview which means, it's stable enough for you to use it, but I’m still actively refining it and planning more improvements in the next versions.

Why It Matters

This update isn’t just about convenience, it’s about unifying the Power Platform development experience. You no longer need to leave Visual Studio to design, test, and integrate FetchXML queries.

Now you can do it all in one place, with AI assistance, real-time feedback, and full project context.

Coming Soon

I’ll soon share a short demo video showing how you can go from writing a .fetch file to running it live and using the generated code in your plugin.

Stay tuned, this one’s special.

Feedback?

As always, your feedback drives the next step. Try it out, share your thoughts, and let me know what would make the FetchXML experience even better.

You can reach me on GitHub or connect on LinkedIn.

TL;DR

• .fetch files now supported natively in Visual Studio
• Full IntelliSense and environment-aware completion
• Live query results in split-view
• Automatic code generation (customizable)
• AI-assisted authoring
• Preview feature with more improvements coming soon