Generative Pages in Model-Driven Apps
Introduction In this blog, I’m going to share details regarding a newly introduced feature for model-driven apps called Generative Pages. This feature lets developers design functional, modern pages for model-driven apps simply by describing their requirements in plain language. Here’s a hands-on look at this feature using Microsoft’s latest updates and a walkthrough based on real experience. Public preview: May 16, 2025 (rollout phased through 2025 Wave 1 update) General availability: Not yet available (planned for March 2026) Problem Statement Traditionally, creating new custom pages in model-driven apps was time-consuming. Designers and developers had to manually think about the design, add each control/container, configure Dataverse sources, and fine-tune layouts, often requiring coding expertise and hours of iteration. This complexity created a barrier for business users and slowed the delivery of modern, dynamic business apps. The challenge is clear: how do we reduce the complexity of creating custom pages manually, investing a lot of time for design and development? Solution: Generative Pages in Model Driven Apps editor Microsoft has introduced Generative pages, a feature in Power Apps platform within the model-driven app editor. Generative Pages offer an AI-powered approach that leverages Copilot for page creation. Instead of manual configuration, users can describe their requirements in natural, everyday language. The App Agent for Generative Pages interprets these instructions, references relevant Dataverse tables, and produces a clean UI complete with filters, dashboards, forms, and fully integrated code. Key benefits of this new feature include: How to use Generative Pages? Updated code preview: Cleaner design. Updated code preview: Popup for “New Event” button. Updated code preview: Dashboard view added. After finalizing the page generation, you can save and publish and can edit it anytime in future if needed. Considerations and Limitations As this is an early preview, a few boundaries to keep in mind: Conclusion Generative Pages in Power Apps represent a dramatic leap forward in enterprise app building. With the power of natural language, AI-driven layouts, and direct ties to Microsoft Dataverse, business users and developers can deliver tailored solutions quite faster and focus on other tasks. As this feature matures, expect even more flexibility, data options, and co-authoring capabilities. If you are working in the D365 or Power Platform space, now’s the perfect time to try Generative Pages and master the ability to create low-code, AI-powered business app in no time. Thank you, Darish for your inputs to this blog.
Title: Restoring Deleted Table Records in Microsoft Power Platform (preview)
Introduction In the dynamic environment of Power Platform, managing and manipulating data is an essential part of building business applications. Accidental deletions of records, however, can happen to anyone. Microsoft Power Platform’s recovery options provide a safety net, allowing users to restore deleted table records quickly and efficiently. This guide will walk you through the steps and key considerations for restoring deleted records in Power Platform. What Happens When a Record is Deleted? When records are deleted in Power Platform, they are not immediately removed from the system. Instead, they’re retained in a “soft delete” state, remaining recoverable for a certain period. This approach helps prevent data loss due to accidental deletions, as records can be restored without complex recovery methods or external backups. When Can Records Be Restored? Deleted records can be restored within 30 days of deletion. After this period, records are permanently deleted and are no longer recoverable. It’s important to act promptly if you need to restore a record to avoid permanent data loss. Turning On the Recycle Bin FeatureTo enable the Recycle Bin in your Dataverse environment, here’s what you need to do: 1. Sign in to the Power Platform admin center as an administrator (you’ll need the Dynamics 365 admin or Microsoft Power Platform admin role).2. Go to Environments: From the admin center, select Environments and open the environment where you want to enable the Recycle Bin.3. Access Feature Settings: Head to Settings > Product > Features. 4. Enable Recycle Bin: Scroll down to find the Recycle Bin setting and switch it On.5. Set the Retention Period: Choose how long you’d like deleted records to be available for recovery—up to 30 days. This setup gives you peace of mind, knowing you can retrieve records if needed, for up to 30 days after deletion.Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Deleted Table RecordsFollow these steps to restore deleted records in Power Platform. Step 1: Go to the Power Platform Admin Center1. Open your browser and go to the Power Platform Admin Center.2. Sign in with your administrative credentials to access the environment where the deleted record was stored. Step 2: Navigate to the Environment Settings1. In the Admin Center, select Environments from the left menu.2. Choose the specific environment where the table and its records are located. Step 3: Access Deleted Records1. Go to Environments: From the admin center, select Environments and open the environment where you want to enable the Recycle Bin.2. Access Feature Settings: Head to Settings > Product > Features. Step 4: Restore the Record1. In the Deleted Rows section, find the specific record you wish to restore.2. Select the record, and then choose the Restore option. This action will reinstate the record to its original table.Important Considerations When Restoring Records1. Data Dependencies: Some records may be linked to other tables or workflows. Ensure that the restored records don’t disrupt any existing processes or create duplicates in related tables.2. Storage Capacity: Restoring large volumes of deleted records could impact storage capacity. Regularly monitor your environment’s capacity usage to prevent potential issues.3. Security and Permissions: Only users with the appropriate permissions can restore deleted records. Make sure your permissions align with your environment’s security policies. ConclusionThe ability to restore deleted records in Power Platform is a valuable feature, enabling organizations to protect and recover critical data with ease. By following these steps and keeping a few considerations in mind, administrators can manage data restoration effectively, minimizing downtime and maintaining data integrity. Whether it’s due to accidental deletion or troubleshooting needs, this feature provides a reliable solution for your data recovery needs. Thank you, Subhash Mahato for your valuable inputs to this blog!
Check out the Lead Qualification Experience in (Release wave 2)
Introduction: The business landscape is constantly evolving, and staying ahead means adapting to the tools and features that can streamline processes. With the 2024 Release Wave 2, Dynamics 365 Sales has introduced an exciting enhancement that promises to revolutionize the way businesses handle lead qualification. This update brings a fully customizable lead qualification experience, empowering administrators and sales teams with more control, flexibility, and precision. Description Lead qualification is a crucial step in the sales process, determining whether a lead is worth pursuing further. The traditional Dynamics 365 lead qualification experience had limitations, auto-creating certain records without giving users much control. However, the latest feature allows administrators to fine-tune this process, adapting it to their unique business needs. Here are some of the key highlights of the new lead qualification experience: 1. Multiple Opportunities from a Single Lead Sales cycles aren’t always linear. With the new feature, you can now create multiple opportunities from a single lead, enabling your team to pursue various avenues simultaneously without needing to duplicate the lead. This offers more versatility when nurturing complex sales scenarios. 2. AI-Powered Lead Summaries with Copilot AI is taking center stage in the world of CRM. Dynamics 365 Sales now integrates Microsoft Copilot to assist in generating AI-based lead qualification summaries. This not only saves timebut also helps create more accurate and data-driven insights, enabling sales teams to make informed decisions faster. 3. Administrator Control for Enhanced Customization Unlike the previous rigid system, this feature grants administrators the ability to configure which records (account, contact, opportunity) are auto-created upon qualification. Whether you want to skip certain steps or capture additional information, the flexibility of the system ensures it works in alignment with your business goals. The Business BenefitsThe ability to customize lead qualification offers multiple advantages:• Improved Efficiency: By customizing the qualification process, sales teams can avoid unnecessary steps and focus on converting high-quality leads into valuable opportunities.• Enhanced Insights: With Copilot summarizing leads based on AI, businesses can leverage real-time data and insights to better evaluate lead quality.• Scalability: For businesses dealing with multi-channel or large-scale sales processes, the ability to create multiple opportunities from a single lead ensures a more dynamic approach to lead nurturing.How to Get Started with the New FeatureTo enable this feature, administrators need to access the early access features for Dynamics 365 Sales 2024 Release Wave 2 and configure the lead qualification settings based on their organization’s requirements. Follow these steps:1. Navigate to the Sales Hub app.2. Go to Settings > Lead Management.3. Enable the new qualification experience and customize it according to your business needs. Once activated, sellers will notice an immediate difference in the lead qualification process, from the way opportunities are created to how AI-driven insights are integrated into their workflows.ConclusionThe new lead qualification experience in Dynamics 365 Sales brings a fresh approach to an age-old process, combining flexibility, AI-driven insights, and the ability to handle multiple sales paths simultaneously. If your business is looking to stay competitive and maximize sales potential, embracing this new feature should be a top priority. Stay ahead of the curve by exploring this feature as part of the 2024 Release Wave 2 and elevate your sales process to new heights. Thank you, Subhash! for your valuable inputs to this blog!
Efficient Data Management using New Enhanced Grid Features in Power Apps
The 2024 Wave 2 release includes a noteworthy update in the form of new grid features in Power Apps. What is it all about?These improvements are meant to make it easier for users to view and use data. Users will find it easier to manage massive datasets with the new grid’s better data filtering, sorting, and inline editing features. These features improve user productivity by enabling speedy information retrieval and updating, while also streamlining and simplifying data management. Businesses that primarily rely on data-driven decision-making and require effective tools to manage their data may especially benefit from this update. Model-driven applications now have new grid features that make it easier for users to view and interact with data. You may easily accomplish various jobs with the capabilities, such as grouping and aggregating data, rearranging columns, and setting column width. What are it’s features?Numerous functional and aesthetic enhancements to the Power Apps grid control enhance users’ out of the box experience. Grouping and aggregationUsers of the Power Apps grid control have the option to organize data according to a particular column. Users can choose to extend (and re-collapse) groups, although they are collapsed by default. Regardless of whether the grid is set to be editable or read-only, this feature is accessible. Users can also combine one or more of the grid’s numerical columns. Users have the option to view the average, minimum, maximum, or sum of the numbers in each column. This aggregate value will also be shown for each group if grouping has been used. When an entity is set up to use the pipeline view or the read-only grid component by default, these features are activated. You must enable this behavior for other instances that require manual configuration by utilizing the Enable grouping and Enable aggregation options. Column headers allow users to aggregate and combine columns. Only column types that support these operations have options. Simple column rearrangingThe ability of users to rearrange columns directly within the grid is determined by the Allow column reordering property. This includes using the Move left and Move right actions from column header dropdown menus, as well as the ability to drag and drop column heads.Redesigned list mode styleThe Power Apps grid control’s list mode has been modified to conform to Fluent styling, with adjustments made to the font size and weight to denote the relative importance of each field in the list.List mode sorting is supportedUsers notice a new header row with a sort icon at the top of the list when using the Power Apps grid control in list mode. By clicking on this button, the user can select the sort direction and column from a menu. If column sorting is not supported by the grid, this option is suppressed.Command bar for nested gridWhen a row in the nested grid is chosen in the Power Apps grid control with configured nested grids, the correct command bar is now displayed.Column width can be set to a specific valueNow, using the column settings, you may adjust the column width to a certain pixel value. This makes it possible to set column width with just the keyboard.The ability to scroll endlessly while selecting every record On all contemporary grids, the option to choose all records will be present by default. This option will select up to 1000 records when used with infinite scroll. Conclusion:So now users will have more privilege while working with columns and data in grids and views. Now, you can adjust the column widths, aggregate the data, group the data, and more. A feature that greatly simplifies working with fields for average users. Thank you, Arvind Khadye for your valuable inputs to this blog.
Explore Dynamics 365 Sales vs. Sales piece in Project Operations: Crucial Distinctions to Remember
For most organizations running on Dynamics 365 (D365), the traditional Sales module and the specific Sales in Project Operations are some of their best options of choice. These solutions are designed to serve distinct purposes that are aligned with different business needs. In this article, we will delve into various particulars of these differences, or more specifically, what the Sales module has that Sales in Project Operations does not and vice versa. Dynamics 365 Sales: Towards More Efficient Product-Based Services and Relationship Management Dynamics 365 Sales is targeted towards product-based services and all-encompassing relationship management. The following are its distinguishing features: Sales in Project Operations, on the other hand, is appropriate for companies whose sales procedures are closely related to project management and service provision, such as: Whereas Dynamics 365 Sales is focused on sales team activities and basic tracking related to sales transactions like manage leads, opportunities, and customer interactions for product sales. Dynamics 365 Project Operations includes project planning, resource allocation, and financial tracking for service-based projects. It is used for Comprehensive management for project teams, including scheduling and utilization and detailed fiscal management, including project budgets, costs, and billing. BUSINESS SOLUTION: How to Choose the Right Solution for Your Business: Choosing between Dynamics 365 Sales or Sales in Project Operations depends on your industry focus, business model and specific operational needs. Therefore, if you are running a product-based business that requires advanced sales management capabilities such as relationship analytics, goal management among others with LinkedIn and SMS providers integration then you should opt for Dynamics 365 Sales (Sales Hub). On the other hand, if your firm operates within project-oriented sectors that require highly integrated selling procedures revolving around resource planning and project management, then you should go for Sales in Project Operations which comes with specialized tools that cater to these requirements exactly. CONCLUSION: Project Operations focuses on integrating sales operations with project management, whereas Dynamics 365 Sales handles more comprehensive CRM features and product sales management. Project operations serve the demands of sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and professional services, where project delivery and service execution are vital to sales success. Thanks, Kalyani for your valuable inputs!
Unlocking Insights: Microsoft’s New Timeline Highlights Feature
Microsoft has rolled out an exciting new feature that allows users to view key highlights of activities within Table record timelines, all powered by Generative AI. This feature is a game-changer for agents, enabling them to absorb crucial information efficiently and improving interactions with customers. #How It Works: The Timeline Highlights feature showcases relevant items in a clear, bulleted format, making analysis quick and reference easy. This not only speeds up decision-making but also fosters transparent interactions with customers. #Where You’ll Find It: You can access the Timeline Highlights feature in various apps, including Dynamics 365 Customer Service, Sales, Marketing, Field Service, and custom model-driven Power Apps. This ensures a seamless experience across the Dynamics 365 ecosystem. #Enabling or Disabling Timeline Highlights: Here is how you can enable or disable Timeline Highlights at the app level: Step 1: Open the Power Apps Maker Portal. Step 2: Select the desired environment. Step 3: Navigate & Open the relevant Solution (where your Model-driven app is located). Step 4: Access Model-Driven App’s Commands, Edit, and open in a new tab. Step 5: Click on Settings. Step 6: Go to Features. Step 7: Toggle “Enable Timeline Highlights” to Yes to enable the feature or No to hide it and click Save. Step 8: Open the Model-driven App. Step 9: Open any record in Account to see the Highlights feature. Step 10: Click on Copy to copy the Highlights text. Step 11: Use Regenerate to update the Highlights based on the latest activities. #Conclusion: With Timeline Highlights, accessing and understanding critical information has never been easier. Whether you’re managing customer interactions or analysing data, this feature empowers you to make informed decisions swiftly. Try it out today and streamline your workflow in Dynamics 365! Thank you, Sayantan for your valuable inputs in this blog!