How to generate Model-Driven and Canvas Apps with Copilot
Introduction In this blog, I’m going to share about an exciting capability in the Power Platform: generating Model-Driven and Canvas Apps with Copilot. Traditionally, creating apps required a lot of setup defining tables, building forms, and wiring up relationships before you could even start testing your idea. This process often slowed down makers who wanted to quickly translate business needs into working solutions. With Copilot, Microsoft has introduced a smarter way to begin. Instead of starting from scratch, you can describe your app in plain language, and Copilot will generate the core structure tables, forms, views, and layouts for you. It’s not meant to replace customization, but it gives you a strong starting point so you can spend less time on repetitive setup and more time shaping the features that matter most to your business. Problem Statement One of the biggest challenges with Model-Driven and Canvas Apps is the amount of upfront work required before you even have something usable. You need to define tables, set up relationships, and design forms and views. While this structure is powerful, it often slows down innovation. For organizations that want to quickly test ideas and turn them into business solutions, this initial setup can feel like a hurdle rather than a starting point. Solution Copilot helps bridge that gap. By using natural language, you can describe the kind of app you need, and Copilot will generate the basic structure for you. It cuts down the setup effort and lets you jump straight into refining and extending your app. Steps to Generate a Model-Driven App Using Copilot Step 1: Navigate to the Maker PortalGo to make.powerapps.com. Select Create → Start with Data. Step 2: Describe Your AppYou will be prompted to describe your app in around 200 characters. For example, try this prompt: “Create a model-driven app for managing projects, tasks, and approvals with entities for Projects, Team Members, Status, and automated workflows for notifications and reporting.” Copilot will generate a draft app plan for you. Step 3: Refine the PlanAfter the first iteration, you can keep adding details in natural language to refine the entities, relationships, and features. For instance, you might add requirements for resources, deadlines. Step 4: Save and Choose Your App TypeOnce satisfied with the generated plan, select Save and Open App. The dropdown gives you an option to choose between a Canvas App and a Model-Driven App. For this walkthrough, we’ll select a Model-Driven App. Step 5: Review and ExtendYour model-driven app is now ready. While Copilot generates the core entities and relationships, it might not cover every required field or customization. You can easily extend the app by: Final Thoughts Copilot doesn’t replace the need for thoughtful design, but it dramatically reduces the time and effort required to get started. Instead of spending hours on setup, makers can focus on building value-driven features, refining user experiences, and aligning apps with organizational goals. As the feature matures, it will become an assistant in the low-code toolkit making app creation faster, smarter, and more accessible for everyone. In the meantime, makers are encouraged to experiment with its limits and capabilities to fully understand its potential. Thank you, Aslin for your inputs to this blog.
How to configure the Feature Release Setup in Power-Apps (preview)
Title: Feature Release Setup (preview)IntroductionIn Power Apps, configuring release channels is crucial for balancing stability with access to new features. Release channels allow app makers to choose update cadences that best fit their organization’s needs, whether they want regular, incremental updates or less frequent, more stable releases. The right configuration can ensure that new features and improvements are introduced thoughtfully, minimizing disruption.Description Power Apps offers a variety of release channels that cater to different needs:• Monthly Channel: Updates are delivered every week, typically the fastest way to access new features and updates.• Semi-Annual Channel: Updates are pushed less frequently, making it suitable for production environments needing higher stability. Each environment, app, and user can be assigned a release channel to control when and how updates are received. This granularity helps organizations manage updates across different departments or roles, tailoring the release strategy based on users’ requirements. Why Choose a Release Channel? Choosing the correct release channel depends on factors like testing requirements, user roles, and how critical app stability is to business operations. For example, development or test environments might use the Monthly channel to stay on top of the latest updates, while production environments might prefer the Semi-Annual channel to ensure that updates are well-tested before deployment. Default and Custom Settings•New apps and environments default to the Monthly Channel.• Custom release channel configurations override the default settings, giving admins greater control over when updates occur. How to Configure Release Channels? Configuring a release channel involves specifying settings at different levels (environment, app, or user levelThe release channel for model-driven apps can be changed in two primary ways:• Environment channel• App channel In addition, the release channel can be overridden with either of these options: •` User channel override• Browser session channel override Channel Release Order of OperationsThe following order determines which setting controls the release channel: 1. URL Override: Takes highest priority.2. User Channel Override: Applies if set.3. App Release Channel: if set to a specific value like Monthly or Semi-annual, rather than auto).4. Environment Release Channel: if set to a specific value like Monthly or Semi-annual, rather than Auto.5. Default to Auto: Applies when both app and environment release channels are set to Auto. Step-by-Step Guide: Configuring the Release Channel1. Set the Environment-Level Channel:o In Power Platform Admin Center, navigate to Environments.o Select the target environment.o In the settings ➔ Behavior, choose the desired release channel (Monthly or Semi-Annual). 2.App-Level Configuration:o Open https://make.powerapps.com.o Under Solutions open an existing solution containing a model-driven app.o Open the app in the app designer.o For app-level control, makers can go to the specific app settings in Power Apps.o Under General Settings, there is an option to set the release channel.o This ensures that the app follows a different update cadence than the environment default, if required. 3. User-Level Channel Changes:o Individual users can modify their release channel settings by navigating to Settings in the Power Apps maker portal.o This setting is beneficial for testing new features without impacting the entire environment or app. 4. Session-Level Adjustments (Browser-based):o Users can modify the release channel for a single session by appending the ?channel=desiredchannel parameter in the URL (for example, ?channel=Monthly).o This is useful for testing purposes without altering the overall settings. 5. Applying Changeso Any change made to the release channel requires users to refresh their browser to take effect immediately.o For larger environments, it’s advised to test updates in a dedicated environment before rolling out changes across all users. ConclusionConfiguring release channels in Power Apps provides essential flexibility, allowing organizations to tailor update schedules based on stability and feature needs. This flexibility can help mitigate the risks associated with frequent updates while ensuring that users have access to the latest tools. By carefully managing release channels, organizations can enhance productivity and maintain control over their app’s user experience. Thank you, Subhash for your valuable inputs to this blog.
Speed Up Form Filling with Smart Paste (preview)
“I have been annoyed by the time-consuming process of completing forms and wished I could just take the data straight from an existing note, document, or email?” Now in preview for model driven apps, Copilot’s new smart paste feature will speed up and simplify the form fill process. The purpose of smart paste is to make form-filling as easy as copying and pasting. You can now fill out forms with ease using the data you already have, which will save you time and cut down on mistakes. Prepare yourself to manage forms in a more intelligent, efficient, and user-friendly manner.Consider the following scenario: you need to fill out a form with content from an email, document, or note. You can now just copy the text to your clipboard rather than painstakingly entering it all in. Simply use the regular paste shortcut (CTRL+V or CMD+V) or click the smart paste button without selecting any particular fields. Copilot makes suggestions inline within the form by analyzing the form and the copied content to determine what text might be used to fill in particular fields. The recommendations that suit you can be reviewed and accepted; as usual, nothing is kept unless you give your approval. Suggestions will be immediately discarded if they are ignored, and the ability to clear all of the form’s suggestions will be added in future.Users can select the smart paste button or use the keyboard shortcut to receive suggestions for fields. Text, choice, date, and number fields are the ones that Smart Paste currently supports. It is also not possible for Copilot to enter data in any fields that have field security enabled. Arabic,Chinese (Simplified), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English (US), Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, and Turkish are among the languages that Smart Paste supports.How to enable it?By making the following two changes in the Power Platform admin center, under Settings > Product > Features > AI form fill assistance section, you can leverage smart paste in your model-driven apps:1. In the Enable this feature for field, make sure that All users immediately is selected.2. Set Enable smart paste (Preview) to On. In conclusion, the new Smart Paste feature from Copilot is a game-changer for anyone who finds the process of filling out forms time-consuming and repetitive. By allowing users to seamlessly copy and paste data from existing documents, emails, or notes, Smart Paste streamlines the form-filling experience. It reduces errors, saves time, and ensures a more efficient workflow by automatically suggesting relevant data for each form field. Whether you’re dealing with text, choice, date, or number fields, Smart Paste is designed to make form management easier and more intelligent. With support for multiple languages and a focus on user privacy and control, Copilot’s Smart Paste is poised to enhance productivity and provide a smoother, more intuitive form-filling experience. Thank you, for your valuable inputs Arvind!
🌟 Introducing the Cool and Crisp Makeover for Model-Driven Apps! 🚀🎨
Hey, app aficionados! Get ready to jazz up your model-driven apps because they’re getting a snazzy, modern, and totally refreshed look! 🌈✨ 🎉 What’s the Buzz? Turn on the “Try the new look” feature, and voila! Your Model-Driven Apps will be rocking updated styling, with cooler fonts, trendier colors, and even some magical shadows. It’s like giving your apps a makeover to align perfectly with the latest Microsoft Fluent design system. 🎨✨ 🚀 Why the Hype? This revamped look isn’t just for show – it’s designed to make your app experience smoother and more efficient. Imagine updated styling in form, view, and dashboard pages, creating an elevated, almost floating appearance! It’s not just a makeover; it’s an app revolution! 💻🚀 🔮 What’s in the Modern Magic Kit? 🎨 Command Bar Couture! Check out the floating command bar – it’s like the runway of your app, with rounded corners and consistent spacing. This isn’t just an update; it’s a fashion statement for your app’s command bar! 👩🎤💄 👀 View Pages that Wow! View pages are now the rockstars of your app. With a sleek command bar and the Power Apps grid control for infinite scrolling, data browsing just got a whole lot cooler. Your app just became the VIP lounge of data interaction! 🕶️📊 📋 Form Pages – Redefined Elegance! Form pages are strutting their stuff with a new command bar and refreshed headers, tabs, and business process flows. Quick views, card forms, and timelines also got a makeover. It’s not just a page; it’s a form of art! 🎨📝 💡 Field Controls – Styled to Perfection! Field controls like text input, lookup, and checkboxes are now the supermodels of Fluent design. Icons have shifted to the right for that perfect balance, and redundant icons have hit the road for a cleaner look. Your app’s fields just got a glow-up! 💅🌟 📊 Dashboard Page – Where Data Meets Glam! System dashboards are now flaunting the new command bar and a style that matches form and view pages. Monthly channel users get the Power Apps grid control for a dashboard that’s not just informative but also Instagram-worthy! 📸✨ 🚀 Activate the Glam! End-users, it’s your time to shine! Hit the “Try the new look” switch in the app header, and your app will transform into a modern marvel. Don’t worry; you can switch back anytime. It’s like having a magic button for your app’s wardrobe! ✨🔄 🚧 Limitations – Keepin’ It Real! Okay, so the mobile and mail apps are taking a rain check on the glam party. Also, classic theme customizations are making way for a new era. Change can be challenging, but it’s all for the greater good of app evolution! 🔄📱 Get ready to turn heads and elevate your app game because the future of model-driven apps is here, and it’s looking fresher than ever! 🚀💻✨ Thank you, Sayantan, 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.