To build a basic canvas app in Power Apps, you can follow these steps:
- Start Power Apps Studio or go to powerapps.microsoft.com.
- Select ‘Canvas App’ and choose a blank app template.
- Choose the ‘Phone’ or ‘Tablet’ layout depending on the target device.
- In the right-side panel, add controls like text boxes, dropdowns, buttons, and other components as required.
- Connect the app to a data source like SharePoint, Excel, or a custom API.
- Set up formula-based logic for controls and buttons using the formula bar.
- Test the app by previewing it in the app simulator.
- Publish the app to share it with others or integrate it into other solutions.
Types of Data sources
Canvas apps in Microsoft Power Platform can connect to a variety of data sources including:
- Common data service (CDS) or dataverse
- SharePoint lists and libraries
- OneDrive for Business
- SQL Server databases
- Excel files
- Dynamics 365 apps
- Other cloud services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Salesforce.
These data sources can be used to retrieve, create, update, and delete data within the canvas app.
Connecting data using Connectors
Canvas apps in Power Apps can connect to various data sources to fetch data and display it in the app. The types of connectors available in Power Apps include:
- Common Data Service (CDS) Connector: This connector provides access to data stored in the Common Data Service, which is a cloud-based data platform that enables app building and data management.
- SharePoint Connector: This connector provides access to SharePoint data and allows you to retrieve data from SharePoint lists, files, and other data types.
- Excel Connector: This connector allows you to connect to an Excel workbook stored on OneDrive or SharePoint and retrieve data from the workbook.
- SQL Connector: This connector provides access to data stored in SQL Server and allows you to fetch data from SQL Server databases.
- Salesforce Connector: This connector provides access to data stored in Salesforce and allows you to fetch data from Salesforce objects such as contacts, leads, and opportunities.
- OneDrive Connector: This connector provides access to data stored in OneDrive and allows you to fetch data from OneDrive files such as Excel workbooks, Word documents, and images.
There are many other connectors available in Power Apps, each with specific capabilities and use cases. These connectors allow you to fetch data from different data sources, which can then be used in your canvas app to create dynamic, data-driven experiences.
Create an app from data
A canvas app in Power Apps can be created from data by connecting to a data source, such as Excel, SharePoint, Dynamics 365, or other sources. The steps to create a canvas app from data are as follows:
- Choose the data source: The first step is to choose the data source you want to use for the canvas app. You can use various data sources, such as Excel, SharePoint, Dynamics 365, or other sources.
- Connect to the data source: After choosing the data source, you can connect to it using the relevant connector. You can connect to the data source by entering the connection details, such as the URL and credentials.
- Create the app: Once you have connected to the data source, you can create the canvas app. You can choose the app layout, and add controls, such as text boxes, drop-down lists, and checkboxes, to capture user input.
- Bind data to controls: You can bind the data from the data source to the controls in the canvas app. This will allow the app to display data and provide the ability to update or add data to the data source.
- Preview and publish: Once the app is created and data is bound to the controls, you can preview the app to ensure it works as expected. If everything is working as expected, you can publish the app for others to use.
By using a canvas app, you can quickly create an app that provides a user-friendly interface for accessing data from a data source and enables users to update or add data to the data source.
Use controls to design user experience
Controls in Power Apps are used to design the user interface and experience of a canvas app. There are different types of controls available, including text input controls, sliders, drop-down lists, checkboxes, buttons, images, and more. Controls can be customized to suit specific design requirements, such as adjusting font size, color, and formatting. When building a canvas app, it’s important to choose the right control for the right purpose and to ensure that the controls are arranged in a logical and intuitive manner. The selection and arrangement of controls affect the overall look and feel of the app, as well as the ease of use for the end user.
Publish and share an app
Publishing and sharing a canvas app can be done in the following steps:
- From the Power Apps studio, go to File > Share > Sharepoint or Teams.
- Choose the desired option for sharing: Publish to the organization or Share as a custom app.
- Fill out the necessary information, such as the app name and description, and click on Publish.
- For sharing as a custom app, invite users or groups by entering their email addresses, and selecting the desired access level: edit or run.
- The published or shared app can now be accessed by others through SharePoint or Teams and can be added as a tab in Teams or embedded in a SharePoint page.
Note: It is important to have the proper licensing and access to the environments used for sharing and publishing. The level of access for users can also be managed and updated as needed.