Module 1: An Introduction to PowerApps - Let s get started
with an introduction to Microsoft PowerApps. Traditionally building customised
solutions for a business involved using a coding language to build an
application from scratch. Typically, these solutions could often only be used
within the business, making external use of the application a large hurdle to
overcome. With PowerApps we can now not only easily build solutions, but we can
also share them with users in our business. Deployment takes seconds and you
could by testing your own app on your phone in no time. This module will
overview the features of PowerApps, its benefits to a business and the variety
of ways you can build and access your apps on different devices.
Lessons:
- What is PowerApps
- The benefits of apps
- How to get PowerApps
- Canvas Apps and Model-Driven Apps
- License Options and Costs
- Discover PowerApps with Templates
Module 2: Getting Started with PowerApps - To begin our
journey through the PowerApps product, we will begin by looking at some of the
templates that are available to view and edit. Microsoft s templates are a good
starting point to discover what the product is capable off and how it can be
achieved. We will also take the chance to have a tour of the editor so that
students are familiar with the interface that they will be using over the
two-day course. We will then build our first app from a static data source,
showing students how to test their changes in the app instantly without the need
to publish. We will also discuss how to configure your apps settings and how to
access the app once it has been saved and shared.
Lessons:
- Building a new app from a data source
- Add, edit and remove controls
- Intro to Formulas
- Testing an app
- App Settings
- Publish and Share Apps
- Version History and Restore
- PowerApps Mobile App
Module 3: Branding and Media - In our next module, we will
look at the options available to designers that allow them to implement their
business branding. Not only will this deal with the aesthetics of your app, it
will also introduce time-saving tips to help keep your branding consistent. We
will also be discussing how to embed media into your app which can be useful if
you are planning on an app that might promote video content.
Lessons:
- Less is more
- Duplicate Screens
- Fonts
- Screen Colours and Matching Colours
- Screen Backgrounds
- Buttons and Icons
- Hide on Timer
- Size and Alignment by reference
- Show and Hide on Timer
Module 4: PowerApps Controls - So far in the course, we
would have covered the basics of adding, editing and removing controls from our
applications. The drive behind this module is to provide more depth on the
categories of controls which can be used on a form. Your instructor will take
you through each control and discuss its purpose and configuration. Tackling the
wide selection of controls will help students recognise when to use the right
control.
Lessons:
- Text Controls for Data Entry and Display
- Controls Drop downs, combo box, date picker, radio button and
more
- Forms Add and edit data in underlying data sources quickly
- Charts present information in pie, line and bar charts
Module 5: Data Sources and Logic - To help maintain and view
essential business information, organisations often have a diverse selection of
locations to keep different types of data. This could range from databases to
file storage locations. PowerApps offers connections to a wide selection of data
sources. We will show students to build their PowerApps to bring in data from a
variety of sources as well as how they can utilise the common data source, a
storage location unique to PowerApps.
Lessons:
- Data Storage and Services
- How do I decide which database to use
- Connect to on-premises data - Gateway
- What is Delegation
- Specific Data Examples
- Displaying Data
Module 6: Model-Driven Apps - Module one to five discussed
how to work with the original type of PowerApp known as a Canvas App, Microsoft
have now introduced a second type of app known as a model-driven app. Model
driven apps involve a different development process to canvas apps. We will
review this development process during this module. Model-Driven apps can be
quicker to build than canvas apps, but they are less customisable and typically
have a higher cost, knowing which type of app to use is not always a simple
decision, we will show you the pros and cons of each.
Lessons:
- What is a model-driven app
- Where will my data be stored
- How do create a model-driven app
- Canvas vs model-driven summary
Module 7: PowerApp Integration - PowerApps is designed to
easily connect to other business systems to read and update information. In this
module we will discuss some simple ways to integrate PowerApps with key Office
365 systems including Teams, SharePoint Online and Flow. The result, is the
ability to use a combination of systems to create solutions for a variety of
business requirements.
Lessons:
- Embed PowerApps in Teams
- Embed PowerApps in SharePoint Online
- Start a Flow from a PowerApp
Module 8: Administration and Maintenance of PowerApps - In
our last module for Microsoft PowerApps, we will be looking at how a business
can manage their existing apps. This could be using analytics to discover usage
trends. We will discover how to export and import apps, so they can be reused in
other locations. Finally, we will discuss how Office 365 administrators can
shape the PowerApps experience with high-level settings that help ensure data
segregation and security.
Lessons:
- Identify which users have been using PowerApps
- Reuse an app in another location (move from testing or development
to production)
- Review app usage
- Prevent a user from using PowerApps
- Manage environments
