App in a Day

In this module, Andrew introduces the Power Platform, focusing on building Power Apps, incorporating Power Automate, and understanding Dataverse. He emphasizes that the platform is designed for users of all skill levels, from beginners to pro developers, and highlights its low-code nature, which allows for easy app creation and automation of repetitive tasks.

In this module, Andrew introduces Microsoft Power Apps as a key component of the Power Platform, showcasing its role in enabling digital transformation through low-code application development. You’ll learn how Power Apps streamlines business processes, reduces development costs, and integrates seamlessly with tools like Power BI and Power Automate. Through hands-on projects, Andrew guides you step-by-step in building a coffee machine ordering app, including a Canvas app for employees, a model-driven app for administrative tasks, and a Power Automate flow for approvals. You’ll explore essential skills like organizing projects within solutions for effective lifecycle management, connecting to data sources like Excel, and customizing galleries to display dynamic content. Additionally, Andrew demonstrates how to create new screens, set up navigation buttons, and use conditional logic to enhance user interactivity. By the end of this module, you’ll have a strong foundation in Power Apps development, from data integration to user-friendly app design.

In this module, Andrew explores Microsoft Dataverse as a central cloud-based data storage solution within the Power Platform, optimized for use with Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI. You’ll begin by understanding Dataverse’s core capabilities, including standard tables, custom columns, and relationships, while learning how role-based security and business rules ensure effective data management. Andrew then guides you through creating and customizing Dataverse tables, emphasizing the importance of data types, behaviors, and naming conventions to avoid confusion in Power FX. Practical applications include building a custom table for managing machine order requests, adding calculated columns, and automating fields like estimated ship dates. You’ll also connect a Canvas app to a Dataverse table, configuring forms to retain and display order information, streamline user input, and enhance usability with success screens. Finally, Andrew introduces Microsoft’s Copilot AI, demonstrating its ability to automate app creation with detailed prompts, such as collecting expense reports for employees purchasing Microsoft devices. By the end of this module, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of Dataverse’s functionalities and its seamless integration within the Power Platform.

In this module, Andrew introduces the concept and development of model-driven apps within the Microsoft Learn Lab, showcasing their data-first approach and focus on functionality over design. You’ll learn how these apps utilize reusable components, business process flows, and server-side logic to create efficient and customizable solutions without coding. Andrew begins by guiding you through the setup of a model-driven app, “Machine Procurement,” where you’ll add navigation groups, pages, and key components based on Dataverse tables to enhance data tracking. Next, you’ll create a business process flow structured into distinct stages—such as machine request, order placement, and distribution—with conditional logic to handle scenarios like capital approval for orders over $10,000. You’ll then explore how to customize views and forms by adding new columns, editing layouts, and publishing changes to improve app functionality. Finally, Andrew demonstrates testing the machine procurement system by verifying machine orders and ensuring conditional logic works correctly. By the end of this module, you’ll be equipped to build, customize, and test model-driven apps while preparing for advanced automation processes with Power Automate.

In this module, Andrew introduces Power Automate as a powerful tool for automating workflows, enhancing efficiency, and integrating seamlessly with Power Apps and Microsoft Dataverse. You’ll start by learning the core components of a flow, including triggers, actions, and conditional logic, as Andrew demonstrates how to create an approval flow that automates manager approvals when new rows are added to Dataverse. He explains how to customize approval requests using dynamic content and deliver them via channels like Outlook and Teams. Building on this, you’ll incorporate conditional logic to handle approval outcomes, ensuring the flow updates the Dataverse table and sends notifications based on whether a request is approved or rejected. Andrew further guides you through manual testing processes, emphasizing the importance of validating flows using platforms like Outlook, Teams, and the Power Automate portal. You’ll also enhance the flow to handle rejected requests, streamlining the process by copying actions and ensuring both approval and rejection paths are functional. Finally, Andrew demonstrates how to integrate Teams notifications, modifying the approval flow to send chat messages to requesters alongside email updates. By the end of this module, you’ll have developed a robust, end-to-end workflow automation system, reinforcing your skills and preparing you to streamline tasks across the Power Platform.

You did it! By completing our App in a Day course, you’ve taken a significant step toward mastering the Power Platform. You’ve learned how to build powerful, no-code/low-code applications with Power Apps, connect to data sources, and automate processes to create real-world solutions.