New Insights into PowerApps Model Driven Apps Design
Introduction: With constant innovation in technology, tools like PowerApps are continually evolving. The recent enhancement in the PowerApps model driven app designer showcases the dedication of Microsoft towards providing a seamless app development experience. Dive in as we unravel the brand-new features of this designer.
On June 8, 2021, Microsoft, at their Build conference, unveiled a cutting-edge Power Apps designer which is speculated to eventually integrate the distinct canvas and model driven app designers. The spotlight of this development is the WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) design experience it offers for model driven apps. Excitingly, a preview of this designer is currently available, and we’re about to delve into its highlights.
Accessing the New Designer
To initiate a new app using this modernized designer, select the ‘modern app designer’ when you are about to create an app. For those looking to modify an existing app, simply click on Edit, followed by the ‘Edit in preview’ option present in the app list.
Exploring the Designer Components
The design now exhibits the exact appearance of the app during runtime. The left panel of the designer consists of:
- Pages: Ideal for crafting and supervising the app pages.
- Navigation: A tool for administrating the navigation or menu items of an app.
- Data: Showcases the tables used in the application.
At the top, there are options to modify the app settings. For those comfortable with the older version, switching back is just a click away with the ‘switch to classic’ button.
Refining App Settings
The settings option displays a dialog, allowing users to assign the app’s name and description. However, the icon and welcome page adjustments still require the classic designer.
Managing App Pages
The pages section grants full control over the app pages. With it, users can insert ‘table based view and form’ pages or dashboards. An anticipated feature is the inclusion of the ‘canvas app’ page.
Defining App’s Menu Items
From the navigation interface, one can organize the app’s navigation or menu items. You can either add a group or a subarea, a terminology consistent with the older designer’s ‘site map’.
Handling App Data
The Data section presents the active tables in the app and offers access to all Dataverse tables. An edit option against each table directs the user to the table designer in a fresh browser tab.
Conclusion: The revamped PowerApps model driven app designer is a leap ahead of its predecessor. The WYSIWYG approach and intuitive terminology make it user-friendly. Such enhancements are bound to make model driven apps even more popular among Power App enthusiasts.
Need assistance with the new PowerApps Model Driven Apps or any technical challenge? Feel encouraged to contact us. Our experts are ready to guide and offer solutions tailored to your needs.