This document provides an overview and demonstration of PowerApps. It begins by listing reasons to use PowerApps such as working across devices and having over 200 connectors. It then demonstrates how to create an app from data like a SharePoint list, customize SharePoint forms, tour the canvas interface, use different controls, work with data, and set variables. Key concepts discussed include how formulas pull rather than push values and using properties and intellisense. References for additional learning are also provided.

1. POWERAPPS JUMPSTART
SANDY USSIA
#SPSSTHLM, SEPT 1, 2018

2. Thank you sponsors!

3. POWERAPPS JUMPSTART
SPS STOCKHOLM #SPSSTHLM

4. About Me

5. WHY POWERAPPS?
 Work where you work
 Designed for mobile devices (but also browser)
 Over 200 Connectors available
 No/Low code
 Successor to InfoPath for SharePoint forms
Have you tried
PowerApps yet?
Objective of this session
Show you around PowerApps, give
you some ideas of how you can go
further

6. GETTING STARTED
Create from data
(e.g. SharePoint list)
– automatic 3-
screen app
Create from one of
the templates, and
learn from it
Customize forms in a
SharePoint list
https://powerapps.Microsoft.co
m
NEW!
Model-driven
apps
… or start from blank

7. CREATE FROM DATA (DEMO)
Automatically gives you a 3-screen “working” app, but you’ll likely want to make a few initial
changes.
 Edit the gallery layout - default is (now) “Title, Subtitle, and body”, but perhaps the fields need to be
rearranged
 Edit the fields being displayed (on each screen)
 NOTE: An app created based on a SharePoint list will show up as an available View for that list, to users
with whom the app has been shared.

8. CUSTOMIZE SHAREPOINT FORMS (DEMO)
Automatically gives you a single Form screen with New/Edit/View modes
 Change the screen size and orientation under App Settings (Landscape/Large makes a nice SharePoint list
pane). Best to change this first before laying out fields.
 Use the Data pane to select which fields to display. Use Snap to columns and Horizontal/Vertical Layout to
make easy layout changes.
 Each field is displayed on a “card”, which can be unlocked to make changes. Use the Visible property to
conditionally display a field (example: Parent.DisplayMode=“view”). Set DisplayMode to
DisplayMode.View to make a field non-editable (view-only).
 The SharePointIntegration object is what ties it to your SharePoint list. Use List Settings > Form Settings to
switch back to the standard SharePoint form.
 Customized forms are not currently available to external (guest) users.
 NOTE: These “apps” are not available in the list of Apps – they only work within the context of the SharePoint
list, in the browser or in the SharePoint mobile app. However, admins can see a list of PowerApps-customized
forms in the Admin Center.
SharePoint form customization reference:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/customize-list-

9. CANVAS TOUR (DEMO/APP)

10. CONTROLS (DEMO/APP)
A control is
any object
you add to
the canvas
Properties of one control can
be referenced in another
control. Example:
txtNameInput.Text
Also, a control can reference
its own properties.
It’s a good practice to
rename controls
meaningfully right after
creating them. (Renaming
later also works.)
Example: btnSubmit
Controls documentation:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/reference-
Values are generally pulled,
not pushed. So enter a
formula in the control you
wish to affect.
Exception: “On” properties
(OnSelect, OnStart, etc)

11. DATA (DEMO/APP)
 Data source: connection to data. Not only lists of data, but also includes things like O365 Users or Bing
maps. Access connections via the View menu, or from within a control such as a Gallery.
 Gallery and Data Table controls display data sets
 Collection: temporary storage of data in an array (table)

12. VARIABLES
 Set (global scope): Set(YourVariableName, SomeValue)
 UpdateContext (screen scope): UpdateContext({YourVariableName: SomeValue})
Variable reference: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/working-with-
variables

13. IMPORTANT BASIC CONCEPTS
 Remember that a “button” can also be a Label or an Image.
 You can access all properties of a control either in the right pane, or in the properties dropdown.
 Select multiple controls to quickly set common properties. Ctrl-C/Ctrl-V to copy/paste controls. Group
controls to display/hide them together using the Visible property.
 Formulas are in the controls which they affect, not where you might enter data. For example, the Search
box in a pre-built app is referred to in the Gallery where you want the results displayed, so the formula
(what to search) goes in the Items property of the Gallery. Values are pulled, not pushed.
 Intellisense, colors, and tooltips are your friends when writing formulas.
 Complex fields (such as O365 users or SharePoint lookup columns) usually require a modifier in a
formula (e.g. Brewery.Value or Office365Users.UserProfile(aUserEmail).JobTitle)

14. REFERENCES
 Documentation for canvas apps
 List of Connectors
 PowerApps Community forums
 New PowerApps User Group!
 Microsoft Guided Learning (series of brief videos)
 Audrie Gordon’s YouTube channel
 Community resources: Shane Young, Dan Christian, Paul Culmsee, Laura Rogers, me…

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