Quick Start With Microsoft PowerApps

PowerApps

PowerApps is an enterprise service offered by Microsoft to app developers worldwide. We can connect, create, and share business apps with our team on any device (Mobile, Laptop, Tab) , through this service. Microsoft PowerApps was introduced by Microsoft Windows Azure to build applications on all platforms, like Windows, iOS, Android devices etc. It helps us to make a custom app also.

It’s a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution that allows companies to build business apps quickly and efficiently.

In PowerApps, you can generate an app automatically, customize it, create an app from templates, and share and run the apps. Here, others can create and share their apps with you, too.

Who can use PowerApps?

PowerApps can be used by any sort of industry, like Educational Places, Government Sectors, Corporations, Small scale companies, Startup Companies, etc.

PowerApps is very simple to create and use. It doesn't require deep technical knowledge or programming skills. So, the students or mobile App development beginners can very easily develop their apps through PowerApps.

When to use PowerApps?

If you want to instantly publish apps to the web or mobile, you can use PowerApps

When done, get your app in people’s hands. Publish it to your organization—no App Store is required. The app will run perfectly on the web and mobile, laptops, tablets, and phones.

If you have external data sources, you can turn your data into apps.

Connect to the existing data sources and services, like Excel files, SharePoint lists, CRM records, your custom APIs, Office 365, Dropbox, and OneDrive —to automatically generate a meaningful business app.

If you are a beginner having very basic programming skills for app development, use PowerApps

No code is required. You can start working as a Visual Designer to customize a fully functional app. Build an app that uses device capabilities, including- cameras, GPS, and pen control — without code.

Why use PowerApps?

Power Apps can also work with the data available on Excel sheets, survey forms, SharePoint, O365, etc., It has many advantages.

For Employees

We can quickly create apps that work on any device, using templates and a visual designer to automate the workflows and to make it work on all three major platforms, iOS, Android (preview), and Windows.

We use built-in connections, or ones built by your company, to connect PowerApps to cloud services, such as Office 365, Dynamics CRM, Salesforce, Dropbox, and OneDrive, and on-premises systems, including SharePoint, SQL Server, Oracle databases, SAP and more.

We can share PowerApps like documents.

For developers and IT professionals

You don’t need to write a single line of code.

PowerApps include Azure App Service for employee-facing apps, so native web, and mobile apps get into employee's hands faster than ever.

We build additional data connections and APIs to any existing business systems, thus empowering any users in your organization to create the apps they need.

Data security and privacy controls are respected by PowerApps, so you can manage data access and maintain corporate policies.

Limitations

PowerApps is still a Public Preview and might have certain limitations (cannot send Push notifications / Offline Sync etc won’t work for now).

How to build PowerApps?

You can start building mobile apps without writing a single line of code.

Developer Requirement

Download the PowerApps from the Windows Store.

Choose one of the existing templates or start from your own.

Then, choose the existing DataSource (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, etc.).

Edit the data in the templates and save it on the Cloud or Local Machine.

Start using it.

How do I install the app using PowerApps?

We download the PowerApps from the Windows Store for laptops. Download the app here.

Follow the below steps to build a PowerApp using a template.

Step 1. Go to the Windows Store and search the PowerApps through the search box.

PowerApps

Choose the PowerApps from the Windows Store.

Windows Store

Download the Apps.

Download the Apps

Step 2. Log into the PowerApps. Here, we need a Microsoft-related organization’s login ID, like Office 365 or MSDN, Microsoft, Skype, etc.

Microsoft

Step 3. In the Dashboard, click on the New button.

New button

Step 4. In the dashboard, we can see two different segments. The first one is for creating the app with the existing data, like Common Data Model, CRM, OneDrive, Salesforce, DropBox, Twitter, etc. The second one is to create the app with a Template or Blank canvas.

Let's go with the Template.

Template

Now, you can see the number of templates displayed in the screen. Click on anyone that you want.

Use

Step 5. Now, let's start designing the app. On the left side, we can see the individual screens for changing our data in templates. On the right side, we see the List of Layouts. At the top, we see the formula bar.

Designing the app

Step 6. Click on the File Menu. You will see the App Settings. Here, change the App Name, Icon, and color of the App.

App Name

Step 7. We have two options to save the app. We can save it on the Cloud or on the local machine.

Save

Step 8. Run the App.

Run the App

Output

Conclusion

I hope you understand how to quickly start with Microsoft PowerApps and how to run it.

2 Comments

Join the conversation! Your thoughts help the community grow.

subbarao yadali6y ago
Hi Madam,I want to learn power apps so which is the best institute to learn power apps or online classes.please suggest me Madam.
Raghav Bathula8y ago
Hi i am new to power app ..i have created the power app now the requirement is they need the notification for approval mail on top off the screen ? can you give any idea or if you know mean let me know.