DEV Community: Mubashar1009

Power Platform Data-verse

Mubashar1009 — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 22:58:18 +0000

Dataverse

What is Dataverse

Dataverse is cloud base data platform for Microsoft Platform that is secure, scalable and globally available. It store data in the form of tables for apps. Tables are the building block of Dataverse.

Diagram

Tables Properties
Name: You can give any name to the table such as Person, Animal and Student etc.
Column: Column are used to store data of specific data type.
Row: A Specific record in your data.
Relationship: You can create relationship (link) between tables such as a relationship between Student and Teacher.
Key: Key is used to create relationship between tables. The Primary Key should be unique.
Forms: Forms are used to take data from the users in the Model-driven app.
View: View are used to show records to the users in the Model-driven app.
Charts: Charts are used to show visualization of the records.
Dashboard: Dashboard aggregate and display records in the different charts and filtered data.
Business Rules: Logic that is applied to column
Command: Customizable button shown in the command bar of Model-driven apps.

Diagram

Types of Tables in Dataverse

Standard Tables
These tables are pre-defined included with Dataverse. They are common across different businesses and organizations.
Custom Tables
The Tables created for specific business requirements are called Custom Table. These tables can be created from scratch or customize Standard Tables
Virtual Tables
The Table which retrieve data from external sources is called virtual Table. Virtual table is used for real-time integration from external data sources.
Restricted Tables
These Tables have restrictions on how it can be customized and used.
Activity Tables
These tables are used for tracking activities such as phone calls and appointments. These tables have additional properties such as time tracking.
Complex Tables
These tables are used for complex business logic and relationship. For example Sales Order.

Column Types

Text
Text column provide alphanumeric string
Plain Text Text value displayed in single line text box.
Text Area Text value displayed in Multi line text box. Text Area does not provide any text formatting such as bold and italic etc.
Rich Text Text value displayed in Multi line text box. Rich text provide text formatting such as bold and italic etc.
Email Text value that is validated as an email address.
Phone Number Text value that is validated as an phone number.
Ticker Symbol A text field that displays a link to MSN Money, showing a stock quote for the specified symbol. For example, entering "MSFT" would create a link that opens the stock quote page for Microsoft on MSN Money.
URL text value validated as http and https URL.
Number
Number data type store numeric values.
Whole Number
Whole Number data type store integer values.
None A number value presented into text box.
Timezone A number value presented as drop-down list that contain time intervals.
Duration A number value presented as drop-down list that contain time intervals.
Language A number value presented as a drop-down list that contain a list of languages.
Decimal A decimal value up to 10 decimal places, stored exactly same in the Dataverse.
Float A decimal value up to 5 decimal places.
Currency A currency data type store money value for any currency.
Currency(Base) A money value that is converted into base currency.
Exchange Rate A lookup column that is used to exchange rate to selected currency.
Date and Time
Date and Time column is used to store date and time values.
Format: 1) Date and Time: It show date and time. 2) Date only: It shows only date.
Reference
Lookup This column is used to create relationship with other tables.
Customer This Lookup column is used to specify a customer.
Choice
This column provide a set of options but can select only one option. We can create custom choice or use standard choice.
Choices
This column provide a set of options but we can select multiple options.
Yes/No
This column is a Boolean type. You can choose yes or no from this column.

File
This column is used to store files or images
File
This column is used to store files.
Image This column is used to store images.
AutoNumber
This column automatically generate alphanumeric strings. We can add prefix.
Behavior
Simple A column where user can enter value or select a option
Calculated A read-only column whose value is calculated from other columns

Roll Up A column that contain aggregated value from the tables rows or column in one-to-many relationship

Formula A column that used formula language to calculate the value of the value for the column.

Note
Columns can be configured with additional settings such as auditing, security, and more.
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Power Apps (Part 2 )

Mubashar1009 — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 05:31:50 +0000

Introduction to Power Apps

What is Power Apps

Power Apps is suit of Apps, connectors and data platforms that allow users to create custom apps without knowing any extensive coding knowledge

Apps

There are two types of Apps in Power Apps: Model-driven app and canvas app

Connectors

Connectors are used to link external sources to the apps. For example, if you want to connect share-points(used for saving data) to the apps then you would use a connector. There are many connectors which are available for connecting external data sources(Azure, share-points) to the apps

Data Platforms

Data Platforms act as data sources where we can store data, retrieve data and edit data, connectors are used to link apps to the external data sources, allowing seamless data integration

Diagram

Components of Power Apps

1. Dataverse: Data service that is used to store data
2. Business Rules: tools to apply logic to your data
3. Business Process Flow: Provide guides to ensure data enter consistently
4. Types of Apps: Canvas app and Model-driven app
5. Power Pages: Pages that allow you to create and manage websites
6. Power Automation : Helps to create automatic workflow
7. Power Virtual Agents: Tools to create chatbot that can interact with users

Diagram

Note
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Power Apps (Part 1 )

Mubashar1009 — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 11:16:45 +0000

OverView

Power Apps is such a platform where we can create and manage our apps and data and can connect to different data sources.Before more telling about Power Apps , first of all i will discuss when and why we use power apps instead of custom apps

Difference between Power Apps and Custom App

When We Should Power Apps

1.Clear and Simple Requirements
Power Apps are supposed not to manage complex requirements
2. Low Number of users
Power Apps handle limited number of users (team etc)
3. No SEO Needs
When we don't need SEO of our apps then we will use power apps instead of custom apps
4. Low Budget
When We can not afford any Developer and don't have a high budget then we will use power apps
5. No Need for updates
When our apps don't need any updates in the apps then we will go with Power Apps

When We Should Custom Apps

1.Complex Requirements
Custom Apps are supposed to manage complex requirements
2. High Number of users
Custom Apps can handle unlimited number of users
3. SEO Needs
Custom apps support SEO
4. High Budget
For developing custom apps, high budget require (for purchasing database, pay to developers etc )
5. App Maintenance
Custom Apps support app maintenance

You can simply see difference between power apps and custom apps through this diagram

Diagram

Conclusion

When we have simple requirements, low budget, no need of updates, no need of SEO and also have limited number of Users then we will use Power Apps instead of Custom Apps

in the Next Part we will discuss more about Power Apps

Note: if possible also give me your opinions about this article and Is it helpful for you or not ?