Presentation Style: Tutor-led Classroom Training Course: On-Site at Your Office
Duration: 1 Day
Course Time: 09:30 - 16:30hrs
Course location: Northampton
Cost: Closed Courses: £850 + VAT for up to 12 delegates
Click a date to book: Call 01604 655900 for available dates

Building Applications with Canvas & Model-Driven Power Apps

Learning Objectives:


By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
  • Understand the key differences between Canvas and Model-Driven apps
  • Build a basic Canvas app connecting to external data sources
  • Build a basic Model-Driven app leveraging Dataverse
  • Know when to use Canvas apps vs Model-Driven apps based on business scenarios

Target Audience

Business users, app developers, and IT professionals with basic knowledge of Microsoft Power Platform and Office 365.

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of Power Platform (Power Automate, Power Apps, Dataverse)
  • Familiarity with Microsoft 365 and cloud-based data services (SharePoint, Excel, etc.)

Course Agenda


Module 1: Introduction to Power Apps

Overview of Power Platform:

  • What is Power Apps?
  • Understanding Low-Code/No-Code Development
  • Introduction to Canvas and Model-Driven Apps
  • Scenarios for using each type of app

Module 2: Getting Started with Canvas Apps

Canvas App Overview:

  • What is a Canvas app?
  • Use cases for Canvas apps

Building Your First Canvas App (Hands-on):

  • Connecting to data sources (e.g., SharePoint, Excel, Dataverse)
  • Creating a blank app and adding screens
  • Using the drag-and-drop interface to design the app
  • Adding basic controls (buttons, text boxes, galleries, etc.)
  • Writing simple formulas to add logic (e.g., button click actions)

Module 3: Advanced Features of Canvas Apps

Exploring More Features:

  • Designing multi-screen apps
  • Working with different data sources simultaneously
  • Managing app navigation and variables
  • Introduction to app themes, formatting, and responsive design


Real-World Example:

  • Build a simple app to track employee tasks or expenses

 

Module 4: Introduction to Model-Driven Apps

Model-Driven Apps Overview:

  • What is a Model-Driven app?
  • Use cases for Model-Driven apps
  • Comparison with Canvas apps

Understanding Dataverse:

  • Introduction to Dataverse as the data source for Model-Driven apps
  • Key components: Tables, columns, relationships


Module 5: Building Your First Model-Driven App

Building a Basic Model-Driven App (Hands-on):

  • Setting up tables and relationships in Dataverse
  • Creating forms, views, and dashboards
  • Automating processes with business rules and workflows
  • Adding charts and visualisations


Real-World Example:

  • Build a simple CRM-like app to manage customer data and sales leads

 

Module 6: Comparing Canvas and Model-Driven Apps

Key Differences:

  • Flexibility vs. Structure
  • Custom design vs. Prebuilt components
  • Connecting multiple data sources vs. Working within Dataverse

When to Choose Canvas vs. Model-Driven Apps:

  • Business scenarios
  • Decision-making framework based on app requirements

 

Module 7: Final Project

Hands-on Project:

  • Participants choose either a Canvas app or a Model-Driven app to build a solution for a specific business need (e.g., employee management, inventory tracking, service requests)
  • Optional presentations of projects

 

Additional Information

  • Joining instructions will be sent prior to attending the course