{Step by Step} New Features Offered by Microsoft Copilot in Canvas App

March 26, 2024April 26, 2024 deepeshsomani2013 canvas apps, Power Platform

In this blog we will check the new features of Microsoft Copilot for Canvas App, Microsoft Copilot stands out as a revolutionary feature for Canvas Apps, offering a trio of functionalities: Create, Change, and Ask. These features are designed to empower both developers and end-users with AI-powered capabilities, streamlining the app creation and usage process.

What do these features do?

To use these features, first you need to enable Microsoft Copilot.
Go to the settings of your Canvas App.
Search for “Copilot”, you will find “Copilot Component”.
Enable the “Copilot Component” by turning on the toggle button.

Now on the right side of your Canvas App, you will the Microsoft Copilot pane with these cool features.

Create :

The Create feature allows developers to rapidly build intelligent apps without the complexity of crafting custom AI models. By integrating Copilot, makers can leverage AI to analyze data within the app, providing a conversational experience that guides users through app functionalities and data insights.

This “Create” feature provides these functionalities.

Change:

With Change, developers have the flexibility to adapt their Canvas Apps on the fly. This feature enables makers to modify app components and data interactions based on user feedback or evolving business needs, ensuring that the app remains relevant and efficient.

“Change” feature offers these following actions.

In the following GIF, I’m using the “Change the color of the selected button to…” then I typed “red”.
And the color of the selected button got changed.

Ask:

The Ask feature transforms the way users interact with Canvas Apps. By utilizing natural language processing, users can query the app and receive AI-generated insights and answers. This not only enhances user engagement but also democratizes data analysis, making it accessible to a broader audience without technical expertise.

These features provide a descriptive response for explaining and performing certain tasks like : “What is gallery” and “How do I share my app?”

Together, these features represent a significant leap forward in app development and user interaction within the Power Apps ecosystem. Microsoft Copilot for Canvas Apps is not just a tool; it’s a game-changer that redefines the boundaries of what’s possible in app creation and utilization.

For those interested in implementing these features, it’s essential to note that they are currently in preview and subject to change. However, the potential they unlock for developers and users alike is immense, paving the way for more intuitive, intelligent, and interactive apps.

Hope it helps!

Power 365ing as usual!

Any requirements, implementation or consulting work in Power Platform or Dynamics 365 – end user, Microsoft partner or an individual?

Problem Area – Technical, Functional, Training, Development or consulting?

Me and my team are here to assist, please fill the following form for your business needs: Click here

{Step by Step} Enable Formula Suggestions in Columns

March 11, 2024March 13, 2024 deepeshsomani2013 Dynamics 365, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Power Platform

AI suggestion can save you time and effort when creating or updating calculated fields, especially if you are not familiar with the syntax or functions of the formula editor. AI suggestion can also help you discover new insights and possibilities from your data by suggesting formulas that you may not have thought of before. AI suggestion is a smart and convenient way to enhance your calculated fields with the power of AI

Implementation:

To enable this new feature, Go to the “Power platform admin center.”
Click on Environment, select your environment.
Now go to the “Settings”, click on “Features” under the “Product” section.
After enabling the “AI suggestions for formula columns”, scroll down and click on “Save”.

Now create a new column.
I already have 2 columns (Price and Number of units).
And now I’m creating a new column, to calculate the total price.
Select data type as “Formula”, and switch “Type a formula” to “Get a formula suggestions”.

Describe the formula you want in simple words.
You will get the formula suggested under the text box.

Copy formula and paste it in place of text.
Save and publish.

Hope it helps!

Power 365ing as usual!

Any requirements, implementation or consulting work in Power Platform or Dynamics 365 – end user, Microsoft partner or an individual?

Problem Area – Technical, Functional, Training, Development or consulting?

Me and my team are here to assist, please fill the following form for your business needs: Click here

{Step by Step} Enable offline mode for Canvas App and sync data with Dataverse

March 6, 2024March 6, 2024 deepeshsomani2013 canvas apps, Dynamics 365, Power Platform

In this blog, we will learn about an exciting feature of the Canvas App which is the ability to use it offline. This means that you can create and run apps that work natively on your device without requiring a network connection. This feature is currently available only for Dataverse apps, but it opens up many possibilities for app makers and users.

Implementation:

For creating Canvas App offline, firstly we need to enable table to use as offline.
Go to the tables list.
Select the table you want to use as a data-source in Canvas App.
And open the properties.

In table properties, open advance options.
Scroll down and enable “Can be taken offline.”
Click on save.

Now create a new Canvas App.
Provide a title to your app and select format.

You need to enable offline feature in your Canvas App also.
Go to the “Settings.”
In “Upcoming features” you will get “Dataverse offline” feature, turn on the radio button.

Go to the General tab.
On the Can be used offline (Preview) section, select the Offline profile that contains the entity you want.
If you don’t have an existing Offline profile, choose Auto-generate to create one with the entity from the Canvas app.

Your offline profile will look like this.

Now go back to the app, a screen will automatically appear to sync offline data with a Globe icon, which helps user to know connectivity status.

On “Onselect” property of globe icon, you will get this fx function.

Switch(Connection.Sync,
   ConnectionSync.Connected, Notify("Your device is connected to the network, and your app is ready to work offline.",NotificationType.Success), 
   ConnectionSync.ConnectedWithWarning, Notify(Connection.LastSyncMessage,NotificationType.Warning),
   ConnectionSync.ConnectedPendingUpsync, Notify("Some data on your device must be synchronized with the server.",NotificationType.Warning),
   ConnectionSync.ConnectedError, Notify(Connection.LastSyncMessage,NotificationType.Error),
   ConnectionSync.ConnectedRefresh, Notify("Your app is currently synchronizing data with the server.",NotificationType.Information),
   ConnectionSync.NotConnected, Notify("Your device is not connected to the network, but you can keep using this app.",NotificationType.Success), 
   ConnectionSync.NotConnectedWithWarning, Notify(Connection.LastSyncMessage,NotificationType.Warning),
   ConnectionSync.NotConnectedPendingUpsync, Notify("Some data on your device must be synchronized with the server. Reconnect to the network to synchronize.",NotificationType.Warning),
   ConnectionSync.NotConnectedSyncError, Notify(Connection.LastSyncMessage,NotificationType.Error))