Understanding how to create and modify views in the Microsoft Power Platform is a fundamental skill required for the PL-900 certification exam. In Microsoft Power Platform, “views” are a set of records shown in a list. They help to organize the data in a meaningful way for users – resembling an Excel worksheet with rows and columns. The data in views can come from one or more entities.
How to Create a View
Creating a view is about setting a series of rules and parameters that filter and organize the platform data. The following are steps to creating a view:
- In the Power Apps portal, go to Data > Tables, select the required entity, and then click on the ‘Views’ tab.
- Click New view > enter a name for your view, like “Active Contacts.”
- In the new view designer, you can add columns, sort them, filter them, and more. Click ‘Add columns’ to choose fields from the entity related to the view.
- Click ‘Done’ then click ‘Save and Close’ to finalize your new view creation.
How to Modify a View
Modifying a view involves altering its existing rules and parameters. To modify a view:
- In Data > Tables, select the required entity and then click on the ‘Views’ tab.
- From the list of views, select the one you aim to modify.
- In the view designer, you can make changes to the filtering criteria, sort order, columns displayed etc.
- Click ‘Done’ then click ‘Save and Close’ to apply your changes.
Remember, any changes made to a view will reflect across all places where the view is used.
Add and Remove Columns in a View
You have the freedom to control what data appears in a view by adding or removing columns. Here is how you do it:
- Open the view designer and click ‘Edit Columns’.
- To add a column, select ‘+ Add column’ and choose your column.
- To remove a column, hover over it and select the delete icon.
- After making changes, click ‘Done’ > ‘Save and Close’.
Sort View Data
Sorting view data is equally essential as it simplifies the interpretation of data.
- Open the view designer and select ‘Sort by column’.
- Select your desired column and order (ascending or descending).
- After making changes, click ‘Done’ > ‘Save and Close’.
Conclusion
Whether creating a new view or modifying an existing one, these powerful features help users to simplify data interpretation within the Microsoft Power Platform. Understanding how to effectively create and modify views is an essential skill for anyone preparing for the PL-900 exam.
Practice Test
In Microsoft Power Platform, views provide a way to customize the display of a list of records.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Views in Power Platform provide ways to create, save, and manage custom views of your data, thereby aiding in more specific and efficient data access.
The data that we see in views can be updated directly in Microsoft Power Platform.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Views do not allow for data to be updated directly. They provide customized views of data. To update the data, one has to open the data in its appropriate module.
There can only be a single view for a specific entity in the Microsoft Power Platform.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The platform allows multiple views to be created for a specific entity depending upon various user requirements.
Choose the correct steps to create a new view in Microsoft Power Platform:
- a) Open the entity for which you want to create a view
- b) Click on the ‘Create’ button in the top right corner
- c) Choose ‘View’ from the drop-down menu
- d) Name and configure the view
Answer: a, c, d
Explanation: To create a view, one needs to open the entity first, then click on ‘Views’ under ‘Data’, then click on ‘New’, then name and configure the view. There is no ‘Create’ button in the top right corner.
Changes you make in a view are automatically saved in Microsoft Power Platform.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: The platform does not automatically save changes made in a view. You have to manually click ‘Save’ for changes to be implemented.
You cannot use filters to modify views in Microsoft Power Platform.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Filters can be used to modify views, allowing users to see a subset of records that meet certain criteria.
It is possible to change the width of columns in a view.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: You can adjust the column width by dragging the edge of the column header.
Can you add a column in a view that displays data from a related entity?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: It is possible to add a column that displays data from a related entity in order to show more relevant information.
Public views can only be accessed by administrators.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Public views can be accessed by all users, not just administrators.
Modifying a system view will affect all users.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Any changes made to a system view will reflect for all the users that have access to the view.
You can delete a system view.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: System views are built-in views that cannot be deleted. However, they can be deactivated.
Can you use Quick find views to search data in specific fields only?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Quick find views allow you to search data based on specific fields defined in the view.
A view cannot be deactivated in the Microsoft Power platform.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: A view can be deactivated if it is no longer needed or to prevent users from using it.
You can define the sort order of the rows in a view.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The platform allows users to define the sorting order of record rows based on one or two columns in ascending or descending order.
You can share a view with specific users or teams.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Views can be shared with specific users or teams, providing them with access to custom views.
Interview Questions
What is the purpose of a view in Power Apps?
A view in Power Apps is a screen that shows specific fields from a number of records. It is used to structure, categorize, and present data in a way that is useful to users.
How can you modify an existing view in Power Apps?
You can modify an existing view in Power Apps by going to the entity in the Data section of the Power Apps maker portal, selecting Views, and then selecting the view that you want to modify.
What is a personal view in Power Apps?
A personal view in Power Apps is a custom view created by a user. It is only visible to that user but can be shared with other users if needed.
How do you create a new view in Power Apps?
In Power Apps, you can create a new view by navigating to the Data section of the maker portal, selecting Entities, choosing the entity you want to create a view for, and then clicking on the ‘New’ button.
Can you use quick find fields in the creation of views in Power Apps?
Yes, you can use quick find fields when creating views in Power Apps. Quick find fields allow users to search across multiple attributes of an entity at once.
What does the ‘Sort’ functionality do in the context of views in Power Apps?
The ‘Sort’ functionality is used in views to control the order of records. Users can sort by one or multiple columns, in ascending or descending order.
How to delete a view in Power Apps?
To delete a view in Power Apps, go to the Power Apps maker portal, navigate to the Data section, select the appropriate entity, choose Views, then select the view to be deleted and click ‘Delete’.
What is the ‘Edit filters’ feature of views in Power Apps?
The ‘Edit filters’ feature in Power Apps views allows users to define conditions to filter the data displayed in the view.
How to share a personal view with another user in Power Apps?
A personal view can be shared in Power Apps by navigating to the view, clicking ‘More Actions’ and then ‘Share’. A box will appear where you can select the user and define their permissions.
How can you change the default view in Power Apps?
To change the default view in Power Apps, go to the entity, select Views, and then click ‘Set as Default’ on the desired view.
How can you use views for data segmentation in Power Apps?
You can use views to segment data by creating different views based on certain criteria or filters. This allows users to see a specific subset of data.
What are the four main components of a view in Power Apps?
The main components of a view in Power Apps are the Header (showing the name of the view), Columns (fields selected to be shown in the view), Sort (how the data is organized), and Filters (criteria defining what data is shown).
Can we use complex condition operators for filters in Power Apps views?
Yes, we can use complex condition operators such as ‘And’,’Or’, ‘Not’, ‘Equals’, ‘Contains’, etc., for filtering data in Power Apps views.
How can you add a column to a view in Power Apps?
To add a column to a view in Power Apps, open the view for editing, click ‘Add columns’, then choose the column you want to add and click ‘OK’.
Can each entity have multiple views in Power Apps?
Yes, each entity in Power Apps can have multiple views allowing different users to see the data in a way that most efficiently fits their use case.