Building canvas apps screens is a critical section in the “PL-100 Microsoft Power Platform App Maker” exam. This process involves designing the user interface layout, incorporating various controls and components, data binding, laying out screen objects and implementing navigation. Some of the key functionalities related to building canvas app screens include creating screens, adding and configuring controls, and adding navigation.
1. Creating Screens
In the canvas app, you can create a new screen by selecting New screen under the Home tab in the ribbon. There are several types of screens you can choose from, including blank, scrollable, list, and form screens. Depending on the needs of your app, you may use different types of screens.
2. Adding and Configuring Controls
Controls in canvas apps are the elements like buttons, labels, galleries, forms, etc. that you can add to your screen. You can add a control to the canvas by selecting it from the Insert tab in the ribbon and then clicking on the control you want to add. For instance, if you want to add a button, you would go to ‘Insert’ -> ‘Button’, then select the button and drag it onto the canvas. You can configure the size, color, text, and other properties of the selected control in the properties pane.
3. Adding Navigation
After setting up multiple screens in your app, you need to ensure that users can navigate between them easily. This is where the ‘Navigate’ function comes in handy.
Here’s how to add navigation. If you have a ‘Home’ button that should navigate back to the ‘Home’ screen when clicked, you would select the ‘Home’ button and then in the ‘OnSelect’ property of the button, you would enter: Navigate(Home, None).This means when the button is selected(clicked) it will navigate to the ‘Home’ screen.You can also use the ‘Back’ function to navigate to the last screen visited. For example, if you have a ‘Go Back’ button, you would enter: Back() in the ‘OnSelect’ property of the button.
These are the fundamental steps in building canvas apps screens as part of preparing for the “PL-100 Microsoft Power Platform App Maker” exam. The PL-100 exam also covers other advanced functionalities and concepts like data operations, screen templates, context variables, error handling, and performance optimization, etc.
It’s essential for you to become familiar with the operations and controls available, and practice building and configuring screens in the Power Apps studio to prepare for the exam fully.
Remember, the key to creating effective canvas app screens is understanding what the end users need and delivering an interactive, easy-to-navigate, and productive interface that meets those needs. So, practice building various types of screens with a range of controls, and implement navigation to enhance user engagement and satisfaction with your apps.
Practice Test
True or False: You can use both SQL and SharePoint as data sources for your Canvas app screens.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Canvas apps can use data from a variety of sources, which include SQL, SharePoint, and many others.
Which of the following can be used to design the user interface for Canvas apps?
- a) Visual Studio
- b) Power Apps Studio
- c) Atom editor
- d) Text editor
Answer: b) Power Apps Studio
Explanation: Power Apps Studio is a powerful, user-friendly tool used for designing the user interface for Canvas apps in the Microsoft Power Platform.
True or False: You can incorporate media files like images, video, and audio into your Canvas app screens.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Canvas apps support different types of media files, including images, video, and audio which can be incorporated into app screens for a better user experience.
What is the maximum number of screens you can create in a single Canvas app?
- a) 100
- b) 200
- c) 500
- d) There is no limit
Answer: d) There is no limit
Explanation: There is no built-in limit to the number of screens you can create in a single Canvas app.
Which of the following statements is true about the Canvas app?
- a) You cannot use Excel as a data source.
- b) It’s not possible to customize the app’s interface.
- c) You can build the app without having to write code.
- d) It cannot be accessed on mobile devices.
Answer: c) You can build the app without having to write code.
Explanation: One of the biggest advantages of Canvas apps is its no-code/low-code approach, which allows you to build apps visually without having to write code.
True or False: A single Canvas app can utilize multiple data sources?
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: A unique feature of Canvas apps is the ability to connect to and utilize data from multiple different data sources within a single app.
Which of the following components can be used to create and modify user interface of Canvas apps?
- a) Control
- b) Datasource
- c) Model
- d) Connector
Answer: a) Control
Explanation: In Canvas apps, controls are components such as buttons, labels, text input boxes, galleries, and other items that can be used to create and modify the user interface.
True or False: Canvas app screens are always static, and cannot be changed dynamically based on user inputs.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Canvas app screens are highly dynamic. They can be constructed and changed dynamically based on user inputs.
What does a “Gallery” represent in a Canvas app?
- a) A collection of images
- b) A type of data source
- c) A visual control for displaying data in different layouts
- d) A screen design tool
Answer: c) A visual control for displaying data in different layouts
Explanation: A “Gallery” in a Canvas app is a flexible and powerful visual control for displaying data in a variety of different layout styles.
True or False: Canvas apps can be shared with other users with just a view-only access.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: You have the option to share the Canvas apps with others by giving them different types of permissions, including view-only access.
Interview Questions
What is the primary function of a Canvas Apps screen in Microsoft Power Platform?
The primary function of a Canvas Apps screen is to create unique user experiences by assembling various user interface components or controls.
How can one add a new screen in a Canvas App?
To add a new screen in a Canvas App, one can go to “Home” in the menu bar and select “New Screen.”
What navigational function can be used to navigate to a different screen in a Canvas App?
The navigational function “Navigate()” can be used to navigate to a different screen in a Canvas App.
Which function can be used in Canvas Apps to retrieve data from Data Sources?
The function used to retrieve data from Data Sources in Canvas Apps is the “LookUp()” function.
Is it possible to add custom code in a Canvas App?
Yes, it is possible to add custom code in a Canvas App using Power Fx, which is a low-code programming language.
What are Screen templates in canvas apps?
Screen templates in canvas apps are pre-designed screens with controls that follow specific design patterns to solve standard business scenarios.
Can a Canvas App Screen be made responsive according to screen size?
Yes, one can design a responsive Canvas App Screen using flexible height and width parameters and reflow capabilities.
What are the different types of display modes available for a Button control in a Canvas App?
The display modes available for a Button control in a Canvas App are: Edit, Disabled, and View.
How can you delete a screen from the Canvas App?
To delete a screen, one can select the screen in the screen explorer, right click and select “Delete”.
How does the Canvas App Navigator function handle user navigation history?
The Canvas App Navigator function handles user navigation history with stack behavior. When you navigate back, the most recent entry is removed from the stack.
Can you use galleries to display collections on the Canvas App interface?
Yes, Galleries are commonly used controls to display collections of items on the Canvas App interface.
What is the default maximum limit of records that a Canvas App can retrieve from a data source?
The default maximum limit of records that a Canvas App can retrieve from a data source is 500 records.
What role does the OnSelect property play in Canvas App controls?
The OnSelect property specifies what happens when a user selects or interacts with a control in the Canvas App.
Can you incorporate AI capabilities into a Canvas App?
Yes, you can incorporate AI models such as AI Builder into a Canvas App to add intelligence to it.
What are the roles of formulas in building a Canvas App Screen?
Formulas in building a Canvas App Screen are used to control the behavior and appearance of app components. They define logic, transformation of data, and interactions between controls.
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