Determine the required Microsoft Power Apps app type for a business solution

One of the first steps is determining the appropriate Power App type to suit your needs. Understanding each app type is vital; not just for passing the PL-100 Microsoft Power Platform App Maker exam, but also in real-world applications as well. This article will compare the Microsoft power App types to assist you in making an informed decision.

App Types in Microsoft Power Apps

There are three types of Power Apps for creating business solutions:

• Canvas Apps
• Model-driven Apps
• Portal Apps

Understanding Canvas App

Canvas App provides a highly customizable design experience where users have total control over the app layout. With Canvas Apps, you start with a blank canvas and design the app you want by pulling in your different data sources. It’s great for creating mobile-first applications where you might need a highly bespoke user interface.

Users can tailor the user interface (UI) with custom layouts and build the application to suit any type of desktop or mobile device.

Example: Suppose you want to create a visitor sign-in application that entails custom UI/UX where visitors could register their details. This would be a great scenario to use Canvas Apps.

Understanding Model-driven App

Model-driven apps offer a design experience centered on your business data and the processes that work on that data. Unlike Canvas Apps, you don’t design the UI first; instead, you model forms, views, and other components. Power Apps will automatically generate a great UI that is responsive across devices.

It uses the Common Data Service (CDS) for Apps and uses the definitions in CDS to generate a default application.

Example: In an application where you might need to manage customer relationships where the data is quite complex, a Model-Driven app would be the best fit.

Understanding Portal App

Portal Apps provides external users access to your data. If you need to provide data access to external users like partners, customers, or anyone who doesn’t have a Power Apps license in your organization, a Portal app is the way forward.

Example: A customer self-service portal that allows customers to log in, view their ticket history, and create new tickets.

The table below gives a clear picture of when to use which App.

Hence, when choosing between these three application types, one must consider the final product’s data needs, user base, and user interface. Clear understanding of the app types is necessary for designing the most effective and streamlined business application for your organization. It is also crucial for the Microsoft Power Platform App Maker PL-100 exam, as it forms the core of app making with Microsoft Power Apps.

Practice Test

Canvas app provides low-code approach to app development.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 1) True

Explanation: Canvas apps in Power Apps provide a drag-and-drop interface for designers where they can start with a blank canvas or a pre-built template.

Microsoft Power Apps only supports two types of apps- Model-driven and Canvas.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 2) False

Explanation: Microsoft Power Apps supports three types of apps- Canvas, Model-driven, and Portal.

In Microsoft Power Apps, Portal apps are best for situations that require multiple users to simultaneously access a shared datasource.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 1) True

Explanation: Portal apps are external-facing apps that allow users outside your organization to interact with data.

Which Microsoft Power Apps app type is best suited for complex business processes and model-driven applications?

• 1) Canvas
• 2) Model-driven
• 3) Portal

Answer: 2) Model-driven

Explanation: Model-driven app design is primarily used for complex business applications, where you can design the app starting from your business data and the processes around it.

Microsoft Teams can be used to integrate and share Canvas apps.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 1) True

Explanation: Canvas app integration with Microsoft Teams allows for effective collaboration and distribution among users.

Model-driven apps in Microsoft Power Apps require no code to be written.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 2) False

Explanation: While Model-driven apps require less code than traditional app development, they still may require some to create more complex functionality.

Which Microsoft Power Apps app type is designed to build highly tailored apps that meet specific organizational needs?

• 1) Canvas
• 2) Model-driven
• 3) Portal

Answer: 1) Canvas

Explanation: Canvas apps are designed to create highly tailored apps that can connect to over two hundred different data sources.

Microsoft Power Apps cannot connect to on-premises data sources.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 2) False

Explanation: Microsoft Power Apps supports connection to both cloud-based and on-premises data sources.

Which of the following Microsoft Power Apps app type is data-first approach driven?

• 1) Canvas
• 2) Model-driven
• 3) Portal

Answer: 2) Model-driven

Explanation: Model-driven app design is a mostly data-first approach to building business applications.

Portal type apps in Microsoft Power Apps are best for developing external-facing websites or apps.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 1) True

Explanation: Portal apps are ideal for making data accessible to users outside of your organization, often as an external website.

What is the key feature of Model-driven app design?

• 1) Interface-first Approach
• 2) No coding required
• 3) Uses a business model to generate the app

Answer: 3) Uses a business model to generate the app

Explanation: Unlike Canvas apps where you design the app around a blank canvas, Model-driven app design uses a business model to generate much of the app for you.

Model-driven apps are not responsive to different devices and form factors.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 2) False

Explanation: Model-driven apps are responsive to different devices and form factors, adjusting the layout and visibility to best fit each screen size and layout.

Canvas app type in Microsoft Power Apps is best for internal organizational use.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 1) True

Explanation: Canvas apps provide an opportunity to create highly tailored applications for specific organizational tasks or roles.

Model-driven apps are based on responsive design.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 1) True

Explanation: Model-driven app layout and visibility automatically adjust to fit different screen sizes and orientations, embodying responsive design principles.

Portal apps have limited customization options.

• 1) True
• 2) False

Answer: 2) False

Explanation: Portal apps can be customized to a great extent depending on the needs of the external users, including design elements and data accessibility options.

Interview Questions

What is the main purpose of the Canvas app in Microsoft Power Apps?

Canvas apps in Power Apps are designed for developing an app from scratch, where you can determine the user interface (UI) and dictate the user’s journey through the application.

How do Model-driven apps in Microsoft Power Apps differ from Canvas apps?

Model-driven apps in Power Apps are structured and driven by the underlying data model and business processes. They don’t require a lot of interface design work because much of the layout is determined by the components you choose and the data you connect to.

Where should a Power Apps app maker use Portal apps?

The Portal app in Microsoft Power Apps is for external users and should be used when creating websites that external users can access with a wide variety of identities, read data in the Microsoft Dataverse, or submit their own data.

Can I use both canvas and model-driven design methods in building my app in Power Apps?

Yes, depending on the needs of the business solution, you could utilize both Canvas and Model-driven designs within a singular app. This is possible using the embedded canvas app feature.

What kind of app would require minimal to no code in its development in Power Apps?

Model-driven apps usually require minimal code for their development since they are mainly structured around the underlying data and business processes.

What type of Power Apps is suitable for custom applications where the user can dictate the user interface layout?

Canvas apps in Power Apps is suitable for custom applications where the user can dictate the UI layout, as it lets you design the app layout as you desire.

Can a canvas app be built without writing code?

Yes, a canvas app can be built without writing code, but for complex business solutions, you might need some knowledge of Power Fx, the low-code programming language for expressing logic in Power Apps.

What type of application is suitable for complex business solutions where the underlying data model is used to drive the application?

For complex business solutions where the underlying data model drives the application, Model-driven apps are suitable.

Can a Portal app be used to read and edit data from multiple data sources?

Yes, a Portal app can be used to read and edit data from multiple data sources including Microsoft Dataverse.

Which Power Apps application type lets users browse data, understand the details and take action?

Model-driven applications in Power Apps help users browse data, understand the details and take action.

What is the main design consideration for creating a Canvas app in Power Apps?

The main design consideration when creating a Canvas app is the User Interface and User Experience. With Canvas apps, the app designer has the flexibility to design the app layout as per the specific business needs.

For what type of application would AI Builder be most useful in Power Apps?

AI Builder in Power Apps would be most useful for model-driven and canvas apps that require AI functionalities like object detection, form processing, prediction, or text classification.

Can Power Apps Portal be developed without writing a single line of code?

The majority of Power Apps Portal development can be done without writing code, although for specific requirements like implementing complex business rules, you may need to use liquid templating language.

How do you choose between a Canvas and Model-driven app?

The choice between a Canvas and Model-driven app depends on the specific needs of your business solution. If you need a highly customizable UI, use Canvas apps. If your business process is complex and your app needs to be driven by your data model, go for Model-driven apps.

Is there any scenario where the best choice might be to create both a canvas and a model-driven app?

Yes, in cases where you need a custom interface (canvas app) for certain users, and data-driven interfaces (model-driven app) for others, you might create both types of app as part of one solution.