Select UI elements for canvas apps

The essential UI elements include:

• Table of Contents

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  Buttons:

  This is arguably the most commonly used UI element. Buttons are used for user interactions, and they trigger actions whenever users click them. For instance, a ‘Submit’ button might be used for form or survey submissions.

• Labels:

  These are used to display text on a canvas app. They could be static or dynamic. For example, labels can be used to display instructions, error messages, or data from a database.

• Text input:

  This element allows users to input data. A typical use case is for form inputs where users can enter their details.

• Data Tables:

  These are vital for displaying data in a tabular format. Data tables can pull information from databases or Excel spreadsheets and enable you to present it neatly to your app users.

• Gallery:

  This UI component displays a collection of items such as images, texts, and other controls. It can be used to create image sliders, product catalogues, or even forms.

• Media:

  These are UI elements that support audio, video, and images. With media controls, you can add multimedia content to your canvas apps to enrich the user experience.

• Forms:

  This is a group of related input controls which can be used to create, update, and view data.

• Shapes and Icons:

  Shapes and icons are used for visual representation and aesthetic purposes. They can enhance the appearance and usability of your app.

Selecting appropriate UI elements requires you to consider several factors, including the purpose of your app, the nature of the user interaction, and the kind of data you handle. Consider this example – building an employee onboarding app. UI elements here might include:

• Buttons for form submission and navigation.
• Text input fields for gathering employee information.
• Labels to instruct users on what to input in each field.
• Data tables to list existing employee information.
• Forms to logically group related input elements together.

For code examples relevant to these UI elements, you can check the official Microsoft documentation. It provides a rich resource with numerous examples and best practices for implementing these UI controls in your canvas apps.

As you prepare for your PL-100 Microsoft Power Platform App Maker exam, remember that selecting the right UI elements can significantly improve your app usability, efficiency, and overall user experience. Familiarize yourself with common and essential UI elements and understand their potential applications in a variety of app designs. Above all, practice building canvas apps on the Microsoft Power Platform to gain hands-on experience with these controls.

So that’s all about selecting UI elements for Canvas Apps. Explore, design, and create splendid apps with the effective use of UI elements. They will not only cater to the needs of your application but also promise a remarkable user experience to the application users.

Happy canvas App making!

Practice Test

True or False: You can format text and change its color in canvas apps.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: Canvas apps allow full customization of text including formatting and color changes.

Which of the following can be added to canvas apps? (multiple select)

• a) Media, like images and videos
• b) Text inputs
• c) Forms with dropdowns and select boxes
• d) All of the above

Answer: d) All of the above.

Explanation: Canvas apps allow you to fully customize your app, so you can add any type of UI element you need.

True or False: All UI elements on a canvas app must be the same size.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: You can adjust the size of each UI element individually in a canvas app.

Single select: Which of the following cannot be added to the canvas apps?

• a) Barcode Scanner
• b) Microphone
• c) Documents
• d) None of the above

Answer: d) None of the above

Explanation: All options – Barcode Scanner, Microphone and Documents can be added to the canvas apps

True or False: You can use galleries in Power Apps to group related controls, such as labels or images, in a flexible layout with scrolling capability.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: Yes, you can. Galleries are good for grouping related controls and it also supports scrolling.

Which of the following screen orientations does Canvas Apps support? (multiple select)

• a) Landscape
• b) Portrait
• c) Both
• d) None

Answer: c) Both

Explanation: Canvas App supports both the landscape and portrait screen orientations.

True or False: You can’t use HTML input elements in canvas apps.

• True
• False

Answer: True.

Explanation: An app that you create in Power Apps is not a web page, and HTML input elements are not supported.

Single Select: Which of the following is NOT a function of a form control in Canvas apps?

• a) Edit data
• b) Preview data
• c) Delete data
• d) Display data

Answer: c) Delete data

Explanation: Form controls allow users to edit, preview, and display data but do not support deleting data directly.

Single Select: Which of the following is a mandatory UI element for Canvas Apps?

• a) Images
• b) Charts
• c) Screens
• d) None of the above

Answer: c) Screens

Explanation: In Canvas Apps, every app contains at least one screen. Thus, screens are a mandatory UI element.

True or False: Canvas apps support transparency feature for the UI elements.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Yes, Canvas apps do support the transparency feature for the UI elements.

True or False: LookUp function can be used to find the first record in a table that satisfies a formula in Canvas Apps.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Yes. The LookUp function finds the first record in a table that satisfies a formula. Use LookUp to find a single record that matches one or more criteria.

Single Select: Which of the following can NOT be achieved through Canvas apps controls?

• a) Filtering data
• b) Sorting data
• c) Both can be achieved
• d) No functionality can be achieved

Answer: c) Both can be achieved

Explanation: Canvas apps control offer extensive functionalities including both filtering and sorting data.

True or False: You can’t share your Canvas apps with others.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Canvas apps can be shared with other users according to the permissions provided by the creator.

Single Select: Which of the following functions does NOT return a table?

• a) Collection
• b) Distinct
• c) Any function returns a table
• d) All functions return a table

Answer: a) Collection

Explanation: The “Collection” function does not return a table. It is used to collect data that can be used in your app or shared with connectors.

True or False: The Patch function in Canvas Apps can be used to modify a record in a data source.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: The Patch function is used to modify a record or records in a data source. It is commonly used for creating and modifying data in Canvas Apps.

Interview Questions

What are UI elements in canvas apps in Microsoft Power Platform?

UI elements in canvas apps are controls that users can interact with on the app screen like text input boxes, buttons, sliders, or checkboxes.

How do you add UI elements into a Canvas App screen?

You add UI elements into a Canvas App screen by dragging and dropping them from the Insert tab to the desired spot in the screen.

How do you adjust the size and location of UI elements in Microsoft Power Platform?

You adjust the size and location of UI elements in Microsoft Power Platform using the sizing and moving handles that appear around a selected element.

How do you bind data to a UI Element in a canvas app?

You bind data to a UI element in a canvas app by connecting the UI element to your data source using expressions.

How are formulas used with UI elements in canvas apps?

In canvas apps, formulas are used to control the behavior, appearance, and content of UI elements. They can be used to specify what happens when a control is selected, a screen is visible, and more.

What function lets you navigate between screens in a canvas app?

The Navigate function in Microsoft Power Platform lets you navigate between different screens in a canvas app.

How can you set the default value for a text input control in a Canvas App?

You can set the default value for a text input control in a Canvas App by setting the Default property of the control to the desired value.

How do you change the color of a button in a Canvas App?

You change the color of a button in a Canvas App by setting the Fill property of the button to a color value.

What is the function of a Label control in a Canvas App?

A Label control in a Canvas App is used to display static text or results of a formula on the app screen.

How can you group multiple controls together in a Canvas app?

You can group multiple controls together in a Canvas App by selecting the controls and then clicking the Group option in the Home tab.

What is the significance of the Z-Order in positioning UI elements in a Canvas App?

The Z-Order in a Canvas App determines the stacking order of UI elements on the screen. An element with a higher Z-Order is placed in front of an element with a lower Z-Order.

How can you initialize a variable in a Canvas App?

You can initialize a variable in a Canvas App using the Set function.

What is the purpose of a Gallery control in a Canvas app?

A Gallery control in a Canvas app is used to display a set of records or items from a data source.

How can you style a selected item in a gallery differently from unselected items?

You can style a selected item in a gallery differently from unselected items by setting different appearance properties for the ThisItem.IsSelected conditional in a Gallery control.

Can you use data from multiple data sources in a single Canvas App?

Yes, you can use data from multiple data sources in a single Canvas App. Each control in the app can be connected to its own specific data source.