Form configuration is a key aspect of the PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer exam, and knowing how to do this effectively strengthens your skills as a developer in tailoring Power Apps to meet specific business needs. In this post, we’ll delve into how to configure forms and examine some examples.
Understanding Form Configuration
In Power Apps, forms represent data entry points. These are typically used for creating, updating, and viewing records. Moreover, configuration plays an essential role in the optimization of forms to suit the specific needs of different users. The main components of configuring forms include utilizing form types, handling form behaviors, working with form components, and controlling form properties.
Utilizing Form Types
There are three main types of forms in Power Apps: Main, Quick Create, and Card. The Main form is where most of the record interaction happens, and it is the one with the most design flexibility. Quick Create forms are enabled to allow users to continue working in the same window without moving to a main form screen, and Card forms influence how the fields appear within a Main form.
| Form Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Main | Primary form for interacting and modifying records |
| Quick Create | Allows record creation without leaving the current window |
| Card | Determines how fields are displayed within a Main form |
Going through these forms will provide you with practical insight to navigate these form types effectively.
Handling Form Behaviors
Power Apps offer configurability to optimize form behaviors. For instance, configuring form navigation can enhance the user experience. Also, form visibility options can provide record-viewing controls depending on user roles or specific condition rules. Thus, the ability to handle form behaviors enables you to define how different users interface with your app or tool.
Working with Form Components
Form components make up the structure of a form. These include sections, tabs, fields, and related lists. Power Apps allows you to add, position, show, hide, label, and manipulate these components according to your needs. Learning to manipulate these components effectively will help structure your forms in a more coherent and user-centric manner.
Controlling Form Properties
Controlling form properties involves setting up properties that affect the entire form such as automatic saving, event handlers, and form level notifications. By managing these form properties, developers have finer control on when and how data is saved, how events are handled, and how notifications are displayed.
Example: Form Configuration
Let’s walk through a basic example. Suppose you want to create an Employee Details form with the fields Name, Position, Department, and Date Joined.
Firstly, open the Power Apps and select ‘Apps’ from the left-hand side menu. Click on ‘+ New app’ and choose ‘Canvas app from blank’. Name your app and select Create.
You will then be in the Power Apps studio. To create the form, click on ‘Insert’ from the top menu and select ‘Forms’ then ‘Edit’.
An empty form shell will now appear on the canvas. For each field, select ‘+ Add field’ on the right-hand side properties panel and add the relevant fields.
To adjust the layout, select the form and then the ‘Layout’ from the properties pane on the right. Here you can adjust the number of columns in the in the form.
These basics steps illustrate how one configures a form in Power Apps. Advanced configuration involves further manipulation of form components, behaviors, and properties according to the need of the application.
Clear understanding of how to configure forms is crucial for the PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer exam. The competence gained will not only help during the exam but also in your day-to-day as a developer in designing feature-packed and user-friendly forms.
Practice Test
True or False: Microsoft Forms can be integrated into Power Apps.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Forms can indeed be included in Power Apps to collect information, run surveys, quizzes, and more.
What is the purpose of the ‘Configure Forms Processing’ in Power Apps?
- A. To modify the structure and layout of forms
- B. To customize navigation buttons
- C. To define the behavior of a form when it’s loaded
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: ‘Configure Forms Processing’ allows you to modify form structure, customize navigation, and define form behavior.
True or False: In Power Apps, you can only define one form per entity.
- Answer: False
Explanation: You can create multiple forms for a single entity in Power Apps, allowing different views of the data depending on the application’s needs.
What is the use of form types in Power Apps?
- A. To determine the layout of a form
- B. To define validation rules
- C. To identify the purpose of the form
- D. All of the above
Answer: C. To identify the purpose of the form
Explanation: The form type mainly decides the purpose of a form, whether it’s for creating, updating, reading or other specific functions.
True or False: It is not possible to create a form without a data source in Power Apps.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Forms in Power Apps mainly work with data and require a data source to provide the information to display, create, or update.
How can you add a new field to a form in Power Apps?
- A. By selecting the ‘Add’ option
- B. By dragging and dropping from the field explorer
- C. By altering the source code
- D. A & B
Answer: D. A & B
Explanation: You can add a new field to a form either by clicking on the ‘Add’ option or by dragging a field from the field explorer.
True or False: Main forms are the only form type that are shown to the end-users in the Power Apps Portal.
- Answer: False
Explanation: Not only Main forms but also Quick View and Quick Create forms can be shown to end-users in the Power Apps Portals.
The ‘Form Editor’ in Power Apps is used to perform which functions?
- A. Rearranging form components
- B. Adding or deleting form fields
- C. Configuring how a form appears on different devices
- D. All of the above
Answer: D. All of the above
Explanation: The Form Editor allows you to rearrange form components, add or delete form fields, and configure how a form appears on different devices.
True or False: Multiline Text Box is a form field type that can be used in Power Apps forms.
- Answer: True
Explanation: Multiline Text Box is one form field type that can be used in Power Apps forms. It allows a user to input more than one line of text.
Which form type in Power Apps is primarily designed for creating records in a streamlined manner?
- A. Main Form
- B. Quick Create Form
- C. Card Form
- D. Section Form
Answer: B. Quick Create Form
Explanation: Quick Create Forms are designed to streamline record creation with minimum required fields and uncluttered layout.
Interview Questions
What is the primary initial step for configuring a form in Power Platform?
The primary initial step is to navigate to the Form Design interface.
How can you add fields to the form in Power Platform?
You can drag and drop fields onto the form from the Field Explorer on the right.
Which view displays a full-screen designer that can be used to add, remove, or edit components?
The Classic view provides this capability.
Can you add a sub-grid to your form in Power Platform?
Yes, you can add sub-grids to your form.
How can business rules be associated with a form in the Power Platform?
Business rules can be associated with a form in the Power Platform through the Business Rules area in the form designer.
What are the two types of forms that can be created in the Power Platform?
The two types of forms are Main and Quick Create. Main forms appear when a user opens a record, and Quick Create forms appear when a user selects a +New (plus new) command.
Can we integrate external services with a form in Power Platform?
Yes, using the Power Automate, we can integrate external services into a form.
What are the two form modes available in the Power Platform?
The two modes are “Edit” and “Read-only”. The Edit mode is for making changes to the data, and the Read-only mode is for showing data without allowing edits.
Can we add custom controls to our forms in Power Platform?
Yes, we can add custom controls by applying them to fields or views.
Can we add charts to our forms in the Power Platform?
Yes, charts can be added to forms in the Power Platform.
What is the main criteria needed to make a field searchable in Power Platform?
The field must be marked as ‘Searchable’ in the system view to show up in the search results.
Can we add multiple forms for a single entity in Power Platform?
Yes, we can add multiple forms for a single entity. This is often used to have different forms for different roles.
Can we modify form navigation in Power Platform?
Yes, we can modify form navigation by using the Navigation area in the form designer.
How can you modify the tab order on a form in Power Platform?
You can modify the tab order on a form by selecting the ‘Tab Order’ button in the Home tab of the form designer.
What needs to be done to make a form visible to a user in Power Platform?
The form must be associated with security roles to be visible to a user. This can be done by selecting ‘Enable Security Roles’ in the form’s properties.
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