As part of the PL-900 Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals exam, it’s crucial to understand connectors. Connectors are primarily used for connecting the data from a variety of services to Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, and Power BI. They can be considered as communication bridges that enable a smooth process to access and utilize data across different services.
Microsoft Power Platform provides two main types of connectors – standard and premium.
1. Standard Connectors
Standard connectors are typically provided free of charge to users. These connectors allow interaction between Power Apps and Microsoft-provided services as well as third-party services. For example, connectors for services such as Office 365 Outlook, SharePoint, Excel Online, OneDrive for Business, etc.
As an illustration, let’s consider the Office365Outlook connector in PowerApps. The Office 365 Outlook connector allows you to work with mail, calendars, and contacts in Microsoft Office 365 Outlook. You can integrate this connector into your app to add, get, and update these aspects.
2. Premium Connectors
Premium connectors are often regarded as an enterprise-level feature, as they offer more advanced functionality than the standard connectors. These require a premium licensing plan for usage. A Premium connector allows integration with services such as Salesforce, Common Data Service, and On-premises data gateways, etc.
For instance, let us look at the Salesforce connector. This connector allows integration between your Power Apps and your Salesforce data, enabling you to read, write, and update your Salesforce data from your Power Apps.
The table below provides a more direct comparison between Standard and Premium connectors.
| Criteria | Standard Connector | Premium Connector |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free or part of the standard licensing plan. | Requires a premium licensing plan. |
| Services | Enables interaction with Microsoft provided services and third-party services. | Enables interaction with enterprise-level services. |
| Example Services | Office 365, SharePoint, Excel Online, OneDrive for Business. | Salesforce, Common Data Service, On-premises data gateways. |
Therefore, the choice between standard and premium connectors boils down to the functionality required from your application or process and how much you are willing to invest in it. Understanding which connector to use and when is vital in designing efficient and effective applications and processes.
As for the PL-900 Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals exam, understanding both the standard and premium connectors and their specific use cases is an essential area of study. It empowers you to pick the right connector for the right job, ensuring that your Power Apps, Power BI, Power Virtual Agents or Power Automate solutions are cost-effective and efficient. This not only benefits you in passing this exam but also aids in creating real-world solutions for your organization.
Practice Test
True or False: Standard connectors in Power Platform are available at no additional cost when you have a qualifying license.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: Standard connectors in Power Platform are indeed included at no additional cost with a qualifying license.
Select all that apply: Premium connectors in Power Platform are:
- 1) Free to use
- 2) Available without restrictions
- 3) Cost extra and available with certain licenses
- 4) Part of all Power Platform licenses
Answer: Cost extra and available with certain licenses
Explanation: Premium connectors are generally not free. They come at an extra cost and are only available with certain Power Platform licenses.
True or False: Both standard and premium connectors allow Microsoft Power Platform to communicate with various data sources.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: Both standard and premium connectors do enable Microsoft Power Platform to interact with a wide range of data sources.
Which of the following is NOT a type of connector in Microsoft Power Platform?
- 1) Standard connector
- 2) Premium connector
- 3) Basic connector
- 4) None of the above
Answer: Basic connector
Explanation: Microsoft Power Platform only has two types of connectors – Standard and Premium.
All Standard connectors are available with Power Apps per user plan.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: False
Explanation: Not all Standard connectors are available with Power Apps per user plan. Some connectors might not be included.
Which of these is a characteristic of a Premium connector?
- 1) They are free to use
- 2) They are available with all Power Platform licenses
- 3) They require a higher level of licensing
- 4) None of the above
Answer: They require a higher level of licensing
Explanation: Premium connectors require a higher level of licensing and may come with additional costs.
True or False: Premium connectors offer more advanced capabilities compared to Standard connectors.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: Premium connectors generally offer more functionality and capabilities compared to Standard connectors.
Can you use Standard connectors with Premium licenses of Power Apps and Power Automate?
- 1) Yes
- 2) No
Answer: Yes
Explanation: Standard connectors can be used with any Power Apps and Power Automate licenses, including the premium ones.
True or False: You cannot convert a standard connector to a premium connector.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: It is not possible to change a standard connector to a premium connector. They are distinct and offer different capabilities.
Which type of connectors needs to be used for Premium connectors to work optimally?
- 1) Power apps
- 2) Power Automate
- 3) Either Power Apps or Power Automate
- 4) None of the above
Answer: Either Power Apps or Power Automate
Explanation: Premium connectors perform optimally when used with either Power Apps or Power Automate, based on the needs of the task.
True or False: Standard connectors are always included by default in Power Platform licensing.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: False
Explanation: Although many standard connectors are included, not all standard connectors are available by default with all Power Platform licenses.
Premium and standard connectors in Power Platform allows communication with:
- 1) Various data sources
- 2) Only Microsoft data sources
- 3) No data sources
- 4) Only local data sources
Answer: Various data sources
Explanation: Both Premium and Standard connectors enable Power Platform to interact with a multitude of data sources, not just Microsoft ones.
True or False: Power Apps and Power Automate use the same set of connectors.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: Both Power Apps and Power Automate use the same set of connectors, allowing them to communicate with the same set of data sources.
You want to connect to a third-party service from Power Platform. Which connectors type would you generally use?
- 1) Standard connector
- 2) Premium connector
Answer: Premium connector
Explanation: When you want to integrate with a third-party service, you usually need a premium connector, as they provide more advanced capabilities.
True or False: The number of standard connectors is greater than premium connectors in Power Platform.
- 1) True
- 2) False
Answer: True
Explanation: The number of standard connectors is indeed greater than the number of premium connectors as standard connectors are designed to work with most commonly used systems and services.
Interview Questions
What are standard connectors in Microsoft Power Platform?
Standard connectors are built-in connectors provided by Microsoft that allow the integration of Power Platform with a number of Microsoft and non-Microsoft services. These can include Office 365, SharePoint, SQL Server, and others.
What are premium connectors in Microsoft Power Platform?
Premium connectors are connectors provided by Microsoft or its partners that require additional licensing to use. These connectors typically connect Power Platform with other high-end or specialized services, like Salesforce, Common Data Service, and others.
What is the primary difference between a standard connector and a premium connector?
The primary difference is in the licensing requirements. Standard connectors are included with the Power Platform licenses, while premium connectors require additional licenses or costs to use.
Can premium connectors access more data sources than standard connectors?
No, the difference between premium and standard connectors isn’t about the number of data sources. It’s more about the specific services they can connect to, and the licensing fees associated with those services.
In which Power Platform tools can you use standard and premium connectors?
Standard and premium connectors can be used across the Power Platform suite, which includes Power Apps, Power Automate, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents.
Can you create your own connectors in the Power Platform?
Yes, if none of the available standard or premium connectors meet your needs, you can create custom connectors in the Power Platform.
Which connector would you use to connect to Salesforce within the Power Platform?
Salesforce is a premium connector in Microsoft Power Platform. You would require additional licensing to use this connector.
Can you convert a standard connector to a premium connector?
No, whether a connector is standard or premium is determined by Microsoft and depends on the associated services it connects to.
What are the licensing implications when using a premium connector?
When using a premium connector, additional costs are incurred. These are separate from the licensing fee for using the Power Platform and can vary depending on the specific connector and service being used.
Can multiple connectors be used in a single Power Apps or Power Automate process?
Yes, multiple connectors can be used in a Power Apps or Power Automate process to interact with multiple data sources or services.
Is SQL Server a standard or premium connector?
SQL Server is considered as a standard connector in Microsoft Power Platform.
What is the purpose of connectors in the Power Platform?
Connectors in the Power Platform allow you to connect to and access data from various sources – both cloud-based and on-premise, as well as interact with services and applications provided by Microsoft and others.
Can the operation of a premium connector be restricted?
Yes, the operation of a premium connector can be controlled by policies defined by the administrator inside the environment in Power Platform.
Are dynamic content and expressions supported in premium connectors?
Yes, premium connectors do support dynamic content and expressions.
Are all connectors available in all regions?
No, the availability of connectors can vary based on the region and specific compliance or regional requirements.
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