Build a model-driven app for Contoso service managers

In this exercise, you build a model-driven app that Contoso service managers use to view and manage all open Work Orders, configure views for different scenarios, and work with the data model you created in Lab 3.

This exercise should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.

Scenario

Contoso service managers need a full-featured desktop interface to manage the incoming queue of Work Orders. Unlike field technicians (who only need to see their own assigned jobs), managers need to see all requests across all customers, filter by priority, reassign technicians, and track resolution progress.

A model-driven app is the right tool for this � it's built directly on your Dataverse data model, and it automatically inherits the forms and views you've already configured.

Task 1: Create the model-driven app

1. Open Power Apps at https://make.powerapps.com and sign in with your Microsoft account.

2. Confirm you are in your Dev One environment.

3. In the left navigation, select Solutions.

4. Open the Contoso Field Services solution.

5. In the left menu, select Objects.

6. On the command bar, select + New > App > Model-driven app.

7. In the New model-driven app dialog, configure the app:

   • Name: Contoso Service Management
   • Description: Internal app for service managers to track and manage all Work Orders

8. Select Create. The model-driven app opens in the modern app designer.

Task 2: Add the Work Order table to the app

1. In the app designer, select + New.

2. Select Dataverse table.

3. Search for and select Work Order (contoso_workorder), then select Add.

4. Confirm that Work Orders now appears as a page in the left navigation of the app designer. You should also see the three sample Work Orders you created in Lab 3 (Adatum Corporation, Tailwind Traders, Fabrikam Inc) displayed in the view in the center of the app designer.

5. In the left Pages pane, select New Group � the group that Work Orders is nested under. In the right properties pane, change the Title to Service Management, then select Save.

Task 3: Configure views for the app

Views control which records are shown and which columns are displayed in the list. By default, all views for the table are included in the app � you'll trim this down to the two most useful ones for service managers.

1. In the left Pages pane of the app designer, select Work Orders view (not the form).

2. On the right properties pane (if you don't see it, you might need to expand it), select the Views tab. You'll see views listed under In this app.

3. Under In this app, you'll see two default views: Active Work Orders and Inactive Work Orders. Select ... next to Inactive Work Orders and select Remove � service managers only need to see active records. You should see Inactive Work Orders under Not in this app after the change.

4. Select Save.

Task 4: Configure the Work Order form

Forms control what fields are shown when a manager opens a specific record.

1. Under Work Orders in the app designer, select Work Orders form.

2. Select the pencil icon next to the form name to open the form designer.

3. In the Table columns pane, unselect Show only unused table columns.

4. Review the form layout. Confirm the following fields are visible on the form. If they are not, drag fields from the right panel and around in the form so they appear in the following order:

   • Customer Name
   • Customer Email
   • Issue Description
   • Priority
   • Request Status
   • Assigned Technician
   • Resolved Date
   • Owner

5. Add a section to organize the form more clearly:

   • Select Components from the left pane.
   • Select 1-column section. The section will be added below the Owner field.
   • Label the new section Resolution Details from the Properties pane on the right.
   • Drag the Resolved Date field into this section.

6. Select Save and publish to publish the form changes.

7. Close the form designer tab and return to the app designer.

Task 5: Create a custom view for high-priority requests

Views let you define exactly which records appear and which columns are shown when a manager opens the app. You'll create a filtered view that surfaces only the most urgent Work Orders, giving managers a focused queue without having to manually filter every time.

1. Open a new browser tab and navigate to Power Apps at https://make.powerapps.com. Keep the app designer tab open so you can return to it later.

2. In the left navigation, select Solutions and open the Contoso Field Services solution.

3. Select Objects, expand Tables, and expand the Work Order table.

4. Select Views, then select + New view. Configure the new view:

   • Name: High Priority Work Orders
   • Description: Shows only High and Critical priority Work Orders for manager triage

   Select Create. The view designer opens.

5. Configure the columns for this view. Select + View column to add the following columns, removing any others that aren't needed:

   • Customer Name
   • Issue Description
   • Priority
   • Request Status
   • Assigned Technician

6. Before you can filter by Priority, you need to make it available as a filter option. By default, columns are not always enabled for Advanced Find, which is the underlying search and filter engine used by views. Select the dropdown arrow next to the Priority column header in the view designer and select Edit table column.

7. In the column properties panel, check the box next to Enabled for Advanced Find, then select Save. Priority will now appear as an option when configuring view filters.

8. Select Edit filters in the right pane to add a filter condition.

9. Select + Add > + Add row. In the column picker, type Priority to search for it and select it. Set the operator to Equals. In the value picker, select both High and Critical.

10. Select Ok.

11. You should see the High and Critical Work Orders from your sample data populated in the view.

12. Select Save and publish.

13. Return to the tab with your model-driven app designer. In the left Pages pane, select Work Orders view.

14. Expand the Work Orders pane on the right. In the Views tab, look for High Priority Work Orders under In this app. If it doesn't appear there, find it under Not in this app, select ... next to it, and select Add.

15. Select Save.

Task 6: Create a chart for the Work Order table

Charts give managers a visual snapshot of data without any code. You'll create a pie chart that shows how Work Orders are distributed across priority levels � a quick health check at a glance. Charts are defined at the table level and can then be embedded in dashboards.

1. Return to the Contoso Field Services solution tab. Select Objects, expand Tables, and expand the Work Order table.

2. Select Charts, then select + New chart. The chart designer opens.

[!NOTE] The chart designer opens in the classic Unified Interface layout, which looks different from the modern app designer you've been using. This is expected.

1. Name the chart Requests by Priority.

2. Select Pie chart as the chart type.

3. Configure the chart data:

   • Legend Entries (Series): Set to Work Order and Count:All. This counts the number of records in each group.
   • Horizontal (Category) Axis Labels: Set to Priority. This groups the records by their Priority value.

4. In the Description field, enter Pie chart showing the distribution of Work Orders by priority level.

5. Select Save & close.

6. Back in the charts page of the Solution, select Done.

Task 7: Add a dashboard page

Dashboards let managers see their most important data at a glance in a single page. You'll build a dashboard that combines the High Priority Work Orders view and the Requests by Priority chart side by side, then add it to the app as a page.

1. Return to the Contoso Field Services solution page and select All.

2. Select + New > Dashboard > 2-Column overview from the command bar.

[!NOTE] The dashboard designer opens in the classic Unified Interface layout, which looks different from the modern app designer you've been using. This is expected.

This is a standard dashboard layout that supports List and Chart components.

1. Name the dashboard Service Manager Dashboard.

2. In the left column component, select the List icon (the grid icon in the center of the panel). Configure it and select Add:

   • Record type: Work Order
   • View: High Priority Work Orders

3. In the right column component, select the Chart icon. Configure it and select Add:

   • Record type: Work Order
   • View: Active Work Orders
   • Chart: Requests by Priority

4. Select Save, then select Close to return to the solution.

5. On the solution command bar, select Publish all customizations and wait for it to complete. This ensures the dashboard is available to add to the app � customizations created in the classic designer aren't visible in the modern app designer until published.

6. Return to the app designer tab. Select + Add page.

7. Select Dashboard.

8. Find and select Service Manager Dashboard, then select Add.

[!NOTE] If Service Manager Dashboard doesn't appear in the list, close the app designer tab and reopen the app from the solution. The modern app designer sometimes caches the available components and needs a full reload to pick up dashboards published from the classic designer.

1. In the Pages pane, select the ellipses on Service Manager Dashboard, then select Move up. The dashboard will now be the first item users see when they open the app.

2. Select Save.

Task 8: Test the app

1. Select Publish to ensure all changes are published.

2. Select Play to open the app in a new tab.

3. Navigate to Work Orders in the left navigation and confirm the High Priority Work Orders view is available in the view selector.

4. Select + New to create a test Work Order:

   • Customer Name: Alpine Equipment Co.
   • Issue Description: Office printer on second floor making occasional noise
   • Priority: Low
   • Request Status: New

5. Select Save & Close and confirm the new record appears in the Active Work Orders view.

6. Select Service Manager Dashboard. Your pie chart should have updated to show a Low priority work order.