Practice Lab 3 - Power Automate

Scenario

As we continue to build our solution, we will now create Power Automate cloud flows to process inspection data.

High-level lab steps

We will create cloud flows to

• Reset all inspections to Pending.
• Clear comments from the canvas app.

Things to consider before you begin

• Which triggers should you use?
• How to you use choice columns in expressions and actions?

Starter solution

A starter solution file for this lab can be found in the C:\Labfiles\L03\Starter folder.

Completed solution

Completed solution files for this lab can be found in the C:\Labfiles\L03\Completed folder.

Exercise 1: Create a scheduled cloud flow

Objective: In this exercise, you will create a cloud flow that resets all inspections to Pending.

Task 1.1: Create scheduled flow

1. Open the Permit Management solution.

   • Navigate to the Power Apps Maker portal https://make.powerapps.com/
   • Select your Development environment.
   • Select Solutions.
   • Open the Permit Management solution.

2. Create a scheduled cloud flow.

   • Select + New and then select Automation > Cloud flow > Scheduled.

     

   • On the Welcome to Power Automate popup, select Get started.
   • Enter Reset Inspections for Flow name.

   • Change the Repeat every drop-down to Month.

     

   • Select Create.

3. Add query step.

   • Select + New step.
   • Search for Dataverse and select the Microsoft Dataverse connector.

   • Select the List rows action.

     

   • Rename the List rows step to Inspections by selecting the ellipses … on the flow step and selecting Rename.

     

   • Select Inspections for Table name.
   • Select Show advanced options.

   • In Filter rows, enter the OData query

     statuscode ne 330650001
     

     

     [!IMPORTANT] 330650001 is the value of the Pending status reason on the Inspection table. You should verify that this is the correct value for your environment.

4. Add loop step.

   • Select + New step.
   • Select the Control connector.
   • Select the Apply to each action.
   • Rename the step to Loop.
   • Click in Select an output from previous steps.

   • Using Dynamic content, select value.

     

5. Add Update row step within the loop.

   • Select + Add an action.
   • Search for Dataverse and select the Microsoft Dataverse connector.
   • Select the Update a row action.
   • Rename the step to Update Inspection.
   • Select Inspections for Table name.
   • Click in Row ID.

   • Using Dynamic content, select Inspection.

     

   • Select Show advanced options.

   • In Status Reason, select Pending.

     

   • Select Save.

Task 1.2: Run flow

1. Select Test.
2. Select Manually.
3. Select Test.
4. Select Run flow.
5. Select Done.
6. Select the <- icon.

Task 1.3: Verify flow run

1. View inspection records

   • Navigate to the Power Apps Maker portal https://make.powerapps.com/
   • Select your Development environment.
   • Make sure you are in the Development environment.
   • Select Apps.
   • Select the Permit Management app, select the ellipses … and select Play.
   • Select Inspections.
   • Select Edit columns.
   • Select + Add columns.
   • Select Status Reason.
   • Select Close.
   • Select Apply.
   • All inspections should be set to Pending.

   

Exercise 2: Create an instant cloud flow

Objective: In this exercise, you will create a cloud flow that is run from a canvas app.

Task 2.1: Create instant flow

1. Open the Permit Management solution.

   • Navigate to the Power Apps Maker portal https://make.powerapps.com/
   • Select your Development environment.
   • Select Solutions.
   • Open the Permit Management solution.

2. Create an instant cloud flow.

   • Select + New and then select Automation > Cloud flow > Instant.
   • Enter ClearInspectionComments for Flow name.

   • Select the When Power Apps calls a flow (V2) trigger.

     

   • Select Create.

3. Add Input.

   • Select and expand the Power Apps trigger.
   • Select + Add an input.
   • Select Text.
   • Click in Input and enter InspectionID.

   • Click in Please enter your input and enter GUID

     

4. Add Update row step.

   • Select + New step.
   • Search for Dataverse and select the Microsoft Dataverse connector.
   • Select the Update a row action.
   • Rename the step to CancelComments.
   • Select Inspections for Table name.
   • Click in Row ID.

   • Using Dynamic content, select InspectionID.

     

   • Select Show advanced options.
   • Click in Comments.
   • Select the Expression tab.

   • Enter null.

     

   • Select OK.

5. Add Retrieve Permit step.

   • Select + New step.
   • Search for Dataverse and select the Microsoft Dataverse connector.
   • Select the Get a row by ID action.
   • Rename the step to GetPermit.
   • Select Permits for Table name.
   • Click in Row ID.

   • Using Dynamic content, select Permit (Value).

     

6. Add Respond to a Power App step.

   • Select + New step.
   • Search for Power Apps and select the Power Apps connector.
   • Select the Respond to a Power App or flow action.
   • Select + Add an output.
   • Select Date.
   • Click in Enter title and enter startdate.
   • Click in Enter a value to respond.

   • Using Dynamic content, search for start and select Start Date.

     

   • Select Save.
   • Select the <- icon.

Task 2.2: Call instant flow from the canvas app

1. Open the Permit Management solution.

   • Navigate to the Power Apps Maker portal https://make.powerapps.com/
   • Select your Development environment.
   • Select Solutions.
   • Open the Permit Management solution.

2. Edit the Inspector canvas app.

   • Select Apps in the Permit Management solution.
   • Select the ellipses … next to Inspector app and select Edit in new tab.

3. Add the instant cloud flow to the app.

   • Select the ellipses … and then Power Automate tab.

     

   • Select + Add flow.
   • Select ClearInspectionComments.

4. Add cancel comments button to the details screen.

   • Select the Tree view tab.
   • Select the Details Screen in the Tree view. Make sure that you have selected the screen and not selected the form.
   • Select the + Insert tab and select Button.
   • Drag the button next to the failed button.
   • Select the Tree view tab.
   • Rename the button to Clear Button.
   • Change the Text value of the button to "Clear Comments".

   • Resize the button to fit the added text.

     

5. Run the cloud flow.

   • Select the Clear Button in the Tree view.
   • In the property selector, select OnSelect.

   • Change the OnSelect property to the formula below.

     Set(ScheduledDate, ClearInspectionComments.Run('Inspection List'.Selected.Inspection).startdate);Refresh(Inspections);
     

6. Add Text label.

   • Select the + Insert tab.
   • Select Text label.
   • Drag the label to the top right of the screen.
   • Select the Tree view tab.
   • Rename Label1 to PermitStartLabel by double clicking on the control in the Tree view tab.
   • Change the Color property of the PermitStartLabel label to Color.White.

   • Change the Text property of the PermitStartLabel to the formula below.

     ScheduledDate
     

7. Save the app.

Task 2.3: Test the app

1. Start the application.

   • Select the Main Screen and select Preview the app.
   • The application should load and show at least one inspection.
   • Select the Framing Inspection record.
   • Select the Clear Comments button.
   • The inspection should be updated and the comments will be cleared.
   • Close preview mode.

2. Save and publish the app.

   • Select the Publish icon.
   • Select Publish this version.
   • Select the <- Back icon.
   • Select Leave.

Exercise 3: Business process flow (Optional)

Objective: In this optional exercise, you will create a business process flow for the Build Site table with the following stages and steps:

• Stage 1: New Site with data steps for Street Address, City, State, Postal Code, Country
• Stage 2: Initial Permit on Permit table with data steps Build Site, Name, Contact, Start Date, Permit Type
• Stage 3: Initial Inspection on Inspection Table with data steps Permit, Name, Inspection Type, Scheduled Date

[!NOTE] All data steps should be required

Task 3.1: Create business process flow for Build Site

1. Open the Permit Management solution.

   • Navigate to the Power Apps Maker portal https://make.powerapps.com/
   • Select your Development environment.
   • Select Solutions.
   • Open the Permit Management solution.

2. Create a business process flow.

   • Select + New and then select Automation > Process > Business process flow.
   • Enter New Build Site for Display name.
   • Enter newbuildsite for Name.

   • Select Build Site for Table.

     

   • Select Create.

3. Add stages.

   • Select the first stage.
   • Enter New Site for Display Name.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select the Components tab.
   • Drag the Stage component and drop it onto the + icon to the right of the first stage.
   • Select the second stage.
   • Enter Initial Permit for Display Name.
   • Select Permit for Entity.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select the + Add button in the command bar.
   • Select Add Stage.
   • Select the + icon to the right of the second stage.
   • Select the third stage.
   • Enter Initial Inspection for Display Name.
   • Select Inspection for Entity.

   • Select Apply.

     

4. Configure Build Site stage.

   • Select the first stage.
   • Expand Details.
   • Select the + Add button in the command bar.
   • Select Add Data Step.
   • Select the + icon under the existing data step.

   • Repeat adding steps until there are five data steps on the stage.

     

   • Select Data Step #1.
   • Select Street Address for Data Field.
   • Enter Street for Step Name.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #2.
   • Select City for Data Field.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #3.
   • Select State/Province for Data Field.
   • Enter State for Step Name.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #4.
   • Select ZIP/Postal Code for Data Field.
   • Enter Postal Code for Step Name.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #5.
   • Select Country/Region for Data Field.
   • Enter Country for Step Name.
   • Check Required.

   • Select Apply.

     

5. Configure Initial Permit stage.

   • Select the second stage.
   • Expand Details.
   • Select the + Add button in the command bar.
   • Select Add Data Step.
   • Select the + icon under the existing data step.

   • Repeat adding steps until there are five data steps on the stage.

   • Select Data Step #1.
   • Select Build Site for Data Field.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #2.
   • Select Name for Data Field.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #3.
   • Select Contact for Data Field.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #4.
   • Select Start Date for Data Field.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #5.
   • Select Permit Type for Data Field.
   • Check Required.

   • Select Apply.

     

6. Configure Initial Inspection stage.

   • Select the third stage.
   • Expand Details.
   • Select the Components tab.
   • Drag the Data Step component and drop it onto the + icon under the existing data step.
   • Select the Components tab.
   • Drag the Data Step component and drop it onto the + icon under the existing data step.
   • Select the Components tab.
   • Drag the Data Step component and drop it onto the + icon under the existing data step.

   • There should be four data steps on the stage.

   • Select Data Step #1.
   • Select Permit for Data Field.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #2.
   • Select Name for Data Field.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #3.
   • Select Inspection Type for Data Field.
   • Check Required.
   • Select Apply.
   • Select Data Step #4.
   • Select Scheduled Date for Data Field.
   • Check Required.

   • Select Apply.

     

7. Save the business process flow.

   

   • Select Save.
   • Select Validate. Validation should be successful.
   • Select Activate.
   • Select Activate.
   • Close the business process flow editor.
   • Select Done.

8. Add business process flow table to the solution.

   [!IMPORTANT] You need to add the Business process flow table to the solution to prevent dependency errors when importing the solution.

   • Select Add existing and select Table.
   • Search for build and select the New Build Site table.
   • Select Next.
   • Check Include all objects.
   • Select Add.

Task 3.2: Test the business process flow

1. Create a Build Site.

   • Navigate to the Power Apps Maker portal https://make.powerapps.com/
   • Select your Development environment.
   • Select Apps and play the Permit Management app.
   • Select Build Sites.

   • Select + New.

     

   • Select the New Site stage in the business process flow.
   • Enter Street for Street.
   • Enter City for City.
   • Enter State for State.
   • Enter ZIP for Postal Code.
   • Select Save.
   • Select the New Site stage in the business process flow.

   • Select Next Stage. You should see the error Country: Required fields must be filled in.

     [!NOTE] If the Next Stage button is not shown, refresh your browser.

     

   • Enter Country for Country.

2. Transition to Permit stage.

   • Select Next Stage.
   • Select + Create.
   • Select the Initial Permit stage in the business process flow.
   • Enter BPF Permit for Name.
   • Select John Doe for Contact.
   • Select today’s date for Start Date.
   • Select New Construction for Permit Type.
   • Select Save.

3. Transition to Inspection stage.

   • Select the Initial Permit stage in the business process flow.
   • Select Next Stage.
   • Select + Create.
   • Select the Initial Inspection stage in the business process flow.
   • Enter BPF Inspection for Name.
   • Select Initial Inspection for Inspection Type.
   • Select tomorrow’s date for Scheduled Date.
   • Select Save.

Exercise 4: Export and import solution

Objective: In this exercise, you will export the solution you created in the development environment and import it to the production environment.

Task 4.1: Solution checker

1. Select the Permit Management solution.

   • Navigate to the Power Apps Maker portal https://make.powerapps.com/
   • Select your Development environment.
   • Select Solutions.

   • Select the Permit Management solution.

     

2. Run solution checker.

   • Select Solution checker and then select Run.

     

   • Wait for the run to complete as it may take several minutes.

   • Open the Permit Management solution.

   • Select the Overview tab in the solution.

     

   • Under Solution status overview then select Run check and wait for the run to complete.

   • There should be zero issues.

     

Task 4.2: Export solution

1. Export managed solution.

   • Select Export.

     

   • Select Publish and wait for the publishing to complete.

     

   • Select Next.
   • Set the version number to 1.0.0.3.

   • Select Managed.

     

   • Select Export.

     

   • Select Download to download the managed solution on your machine.

2. Export unmanaged solution.

   • Select Export again.
   • Select Next.
   • Edit the version number to match the Managed solution you just exported i.e., 1.0.0.3.
   • Select Unmanaged.

   

   • Select Export.
   • Select Download to download the unmanaged solution on your machine.

Task 4.3: Import solution

1. Import the Permit Management solution.

   • Navigate to the Power Apps Maker portal https://make.powerapps.com/
   • Select your Production environment.

2. Import solution.

   • Select Solutions.
   • Select Import solution.
   • Select Browse.

   • Select the Managed solution file you exported in the previous task and then select Open.

     

   • Select Next.
   • Select Import.
   • Wait for import to complete.
   • Navigate to both the model-driven and canvas apps you built and add a few records and test the apps.