Building blocks of model-driven apps

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A model-driven app consists of several components that you select by using the App Designer. The components and component properties become the metadata. Let's look more closely at these components.

Data

The data components determine what data the app will be based upon.

Component Description Designer
Table Tables are items with properties that you track. Examples include contacts and accounts. Many standard tables are available. You can customize a non-system standard table (or production table). You can also create a custom table from scratch. Table designer
Column Columns are properties that are associated with a table and help define that table. A column is defined by a data type, which determines the type of data that can be entered or selected. Examples of data types include text, number, date and time, currency, and lookup (which creates a relationship with another table). columns are typically used with forms, views, and searches. Table designer
Relationship Relationships define how tables can be related to each other. There are 1:N (one-to-many), N:1 (many-to-one), and N:N (many-to-many) relationships. For example, adding a lookup column to a table creates a new 1:N relationship between the two tables and lets you add that lookup column to a form. Table designer
Choice column This type of column shows a control that lets the user select among predefined options. Each option has a number value and a label. Choice columns can require either a single value or multiple values. Table designer

User interface

The user interface components determine how users will interact with the app.

Component Description Designer
App Apps determine the app fundamentals, like components, properties, the client type, and the URL. App designer
Form Forms include a set of data entry columns for a given table. This set of data entry columns matches the items that your organization tracks for the table. One example is a set of data entry columns where users enter relevant information to track a customer's previous orders together with specific requested reorder dates. Form designer
View Views define how a list of records for a specific table appears in your app. A view defines the columns shown, the width of each column, the sort behavior, and the default filters. View designer

Screenshot showing the details of the Form designer.

Logic

The logic components determine what business processes, rules, and automation the app will have. Microsoft Power Apps makers use a designer that's specific to the type of process or rule.

Type of logic Description Designer
Business process flow Business process flows walk users through a standard business process. Use a business process flow if you want everyone to handle customer service requests the same way. Or you can use a business process flow to require staff to gain approval for an invoice before submitting an order. Business process flow designer
Workflow Workflows automate business processes without a user interface. Designers use workflows to initiate automation that doesn't require any user interaction. Workflow designer
Actions Actions are a type of process that lets you manually invoke actions, including custom actions, directly from a workflow. Process designer
Business rule Business rules apply rules or recommendation logic to a form to set column requirements, hide columns, validate data, and more. App designers use a simple interface to implement and maintain fast-changing and commonly used rules. Business rule designer
Flows Power Automate is a cloud-based service that lets you create automated workflows between apps and services to get notifications, sync files, collect data, and more. Power Automate

Visualization

The visualization components determine what type of data and reporting the app will show.

Component Description Designer
Chart Charts are individual graphical visualizations that can appear in a view or a form or that can be added to a dashboard. Chart designer
Dashboard Dashboards show one or more graphical visualizations that provide an overview of actionable business data. Dashboard designer
Embedded Microsoft Power BI Power BI adds embedded Power BI tiles and dashboards to your app. Power BI is a cloud-based service that provides business intelligence (BI) insight. A combination of chart designer, dashboard designer, and Power BI

Screenshot example of visualization components with charts.

Advanced model-driven apps

Solution Explorer is used to make advanced model-driven apps. By using the navigation pane on the left side of the tool, you can navigate a hierarchy that consists of all app components.

To access the classic Solution Explorer, you must first select a Solution then select Switch to classic.

Screenshot of the Switch to Classic feature.

Screenshot of the Class Solution Explorer.