Hands On With Power Apps On Windows Azure From Template

Introduction

Here, in this article, we will be working with PowerApps in Windows Azure, using a template. We will be building apps for Windows platform.

What is PowerApps?

PowerApps is a service, provided by Microsoft Windows Azure, to build applications for all platforms like Windows, iOS, and Android mobile devices. Using this service, we can create custom apps, without any expense on custom software development and time involved. For the time being, Microsoft’s PowerApps is at public preview.

PowerApps can be used by any sort of industry, like educational places, government sectors and corporations, etc. PowerApps helps us to build a custom app which we can use in automating our work for a survey,  poll etc. PowerApps can also work with the data, available on excel sheets, survey forms, SharePoint or Office 365 etc.

Developer Requirements

1. An account in PowerApps portal of Microsoft.
2. Downloaded PowerApps for your Windows system.

Follow the below steps to build a power app, using a template

Step 1: Login here with your corporate id or Office 365 id. Once you are logged in, your PowerApps portal will get loaded.



You can also download PowerApps studio to create your app on your own Windows machine or any other device, by clicking on the download link. This application supports all platforms, like Microsoft, Android and iOS.





The following screen is the home screen of PowerApps app which was downloaded from the Windows Store Portal for Windows 10.



Step 2: Click on New. Select “Create an app for phone", using Phone Layout, under the App templates. 


Step 3: Click on the bottom of the screen to add a Connection towards your Cloud Storage.



Let’s use OneDrive storage here. Sign-in with your Microsoft account.



Now, at the bottom of the screen, you can find that Cloud storage account has been added to store the Excel sheet.



Clicking on use, will upload the sample data to your cloud account.



This will automatically create your PowerApp too.



Now, you will be getting a screen, with a tour of PowerApp that has been created for you. This allows you to work with edits for all controls.



Here, we have created an app for Budget Tracker.

Step 4: Pressing on F5 will run the app.



Now, close the window and work on customizing the PowerApp.

Step 5: Go to Design menu and click on themes. This will change the theme of your app.



You also have other controls for adding image, buttons, and formula etc.

Step 6: Pressing Ctrl+S or File -> Save, will save your project.



I will save this app with the name of “Feroz tracker – Phone”. Make sure that “Allow access to other user in my Organization” is checked to share this app to other people





Now, the PowerApp is saved.