Power Apps Model-Driven Apps: Tutorial for Complete Beginners (2023 UPDATED)

**Brand new fully updated 2023 version of my original tutorial with over 130K views **
Power Apps model-driven apps are web-based applications built on your data model - think along the lines of a CRM system, or something you might have built with Access or any other database software - but with a full drag and drop interface, no code experience, that results in a fully accessible and responsive app. This video takes you through the core concepts of model driven apps, including tables (entities), columns (fields), views, forms and relationships - what they are, how they make up the app and how to build them. I also show you how to create a business process flow for your app, to guide the user through the steps and stages of a process.
0:00 - Intro to Model Driven Apps
1:16 - Understanding Dataverse tables
3:45 - Working with solutions
5:29 - Create a new table
13:35 - Create a relationship between tables
15:12 - Configure the Contact table
17:46 - Configure views
19:56 - Configure forms
24:58 - Add a subgrid to show data from a related table
26:18 - Configure a Business Process Flow
29:12 - Create a model driven app and navigation
31:22 - Entering data and using your app
33:34 - More learning resources

[@mertozbek2045]

I started doing our company's system last year with zero experience - and without your videos guiding me especially in the early stages it just wouldn't have happened. Thanks so much for putting all this together it's been such a great resource 🙂

[@LisaCrosbie]

That's awesome, thank you so much!

[@stevenhampson8657]

Thanks Lisa for taking the time to update this. The original was such a fantastic resource, and watched many times, so starting this one to review and a new reference point.

[@LisaCrosbie]

It’s been on my list for a while, glad to have it out there, the maker experience has changed and improved so much.

[@alicedwonderland7733]

I'm thrilled to have discovered your channel, Lisa! Brilliant work. I'm just starting with Power Apps and there were quite a few things that blew me away in this video!

[@LisaCrosbie]

Awesome, welcome and thank you.

[@tomtruman8844]

I am a voluntreer working for a NFP with some limited IT experience and none in Power Apps.Your turorials have been so helpful in enabling me to build an app for our team from sctratch. Love your appraoch which is both informative and entertaining.

[@cjcalo1765]

This is a great tutorial, thank you so much. And thank you for letting the process 'play out' so I know that there's nothing broken with my own setup, lol.

[@hendrickkone679]

Wow wow wow, you are such and grreat teacher and the example you work thorough can be twiked and be applied to many business cases.Thank you!

[@jasondumas6947]

Yes. Thanks Lisa. I've watched the first one as well and will plow through the updated version. I'm hoping that you cover bringing over all off the fields associated with an item lookup field. Hope that makes sense. Thanks for all of your hard work in putting these together. They are the very best place to start for beginners.

[@LisaCrosbie]

I haven't gone that deep into the lookup with this beginner tutorial but this is a question that comes up a lot so I have it on my list to make a video. Thanks for your support.

[@RuudJeursen]

Thanks Lisa, I started a few weeks ago in the earlier version and enjoyed your excellent "class" and explanations. Gonna get started tomorrow in this one. Keep up the good work! 😊

[@LisaCrosbie]

Awesome, thank you so much!

[@socb5642]

Thank you so much for making it clear. You have earned another subscriber.

[@lucasubieta7341]

What a marvelous masterclass!. Thanks a lot!.

[@chrisakol]

This video is amazing! Thank you Lisa! :)

[@jonathanchr6826]

Well put together and great examples!

[@SebastianHornbaek]

I sure got a LOT of help getting started with the previous guide you did! So nice that you keep up your awesome work Lisa 💪😎👏

[@LisaCrosbie]

Thank you 😊

[@AlexFloresG69]

Excellent teacher and great example apply to reality. Thanks Lisa.

[@kevinmccann709]

Thanks very much for your great Power Platform videos Lisa.

[@clairbland9642]

Great easy to follow instructions and explained clearly.

[@PradeepKumar-qs3he]

This is insanely amazing. Cant wait to become a pro at this. Thank you so much for the detailed walk through.

[@LisaCrosbie]

You're very welcome!

[@HilaryGo555]

Fantastic - Lisa is so clear, articulate and logical. Amazing videos and quite superb courses - I cannot recommend her more highly!

[@LisaCrosbie]

Thank you so much ☺️

[@carmscaffidi]

Thank you @LisaCrosbie I am subscribed to your channel. Great content and very helpful with getting familiar with all things Microsoft Dynamics.

[@LisaCrosbie]

Awesome, thank you so much.

[@allanxlwanga]

The teaching style is epic!! Thanks for the lecture.

[@LisaCrosbie]

You're very welcome!

[@Qeistjan]

Great!

[@BlaineAllmond-br8oq]

This was great. Now, I had to watch it three times- but thats on me. Thanks for the effort.

[@LisaCrosbie]

Wow, thank you so much, that's very generous of you, really appreciate that. I packed a lot in to this one, nothing wrong with going back over it 😊

[@asesorestic]

Excelente !

[@gznqtl]

Hello Lisa, thank you really!. Is it possible to show how to use m365 connector to enable/disable certain functionality in model driven?

[@frankjay4788]

Thanks!

[@LisaCrosbie]

Thank you so much, really appreciate that 😍

[@erdenebileglodon8131]

Hello LlIsa, I’m watching your lessons further. 2 questions about users: 1. I got an office 365 business standard plan and have 2 license users. I am admin and I shared my model driven app for another user. But my another user has full access to my solutions and tables if I gave him basic user web role to my app. How can I fix it? 2.Can I share my app outside of my organization? Thanks

[@JocelynAlsdorf]

Great video! Can you provide more context on the Timeline section when you were entering a new contact/instructor? How does that work and how would you access the Timeline to make and track updates/outreach on an existing contact/instructor?

[@LisaCrosbie]

The timeline allows you to track emails, appointments, tasks (all synched with Outlook/Exchange), notes, and also to configure any additional activity tables you want that are specific for your needs. So if you are emailing instructors you can track those emails in the timeline

[@EmialmasiaFull]

@Lisa Crosbie In the new version, when I do the model-drive, the navigation section is missing. Why? Or where to find it? it's always changing everything microsoft =S haha haha

[@ferre4892]

For the business rules, can you get a new form response and can you approve these status then?

[@mehtabidreesi7942]

well it takes almost 33 minutes to my 8 hours to complete this project hahah but I am happy that its completed

[@abdullahkasabji398]

Hi Lisa, fantastic tutorial, now my question is Do you have a complete Training Course on Model-Driven apps "Updated as of 2023" to align with the latest user interface from MS PowerApps?

[@LisaCrosbie]

My complete course was recorded in October 2022, and I haven’t redone the whole thing this year (yet)! It’s pretty close but not exactly aligned with the changes, it hasn’t had a lot of substantial change since then.

[@saudimran5515]

Hi Lisa, your teaching is amazing, I have a doubt related to lookup column, is it possible to add multiple choices for lookup column eg. -> mr smith, mr jhon, mr. harry.

[@LisaCrosbie]

No, to do that you need to create a one to many relationship to the contact table to select multiple records or use a multi select choice field.

[@hendb20]

Hi Lisa, i see this being very useful. can you import exstisting tables, crosstables and queries from access into data verse?

[@LisaCrosbie]

Yes, you can - you might find this helpful support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/get-started-migrate-access-data-to-dataverse-013c8bab-7737-46ca-ad2e-892bbf26287d

[@veronicageek]

That was excellent, didn't see the time go by 🙂 Quick question I can't seem to find the answer for please: Recommendation is to use built-in tables when possible (Account, Contact, etc...), but if I import those tables in my Solution and start adding new (custom) columns for example, what will other people (not related to my app or Solution) get when using those built-in tables in THEIR apps/Solutions? Will they see my columns anywhere? Thanks!

[@jmehirst]

Yes, they will be available anywhere in the enviornment. This can cause dependency problems in deployments

[@LisaCrosbie]

Yes, those new columns will be available to anyone else in the environment but they will only "see" them in their apps if they also go in and change their forms and views. If you create new forms and views for those tables for your app, then other apps shouldn't be impacted. These tables have dozens (or hundreds!) of columns already in the environment that you don't see unless you add them to the forms.

[@leonardomenezesdasilva5222]

Thank you for the excellent video. Would it be possible to embed OneDrive or a SharePoint document library within PowerApps Model Driven (Dataverse)? I'm interested in learning how to do this. Additionally, I would like to synchronize it with my computer using OneDrive.

[@LisaCrosbie]

Yes, there is native integration with SharePoint so that you can see related documents from a record in a model driven app. I haven't done a video on that yet, on the list!

[@bronlowe5200]

Hi Lisa, I'm a bit of a "big picture brain" so I'm looking for a simple step diagram to clarify the process, am I correct in presuming that the process is basically : 1. create a solution, 2. create my tables, (including relationships) 3. create forms for each table, 4. create views for each table (including relationship views in separate tabs), 5. publish, 6. Create my apps with my MDA as datasource? 🙃

[@LisaCrosbie]

Spot on. That's the order I've used here. You can go back and create (extra) forms and views after you've created your MDA as well.

[@RonDavidowicz]

Excellent video. What type of licenses do you need to have to develop this type of app?

[@LisaCrosbie]

Every user will need a Power Apps Premium or Per App license. (This isn’t included in Microsoft E3, E5)

[@RRSustainibility]

Can we have access limitation in the business flow between requestor and approver?

[@LisaCrosbie]

Yes, you can control access to the fields via security roles (I haven't made a video about that yet), or this is another way to lock it down a bit more kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqWxgn-gbNp-rbM

[@breadandcheese1880]

Great content and very helpful. One reason why my user is not going with this approach is due to them having to fill courses one at a time in a form instead of filling courses in an excel like gallery. Is there a way to make it easier for the user to add line item details in one grid rather than through a form?

[@LisaCrosbie]

Yes, there is a built in "Edit in Excel Online" feature under the export to Excel option in the toolbar, that opens up and you can just enter directly in the Excel interface. I will do a video on this, it keeps coming up.

[@breadandcheese1880]

@@LisaCrosbie that will be very helpful! Thank you! Does that mean the user is taken outside of the model driven app to add line items and how does the save back function work?

[@LisaCrosbie]

It comes up as an additional frame inside the model driven app, they don't leave it. They hit an obvious save button in that UI when done, and then the data input runs in the background (effectively as an import but without the user explicitly having to do that)

[@breadandcheese1880]

Thank you!@@LisaCrosbie

[@erdenebileglodon8131]

Thanks for your video lessons. I’m learning and creating model driven app. I have 1 question about licensing. I will create a model driven app and share for my customers that they put information and using full service in this app environment. My company is very small consulting service. Which plan suits for my needs? All my users need Microsoft license? How about this authenticated users plan? Sorry I am really beginner and don’t understand all this plans. Please, advise

[@LisaCrosbie]

A model driven app can only be used by licensed users in your tenant - every user needs a full Power Apps license and will login via your Azure AD. For that reason it's not usually a good choice for something you want customers to use. For customers to enter information you can look at Power Pages (which is a portal connected to your model driven app data) or use Microsoft Forms for them to submit information and Power Automate to create data table rows in your app.

[@erdenebileglodon8131]

Hello Lisa, Sorry for so many questions. I am absolutely beginner. Probably I choosing wrong plan (office 365, business) I will just create model driven app and share for my users. Which plan suits for me. How can my user login via my Azure AD? How can I create my Azure AD? Thanks for your time

[@jeffreyslavik2790]

Hi - new to power apps. I want to build an internal facing web page that shows a grid based off a table I've built in power apps. I then want to add a button that will display a form that will let me add data to that table which will then be reflected on my internal facing grid. I've looked through a ton of different videos but am still not quite sure which path I should be pursuing to accomplish this. Any tips on direction? Thanks!

[@LisaCrosbie]

Model driven apps (this video) does exactly what you describe, if you've built the tables in dataverse. Otherwise if you prefer a canvas app (which you could run in a browser), you can do that and then design the form and the button. This tutorial kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2PKgJR_bKqnhcU goes through the basics or else check out Shane Young's channel here on KZbin.

[@jeffreyslavik2790]

@@LisaCrosbie Hi, thanks for the reply. Yes, I created my test tables in the dataverse as you demonstrated. With presenting grid data, I watched this video and it makes perfect sense, however, I also see videos talking about galleries etc (which seems to require more coding). I'm just confused as to which is the preferred way to go. With your method, model driven app, are you able to customize the forms, views to include headers and graphics etc? If not, then maybe as you mention, canvas is the way to go? Thanks so much for all the info you provide. I'll take a look at the canvas app video link you provided.

[@breadandcheese1880]

Can a model driven app have a cloud flow that runs when someone clicks save and close button in the model driven app?

[@LisaCrosbie]

You can trigger a Power Automate flow from Dataverse (which is what the model driven app uses as the data source) based on either create or update of a new record. That should achieve what you're looking for.

[@ranjanroy1623]

any help or guidance will be appreciated (MDA Question): I have a "start date" field and a "Duration" field which is in Year . My requirement is , if a user selecta a "Start date" (e.g. 1/1/2023) and then Duration as 2 Years . The End Date is auto populated as a date (1/1/2025) with 2 years after the selected date . Pls help in achieving this functionality , many thanks

[@LisaCrosbie]

You can do this using PowerFx - have a look at what I do in my full course here (at 1:05:16) - it's not exactly the same but should help explain the concept. I think I will use your specific example here for another video though! kzbin.info/www/bejne/gnqmaXd8jJ2Zhac

[@BrunoMiguelLoureiro]

Hi Lisa, I've followed all the steps, but when I'm trying to create the column Instructor (lookup) I got the error "The Entity with id 3f44f7c7-ede6-ed11-a7c6-000d3a4b49e5 does not exist"... I've added the Contact table to the solution (add existing table) to see if it work, but I've got the same error... I've also tried to create a new relationship (New relationship - Many-to-one) and the same error appears every time... any suggestion?

[@LisaCrosbie]

Sorry, that's not something I can easily solve, it can happen when the table has been removed but that doesn't appear to be the case here. Double check you're connecting to the right table (Contact / Contract can look very similar on the screen!), otherwise try the Power Apps community forums

[@BrunoMiguelLoureiro]

@@LisaCrosbie Thanks for the reply Lisa, when I tried again the next day, it worked fine.... don't know why... 🤪

[@EMiller500]

In my tenant the ability to create a new table is greyed out. I suppose that's something which IT administration is controlling. What level (or security role) do I need to create a new table? And if I can't get that, can I get by by using existing tables? Can I use an existing table and just modify it? Would that work just as well in the end?

[@LisaCrosbie]

I’d suggest signing up for the Power Apps developer plan at aka.ms/PowerAppsDeveloperPlan. That way you get your own environment with access to everything.

[@EMiller500]

@@LisaCrosbie Thank you. Actually, the IT director has granted me access as a developer. The issue I have now is that when I start to build the model-driven app, the interface for pages seems very different now. When creating the first page, it offers "Dataverse table" and then "Dashboard," ""URL," "Web resource," and "Custom page." Dataverse table seems to work the same as in your video, but then, when it arrives at the page, the Navigation of the pages, is completely different, and it doesn't have "subarea." I'm totally stuck and can't go any further with creating the app itself.

[@EMiller500]

It seems like the model-driven app building interface has changed. There is no subarea. The icon that you click on in the longer (3.5 hours tutorial) when you add the first page isn't there now. With Pages, it doesn't have "Navigation Bar" -- Just "Navigation"; while it's possible to create a "New Group" there, there are no "Subareas" at all--not anywhere. So there's no way to follow that longer tutorial once you start building the app itself.

[@EMiller500]

I found this on Microsoft's guides: "Starting in October 2023, the classic app, form, and view designers are deprecated and all model-driven apps, forms, and views will only open in the modern designers. By default, the Switch to classic command to revert back to the classic designer from the modern designer will no longer be available. More information: Classic app, form, and view designers are deprecated."

[@SmartLearningAI]

Why did you only allow each course to let the user choose only one subject? I would expect each course to have many subjects? but perhaps you just wanted to show a single subject per course? I modified mine to allow the selection of multiple subjects for each course :-) I also added a business rule to automatically set the Currently Offered Status to 'Yes' once the Course is Approved and vice versa.

[@LisaCrosbie]

Just keeping it simple for a short beginner tutorial. Those are good suggestions to extend it further.

[@mervyndeanhilary2831]

can a model driven app build an app for a school ?

[@LisaCrosbie]

Yes

[@mervyndeanhilary2831]

any scope video on that to aid learning@@LisaCrosbie

[@muhammadfarquleetwaris3810]

your speaking speed is too fast for non English.

[@LisaCrosbie]

You might find it helpful to change the playback speed to 0.75? Or try my complete free 3 hour course, I go slower in that one.

[@akshaynangare1887]

I Subscribed your channel today, because I found your video informative

[@EMiller500]

Thanks!

[@LisaCrosbie]

Thank you so much, I really appreciate that 🥰

[@EMiller500]

@@LisaCrosbie You're welcome -- your longer (3.5 hour) tutorial is excellent! I've set up all the tables, views, forms etc., but can't build the app itself, because it seems Microsoft has changed the designer. I'm going to see if I can make it work with this new interface.

[@muhammadfaheemanwar1268]

your speaking speed is too fast for non English.

[@LisaCrosbie]

You might find it helpful to change the playback speed to 0.75? Or try my complete free 3 hour course, I go slower in that one.