Canvas or Model Driven recommendation

[Dudditz]

I am going to build an inspection report app that our field service can use on tablets to perform QA inspection while in the field.  The app will consist of the following:

Lookup to Azure SQL to pre-populate Customer and Project information fields.

Entering new items which would require a variety of fields such as name of task, yes no fields, etc. This would be displayed as a repeating table as an inspection report could have a few or as many as 30 related line items.  My research is indicating the best way to do this within a canvas app is to use a gallery instead of a form.

Signature field, Ideally this will use the pen input however open to other types of digital signature methods.

Ability to generate a PDF of the final form with signature included.  Ideally this will save to Sharepoint automaticaly by some trigger.  

I believe all these requirements can be done in a canvas app however I am curious if anyone can provide some input if a model driven app could also facilitate this?  I was thinking a model driven app might be better with repeating tables?  Also since model driven can only consume from CDS I woudl syn the Azure SQL over to the CDS.  Due to our Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations licensing we are already licnesed for model driven apps.  I have not created a model driven app so any insight on this would be appreciated.

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @Dudditz ,

Based on the needs that you mentioned, I think the canvas app would be the better choice for you.

If you want to pre-populate Customer and Project information fields from your Azure SQL table or CDS data source, I think Model-Driven app could not achieve your needs.

If you want to save a Signature pic to the Signature field in your data source or generate an PDF file based on the final form, I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in Model-Driven app. You could achieve these needs using PowerApps canvas app.

More details about the difference between canvas app and Model-Driven app in PowerApps, please check the following article:

https://sachinbansal.blog/2018/04/23/powerapp-canvas-vs-model-driven-apps-spring-2018-update/

More details about creating a repeating table using PowerApps canvas app, please check the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgznk4XlPCo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DylxsXIUyDc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUX_0AA4-Hs

More details about generating an PDF file based on final form data using canvas app, please check the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfXV_GXc_JM

Best regards,