Flow - Extracting data from powerapps to an application

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I've created an app which is basically in the format of a form. Participants have to fill in the boxes with text, and there's also a section where participants have to take a photo. I want the data to connect either to another Office 365 application, or an external application.

Could anyone recommend any apps which would work best for collecting this type of data. I was thinking about an excel spreadsheet, but not sure if the photos would transfer? Also, how would could it connect? Would it be via creating a flow?

I'm new to PowerApps, so any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Jon

[SmartMeter]

Hi jonb123, 

Folks normally keep data in SQL databases, or SharePoint lists when they make power apps. The data source (where a new app is generated against) is the table structure for data storage. If you have O365, and can use a SharePoint list object, I would do it this way in a corporate setting. Powerapps also has data connectors to Azure and a variety of other cloud based data stores if your app is more wide reaching than the typical corporate domain. I would not use Excel to store my app data. Flow is the tool for moving data around, or sending notes to people when a new row is created in a data source. It is a workflow (action event) tool, not a data persistance tool like a SharePoint list, or a SQL database table. Hope this helps!

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your response.

How would I go about storing data in a sharepoint list, which is generated from the powerapp? I have create a sharepoint list, but just not sure how to get the data entered in the app, onto the list. Any ideas?

Do I have to create a database?

Thanks, 

Jon

[SmartMeter]

Hi Jon, 

Take courage, this is easy, and actually quite fun if you make it so. First make the sharepoint list. (you are here) Next, open power apps and look for the buton called "Create a new app". It's to the left of a very intimidating looking brunette girl who is beating up on two geeks.  

At this point you sign into your corporate tenet domain for office 365. (Back up one step, be sure to use chrome for this, because IE is not supported for the browser based IDE.) 

You will be presented with a screen to pick your app look and feel, and there are templates (think MS Access wizards) to model your generated app on. Pick the sharepoiont one and the phone layout.

For the connection screen add a Sharepoint connection to your domain, and paste the url for the site into

the box with the pink go button.

Once you paste the url, you can select your list from the "list of lists" presented. At the bottom right of the browser hit the connect button. (now the fun starts) An app will be generated for you to tinker with as a few animated circuit boardy graphics dance upon your screen. It will be auto populated at a gallery level, along with a detail and an edit screen for your list object to customize, repeat and rinse as needed.  

The sobering thing is,

if it gets much easier than this,

our companies will not need us ;-(

Either way, welcome to PowerApps!

(PS No database needed, stick with SharePoint for now as you get started, and branch out to other data sources once you have done some apps, and are comfortable with the environment.)

[Anonymous]

Many thanks for your reply. I have created the App from scratch already (see below). It's basically a form which participants are required to fill out. What I want is for participants to input text into the boxes on the app, and then the data inputted to be sent to a sharepoint list, which myself and colleagues can access. Is this possible? 

 

[SmartMeter]

Hello again, 

It is very possible to configure a data source for an existing app, made "from scratch" as you have. I recommend using a generated app against your SharePoint list though, because it will have many more features (like browsing records, inserting and modifying them too) which you will benefit from seeing. 

If you have put effort into this app, and wish to preserve that work, do this. Under view datasources you need to add a data source, then map the fields as data cards to your edit screen. At this point, you will need to do a little bit of homework or reading about the rich variety of data sources available, and decide upon which one you wish to use, and how to configure it so that your data cards can be bound (linked) down to the data source object. If you were my student, I would ask you to keep this one on ice for a while, and generate the example I mentioned in my prior response, because this is where you really should start. If I may say so, you are like an eager young person who wants to ride a 2 wheel bicycle, when I suggest you to start on a trike first, because there is a lot to learn from a generated app that Microsoft already does for us, so that we can learn from their example. Take care, and good luck with that app either way you connect it up to some data!

[Anonymous]

Many thanks for your reply. 

I have taken on board your advice to set up an app generated against a Sharepoint list, but generating the app in this way limits how the app will work. So I'm back to linking the data from my app from scratch.

Should I create an indivdual flow to Sharepoint from each text box (please see image below) - I am getting the message 'Complete flows parameters in formula bar). 

Thanks for taking the time to respond!

 

[SmartMeter]

Jon, I am glad you have one that hits the list object! As for the statement about "limits how the app will work" you get a gallery, a browse form, and an edit form from the generation. You can tear it up and delete them if you want, and only keep the pages you wish to morph into your own custom app. I wanted you to have the data source, this is why I directed you this way. I usually delete the second page and go directly from gallery to the edit form. Take a peek at the commands that navigate around the generated app, and you will see that your blank page starter app can certainly be made with the generated one. Either way you slice it I am glad you are connected to your data, and in no time you will have your first app done. My be is about a week 😉