The secret to doing Microsoft exams for free!

Quick tip! Using QuickChart.IO with dynamic values (Canvas app edition)

(This is lengthy for a quick tip, whoops, scroll all the way down to quickly check the fix) First of all, FULL credit goes to Pen Warner who graciously shared his QuickchartIO code with me that he used for his app. His app is awesome, check that out here. He’s on Twitter here: @p3nf0ld His Blog I was trying to do dynamic data into a quickchart.IO code, which I learned how to do in Kristine’s video here Go check her out as well, she’s awesome!

Setting restrictive security on a Word Template while leaving sections open (Restrictive editing)

Another Word tip, oh my… This explains how to set security on a Word document, restrict the editing, but allow forms to be filled out, and certain sections to be edited. For example, to add in attachments or images. It’s the most frustrating process, but I hope I can explain it clearly. If you find you cannot add a continuous break, but it does a page break, check out this article, or redo your document (that’s what I did)

Business Process Flow - How to automate moving through different stages

How to move stages automatically (BPF) using Power Automate (no http calls needed) Quick summary: You need to grab data from 3 different tables, link them using lookup columns, capture ID’s, and add in conditions and use Data operations to shape the data into usable steps. Then add in a switch depending on your stage names, and add final actions updating your BPF table. Sounds easy enough right?….. I hope this helps, and I tried explaining it clearly, please let me know in case of any questions, feedback, other methods etc. For me this worked.

How to repeat words in Microsoft Word (XML Mappings)

I know I usually only do Power Platform, but Microsoft Word is bound to be in your project needs someday, or combining with Power Automate, so I figured why not? Ever had the request to have certain words repeated, lets say in a header or footer? It can be anything, a date, name, product title, Business Unit etc etc. This can be achieved using XML Mapping in Microsoft Word. To get to the XML mapping, you must first have the Developer Tab activated.

Another quick tip! Removing blank items in a compose

This is a follow-up post for my earlier blog, Combine data from multiple apply to each into a single output file (Variables and compose) Cat Schneider helped me tremendously on this one, full credit to her! Find her blog here Following these steps, results in some empty values also being added. For example, if there is an empty entry, but the item exists and you specify that item it will show up.

Quick tip! Unmanaged layers - updates not moving through environments (ALM)

I had this issue today and figured I’d write a quick tip for it. I’ve changed my app, modified flows, everything works fine in Dev, publish customizations, export as managed and move to Test. Verified the client can see the new app version, and asked her to test. Uh-oh, the flows aren’t reflecting changes. Issue: Changes made in one environment, don’t reflect in another environment in a managed solution Solution/Fix: Check on your Flows, or anything not reflecting the changes, for the Solution Layers Go to your flow for example, the ellipsis (…) and check the Solution Layers. Check if there is an Unmanaged layer there. Remove this layer, and reimport your package. Test and it should have updated, if not, check for more unmanaged layers. What are unmanaged layers and why do they occur? If you have a managed solution, and make any edit (could also be just open a flow run and save it) it can create an edited ‘unmanaged’ layer, and this could cause your updates to not go through.

How to get submitted values from your Choices/optionset column in Dataverse

Ever noticed that when you select your columnname, in the dynamic data, it doesnt give you the result and it stays blank? I’d like to explain how you can get the value for your dropdown. There is a difference between the display name, and the actual name of that value. Dataverse often uses @OData.Community.Display.V1.FormattedValue instead of the previous new_value_label. In your Power automate flow, either run the flow and check the body, or add a Compose step after your Get Items/Update Item etc. step for Dataverse.

How to do Microsoft exams?

Check out this video that I did for testpreptraining.com, on how to become a Power Platform Analyst, some tips and how to prepare for a Microsoft exam. Why become Microsoft Power Platform Developer - Learn with Nathalie Leenders - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc637VyEsig

Quick tip! Boolean in SQL

Are you looking for a boolean column in SQL? Or have a virtual table and need a toggle/checkbox in your app? If you have just a string/text field with True/False this wont work. You need to convert the column in SQL to BIT. Bit is an integer data type that can take a value of 0, 1, or NULL 1 for true, 0 for false. Then reload/refresh your table into your dataverse/virtual table and it can be selected with a checkbox!

Dataverse Choices to SQL backend- Update!

Changing the button for “Fork” into “Bork!” for Github

This has to be the best thing to come out of 2023 (and yes, it’s only January so that’s saying something) My longest blog post and read to date, but I promise you it’s worth it! I was on the First Time Contributor training yesterday, one of the Sharing is Caring sessions led by David Warner and Hugo Bernier. (<3) M365 & Power Platform | Sharing Is Caring (pnp.github.io) In this training they explain how Github works, and how to edit an existing item using the Branches, Forks, Committing changes and how a Pull Request works. (I can highly recommend their sessions if you want to learn, there’s no recordings and it’s a safe space for all to ask questions and interrupt)