Heuristics on Dataverse visualizations for Power Platform and Model-Driven Apps
Sharon Smith
Dual Microsoft BizApps MVP | Dynamics 365 Solution Architect | 15x Microsoft Certified & Success by Design Accredited | Microsoft Women In Power Mentor & Power Up Program Champ | HeuristicDev Blogger | Public Speaker |
- Why are there differences between the two visualizations?
As you work through the Learning Paths for the #PL200 Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant certificate, if you're an 'attention to detail' kind of learner, you'll notice that two different visualizations are used when talking about Dataverse for Power Platform and for Model-Driven Apps.
??? Under the initial:
?'Get started using Dataverse' Learning Path,
??? the first Module:
?'Identify foundational components of Microsoft Power Platform '
??? has within it a unit called:
?'Explore Microsoft Dataverse'.
?
Here you're presented with the below image, showing a "visualization that brings together the many offerings of Microsoft Dataverse".
This style of visualization is something that I saw more than once whilst doing the Fundamentals certificates, and is accompanied by bullet-point explanations of each category of features.
?So far, so normal…
?
However,
?? when you get to the fourth Learning path:
?'Create a model-driven application in Power Apps'
??? its first Module:
?'Get started with model-driven apps in Power Apps'
??? has within it a unit called:
?'Introduction to Dataverse'.
This unit has a video where "we take a look at the architecture design of #Dataverse…".
?Fine?<play>
?
The narrator of the video introduces you to the five members of the Power Platform family and the reasons why Dataverse is the highly recommended option from within the data sources available.
?They go on to exclaim how "Dataverse is jam packed with features to make your solution successful from the get-go" and that it includes "Security, Logic, Data, Storage and Integration (their emphasis on the aand).
?What's revealed layer by layer isn't the traditional wedge-shaped diagram, but the below, more sophisticated (in my opinion) version.
?
But hang on… some of the icons in this version don't quite look familiar.
?
So what are the differences and why?
?
Initially I thought it was just a move to a more up-to-date look with, for example, a Multi-Factor Authentication-style shield for Authentication rather than a padlock under #Security.
?But there are more significant differences:
?
Security
The Model-Driven Apps version includes a Role-Based Security icon, which doesn't appear under the Power Platform version
?Is this material?
?I would say not, as the text beneath the diagram goes on to say "Any business solution can connect to Dataverse using connectors APIs.?With the power of features such as role-based security and business rules you can trust your data is safe no matter how it is accessed.".
?
Data
and in turn
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?Is this material?
?For both Mobile Offline and Multi-Language Apps, I would say Yes.
?
Mobile Offline
Model-Driven Apps can be made available across various devices from desktop to mobile, using a similar User Interface across all platforms that is accessible and responsive automatically:
?
And since November 2022, the ability to enable your Model-Driven Apps for offline use on a mobile device has been available in preview:?
?
Multi-Language Apps
?At first I thought that the difference was down to the fact that the ability to build a multi-language Canvas App is in public preview, and is achieved through the creation of a reusable component for translation:
However, when you follow the breadcrumbs laid out for you under the 'Important' note on the Microsoft Learn docs page, to understand more about the use of 'components for canvas apps' being in public preview here, you find out that the way this functionality is brought to Model-Driven Apps is through Custom Pages!!
?
Although I haven't explored the availability of the 'Multi-language, Multi-currency' functionality in the other component parts of #PowerPlatform (Power BI, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agent and Power Pages) I would suggest that if it's only available for Model-Driven Apps by way of Custom Pages, it should be included as part of the Power Platform version of the Dataverse visualization as well.
?
?The two final segments of #Storage and #Integration I looked at together.
?
Storage
The Power Platform version has a Data Lake icon, which doesn't appear in the Model Driven Apps version, which has a Data Export icon instead.
?Integration sees the biggest differences, where their icons are completely different across the two visualizations:
??? The Power Platform version has:
?
?? Whereas the Model-Driven Apps version has:
?Fundamentally, both of these segments are all about Dataverse's integration with #Azure.
?
Returning to the Model-Driven Apps 'Introduction to Dataverse' video, after revealing the new version of the visualization, it goes on to explain how Dataverse runs on Azure with all the computing power and storage resources you will need. In addition, it can extend to other Azure services you may need as well, and this includes Azure Functions, Kubernetes Services and even Data Lake:
??
So whilst the Model-Driven Apps version of the Dataverse visualization might have included a generic Data Export icon under Storage, here we can clearly see that it includes Data Lake Storage alongside other Relational Databases and Azure Storage Account options for non-relational data.
?On Integration, all the Event and Export functionality highlighted on the Power Platform version are covered for Model-Driven Apps by this second visualization.
?
Why did they do this?
?Most likely (again, in my opinion) to free up this final segment to highlight the important App development, source control and execution #controls which wouldn't apply to all five of the Power Platform's component parts.
?
?What #conclusions can we draw from this review?
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1 年Fanny S.
Dual Microsoft BizApps MVP | Dynamics 365 Solution Architect | 15x Microsoft Certified & Success by Design Accredited | Microsoft Women In Power Mentor & Power Up Program Champ | HeuristicDev Blogger | Public Speaker |
1 年The 'Explore Microsoft Dataverse' unit with the 'Microsoft Dataverse: What's in the box' visualization can be found at: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/introduction-common-data-service/4-explore-microsoft-dataverse ? The 'Introduction to Dataverse' unit with the 'architecture design of Dataverse' visualization can be found at: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/build-first-model-driven-app-dataverse/introduction ? Details on the preview functionality for Mobile offline for Model-Driven Apps can be found at: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/mobile/mobile-offline-overview ? Details on how to build a multi-language app can be found at: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/canvas-apps/multi-language-apps ? Details about Dataverse's integration with Azure can be found at: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/developer/data-platform/azure-integration ? My post on Breaking apart the monolithic mindset can be found at: https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/sharon-smith-490a23242_podcasts-linkedinarticles-monoliths-activity-7058812301159608320-0M6P?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop ? ?