Answered

Sharepoint list form - customize form vs. Canvas App

(1) Share

Report

Posted on by Chicago1919

Hello all,

I am very new to PowerApps. Currently, we are looking to replace our on prem Sharepoint with Sharepoint Online and thus I am looking to recreate forms we currently have on prem, in PowerApps. I see there are basically 2 options, using "customize form" in Sharepoint and creating Canvas Apps. Can someone tell me what the difference between the 2 options are? I've seen that access is different - custom form would use a link to the form directly in SP; Canvas app can be accessed via the web or via the PowerApps mobile app. As our users are used to using a link to the Sharepoint form now, I'm leaning on just going that route. Also, I don't know if our users would get a warm and fuzzy by going to an app that isn't custom to our site and is generically called PowerApps.

Any reason why I might NOT go the SP custom form route and instead choose to create Canvas Apps for SP? Are the licensing requirements different between the 2 or do both require the same Office 365 license (if premium connectors aren't used)? I see so many resources on creating Canvas apps vs. the custom SP form which makes me wonder if I should go the Canvas App route due to possible limitations in the custom SP forms? Looking for path of least resistance also.

Any and all advice is welcome.

Thank you!

Christine

Categories:

Building Power Apps

I have the same question (0)

All responses (7)

Answers (1)

Akash17 549 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report

According to me basically when you select Customize forms It means your are creating Customized list PowerApps and other option that you are talking about the 2nd option will create standalone application

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Chicago1919 8 on at

Like (0)

Report

Thank you for your response! How does the user experience differ though? Only that the standalone app can be accessed via the mobile app? If a Canvas App, how would users get to the app on a computer? Do they have to go to powerapps.com to access it or is there another way? Direct link?

Best,

Christine

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Verified answer

v-jefferni on at

Like (0)

Report

Hi @Chicago1919 ,

People could use canvas apps in browsers via a link. Please refer to below doc to see how to share an app with others:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/share-app

After shared the app, users could access the app in browsers via the share-link in the emails sent to them or you copied from Power Apps Portal (make.powerapps.com) and sent to them. If the user have a power apps license, which is necessary for running an app, he will be able to go to Power Apps Portal and see all the apps that shared with and created by him. In power apps mobile app, users could see all the apps as they would when going to Power Apps Portal.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Community Support Team _ Jeffer Ni
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Chicago1919 8 on at

Like (0)

Report

Thank you so much as that helps a lot! I also see that I can get the link if I go to make.powerapps.com, click on the ellipses next to the app and choose details. Much appreciated!

Best,

Christine

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
D10ny5u532 53 on at

Like (0)

Report

It's also possible to open a canvas app in the list view. If you customise the list view layout and also add to the form ID, URL parameters to the app to open particular items.

Also with customised list forms the form always lives in Personal Productivity, and it's not displayed in your design studio, so you need to go via the SharePoint list to customise it. Canvas apps can live in any environment.

It's very difficult to migrate and copy custom forms compared with Canvas Apps.

I tend to stay away from custom forms.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
AnggieM 7 on at

Like (0)

Report

Hello, how can I open a canvas application in a sharepoint list view?
How can I do the following?:
If you customise the list view layout and also add to the form ID, URL parameters to the app to open particular items.

I need help please.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
D10ny5u532 53 on at

Like (0)

Report

Add a text column to your sharepoint list and use custom formatting to add something like
{
"$schema": "https://developer.microsoft.com/json-schemas/sp/v2/column-formatting.schema.json",
"elmType": "a",
"txtContent": "@currentField",
"attributes": {
"target": "_blank",
"href": "='<<powerapps link>>?GUID='+[$GUID0]"
}
}
This will add a URL parameter of GUID and use the SharePoint column GUID0 as the value. The internal SP ID column will work fine too.

Then you'll need to add code to your PowerApp.

First when patching to SharePoint patch to the GUID column GUID()

And, in, In Start App code, or somewhere appropriate look for the URL parameter and process appropriately.
eg.
If(
IsBlank(Param("GUID")),
Navigate(
'Home Screen',
ScreenTransition.Fade
),
Set(
gSelectedItem,
LookUp(
<SharePoint DataSource>,
GUID = Param("GUID")
)
);

Navigate(
'Edit Screen',
ScreenTransition.Fade
)
);

Was this reply helpful? Yes No