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Session Id : 1s/L9yRgypCsq7OzO11kAS
Power Apps - Microsoft Dataverse
Answered

Environment

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Posted on 26 Oct 2022 13:07:25 by 115

Hello Everyone.

 

I wanted to know about environments in Power Platform.

I want to make 3 environments. One for developing, one for testing and one for production.

 

So for development what environment should I prefer Developer or Sandbox or Default? [Also give explanation please]

 

So what exactly is the difference between the above three??

 

I have heard that Sandbox has copy and reset feature. So, with copy feature can I copy all the apps, flows etc from Developing environment to Testing environment without adding the apps, flows to solutions?? So should I prefer Sandbox for developing as well as I will have to transfer them to testing environment??? Also why we use Reset feature??

 

And I also read Sandbox environment can be converted from sandbox to production and vice versa. Is it a good technique???

According to me, I should keep them separate only.

 

And at end I want to ask about environment variables. How important they are? Can we make solutions and transfer it another solution without environment variables? Is it necessary to have environment variables or we can ignore them? What is the actual theory behind making environment variables and using them??

 

Please dont provide any links of blogs, posts etc or a you tube video. I have seen many.

I need real experience here. The limitations of using some of the environments mentioned above. The limitation of copy feature in a sandbox environment and can I prefer it over making solutions.

 

Thanks. 🙂

 

  • urklnme Profile Picture
    162 on 04 Mar 2024 at 13:12:07
    Re: Environment

    The internet is chocked full of where to find the convert to sandbox button.  There seems to be little info regarding the state of solutions and components afterwards.

     

    Do you know if solutions and the components in the Sandbox are managed or unmanaged after converting Production to Sandbox??

    Anyone?

  • AhmedSalih Profile Picture
    6,678 Super User 2025 Season 1 on 28 Oct 2022 at 12:36:53
    Re: Environment

    @Unknown123, Happy to help 🙂

  • Unknown123 Profile Picture
    115 on 28 Oct 2022 at 12:33:36
    Re: Environment

    @AhmedSalih 

     

    Thanks a Lot!!!

     

    🙂

  • AhmedSalih Profile Picture
    6,678 Super User 2025 Season 1 on 27 Oct 2022 at 12:05:34
    Re: Environment

    Good morning @Unknown123, Check this video for Daniel Christian and you have a clear understanding about the Environment variables and how to use them and why they are important: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Webinars-and-Video-Gallery/How-to-use-Environment-Variables/td-p/797185

     

    As for the ALM and why you need it, check these resources: 

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/alm/basics-alm

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/guidance/coe/setup-almacceleratorpowerplatform#creator-kit

    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/guidance/coe/almacceleratorpowerplatform-components

     

    Also, note that a new feature will be available sometime early next year where citizen developers will be able to setup and implement ALM without any code:

    thumbnail_IMG_3226.jpg

     

     

     

    If my reply helped you, please give a đź‘Ť , & if it solved your issue, please 👍 & Accept it as the Solution to help other community members find it more.


    I am primarily available on weekdays from 6-10 PM CT and 5-10 PM CT on weekends.


    Visit my Blog: www.powerplatformplace.com


     

     

  • Unknown123 Profile Picture
    115 on 27 Oct 2022 at 10:28:48
    Re: Environment

    @AhmedSalih 

     

    Thanks for the great explanation. That answered most of my questions.

     

    Can you give a good link for ALM, I will read about it more. And also can you explain the part of Developing Environment configuration settings. Really didnt get it. How important it is? And whats the effect of it on the overall development? Or if a good link is there for it, it would be really helpful.

     

    Thanks.

  • Verified answer
    AhmedSalih Profile Picture
    6,678 Super User 2025 Season 1 on 26 Oct 2022 at 17:18:13
    Re: Environment

    Hello, @Unknown123,

     

    "So for development what environment should I prefer Developer or Sandbox or Default? [Also give explanation please]"

    • For Development, you should use SandBox: which is a non-production environment, which offer features like copy and reset. Sandbox environments are used for development and testing, separate from production
    • Developer environments are created by users who have the Developer Plan license. The developer environment will be available as long as you actively use the Power Apps Developer Plan.
    • Default Environment can be accesses by all your Tenant users who have license (You don't want that if you are using ALM) 

     

    "with copy feature can I copy all the apps, flows etc from Developing environment to Testing environment without adding the apps, flows to solutions??" That is correct

     

    And I also read Sandbox environment can be converted from sandbox to production and vice versa. Is it a good technique??? If you only have Production Environment and you want to Reset the environment, you will have to convert the Production to SandBox to reset. Using ALM, you want need to convert Production to Sandbox because you already have Sandbox.

    According to me, I should keep them separate only. YES

     

    And at end I want to ask about environment variables. How important they are? Can we make solutions and transfer it another solution without environment variables? Is it necessary to have environment variables or we can ignore them? What is the actual theory behind making environment variables and using them??

    By Using Environment variables, you can transferee your Developing Environment configuration settings or input parameters when deployed to different environments. The alternative is leaving hard-coded parameter values within the components that use them. This is often problematic; especially when the values need to be changed during application lifecycle management (ALM) operations. Because environment variables are solution components, you can transport the references (keys) and change the values when solutions are migrated to other environments. 

    So, it is good practice to use Environment variables.

     

     

    If my reply helped you, please give a đź‘Ť , & if it solved your issue, please 👍 & Accept it as the Solution to help other community members find it more.


    I am primarily available on weekdays from 6-10 PM CT and 5-10 PM CT on weekends.


    Visit my Blog: www.powerplatformplace.com


     

     

     

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