Posted on

Boost your tech skills with Collab365 Academy’s innovative Microsoft 365 and Power Platform learning community

If you’ve ever dreamed about diving deeper into the Microsoft 365 and Power Platform worlds without having to become a coding wizard, Collab365 Academy might just be the golden ticket you’ve been searching for. This place is all about turning tech enthusiasts, regardless of their coding skills, into no-code heroes. And guess what? They’re kicking things off with a 7-day free trial, so you can get a taste of the magic without pulling out your wallet.

Why Collab365 Academy is Your Next Big Move

  • Diverse Learning Paths: Whether you’re eyeing a career in app development with Power Apps, aiming to master automation with Power Automate, or looking to transform data into decisions with Power BI, there’s a path carved out just for you.
  • Certification Galore: Not only do you learn, but you also get to prove your newfound skills with certifications that matter. Imagine adding a shiny new Credly badge to your LinkedIn profile or employee development file!
  • From Zero to Hero: Their courses are designed to lead beginners all the way to advanced levels. And for the pros? There’s always new ground to break and more to learn.
  • Real-World Application: This isn’t about just watching videos or reading an article and calling it a day. Collab365 emphasizes hands-on learning through workshops that tackle real-world problems. You’re not just learning; you’re doing.
  • Community and Support: Join a global community of learners and experts where you can share, ask, and collaborate. With Collab365, you’re never learning in isolation.
  • All Things Microsoft 365: For those who want to go big, their Platinum Plan covers over 450 hours of training on everything Microsoft 365. It’s like having a tech university at your fingertips.

The Nitty-Gritty

  • Start Free: Kick things off with a 7-day free trial. Dive into the courses, connect with the community, and start building something cool.
  • Flexibility: You can cancel anytime, but something tells me you’ll want to stick around.
  • Beyond the Trial: After your trial, there’s a whole world of learning, certification, and community waiting for you.

Who’s It For?

Honestly? It’s for anyone curious enough to explore the possibilities of no-code development, automation, and data analysis. Whether you’re looking to shift careers, upskill, or just tackle personal projects in a new way, Collab365 Academy has something for you.

So, why wait? Dive in, start your free trial, and see where this journey takes you. It’s not just about learning; it’s about becoming a part of the future of tech, no coding degree required.

Posted on

Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online Cookbook: A complete guide to Microsoft Office 365 apps including SharePoint, Power Platform, Copilot and more

Today marks a significant milestone, and I am thrilled to share this exciting development with you. Some time ago, Gaurav Mahajan invited Scott Brewster and me to join him and co-author Sudeep Ghatak in a collaborative effort that promised to revolutionize how professionals navigate Microsoft 365. The result of our collective endeavor is the book: “Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online Cookbook: A complete guide to Microsoft Office 365 apps including SharePoint, Power Platform, Copilot, and more”.

🔗 Get your copy here

About the Book

This book is a comprehensive navigator for enhancing collaboration, boosting productivity, and harnessing the full potential of Microsoft 365. It covers a broad range of topics from SharePoint and Microsoft Teams to Power Automate, Power Apps, Power BI, and beyond, offering over 100 practical recipes designed to help you leverage Microsoft 365’s suite of tools to their fullest potential.

Published by Packt, this invaluable resource is now available for purchase. We were also fortunate to have Mark Kashman write a foreword for us, for which we are profoundly grateful. ❤️

Key Features

  • Enhance collaboration and productivity: Learn to use SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Viva apps, Planner, and Microsoft Forms to foster a collaborative and productive environment.
  • Automate processes: Build apps, bots, and dashboards with Power Automate, Power Apps, Copilot Studio, and Power BI, streamlining your workflows and processes.
  • Leverage Copilot: Explore how Copilot, the new AI virtual assistant, can provide seamless support in your everyday tasks.

Who This Book Is For

This book caters to anyone stepping into the world of Microsoft 365, from business professionals and IT administrators to enterprise architects. It offers valuable insights for establishing a contemporary, digital workplace effectively. Additionally, its comprehensive coverage makes it an excellent gift for Microsoft 365 enthusiasts in your life.

Join us in this exciting journey with the Microsoft 365 and SharePoint Online Cookbook. Your support is greatly appreciated, and I look forward to hearing about your thoughts and successes as you explore the wealth of information provided in this guide.

Posted on

Service principals vs service accounts: Which one should you use for Power Automate flows?

colorful toothed wheels

Power Automate allows you to automate workflows across various applications and services. However, when you create a flow, you need to decide how to authenticate and authorize it to access the data sources and actions it needs. This is where service principals and service accounts come in.

Service principals are special types of users that represent an Azure AD application. They have a system administrator role and use a client secret (a permanent password) to connect to data sources such as Dataverse. Service accounts are regular user accounts that have a username and password. They can be assigned different roles and licenses depending on the flow’s needs.

Recently, I posted How to use service accounts in Power Automate flows and avoid common pitfalls. Check it out to do a deeper dive on just service accounts.

So which one should you use for your Power Automate flows: service principals or service accounts? Here are some pros and cons of each option:

Service PrincipalsService Accounts
Pros:Pros:
– More secure as they do not expose username or password– Easier to set up and manage
– Do not consume a license as they use an application user account– Can be assigned different roles and licenses for different flows
– Can perform actions on behalf of organization users who trigger the flow– Can access more data sources and actions than service principals
Cons:Cons:
– More complex to configure and troubleshoot– Less secure as they expose username or password
– Limited to data sources that support Azure AD authentication– Consume a license for each service account used in a flow
Table comparing the pros and cons of Service Principals and Service Accounts

As you can see, there is no definitive answer to which option is better for your Power Automate flows. It depends on your specific scenario, requirements, and preferences. However, some general guidelines are:

  • Use service principals if you want more security, less licensing costs, and more flexibility in performing actions on behalf of other users.
  • Use service accounts if you want more simplicity, more data source options, and more control over roles and licenses.

This post has explained the high-level differences between service principals and service accounts to consider when building flows in Power Automate. For more information, please refer to these resources:

Posted on

Solution: Power Automate “No database found” error for business process flows, process advisor, and AI Builder

If you’re trying to build business process flows, use Process Advisor, or use AI Builder in Power Automate, you’re going to need a database established in the intended environment first. If you don’t have a database in the environment yet, you’ll get an error as seen below:

  • Business process flow requires a Microsoft Dataverse database. Try a different environment or create a new one to start using business process flow.
  • You need a database to use process advisor. Create a database, or switch to an environment that has one.
  • AI Builder requires a Dataverse database. Create your database to start using AI models.

In the following sections, I’ll detail how to:

  • Switch to a different environment
  • Add a database to your current (or any) environment
  • Create a new environment with a database

Switch to a different environment

Your organization could already have multiple environments. Always check with your admins before making any uncertain decisions because environments could be used for specific data types, processes, geography compliance restrictions, etc. You may or may not have access to all of your organization’s environments depending on your specific organization’s governance and configuration.

Let’s assume you do have multiple environments and you’ve discussed with your admin or governance team which environments are appropriate for your specific need or project. To switch to a different environment that might have a usable database, click on the name of your current environment in Power Automate in the upper right, then choose the other environment from the side panel.

Click to enlarge

Add a database to your environment

You may choose to just stay in your current environment and add a database to it. If that’s the case, go ahead and click on Create a database and follow the right side panel’s wizard to complete the process.

You can also add databases via the Power Platform admin center if you can access it.

Create a new environment with a database

Let’s assume your organization hasn’t yet created any additional environments you could use other than the default one that came with your tenant (which obviously doesn’t have a database or you wouldn’t be here 😄). If you don’t want to create the database in the default environment, you may wish to create a new environment with a new database.

Check out this other post for help in creating a new environment that includes a Dataverse database.

Posted on

Solution: This environment can’t be created because your org (tenant) needs at least 1 GB of database capacity

colorful human shaped wooden blocks in a bowl

Did you run out of capacity in your Dataverse environments from Power Automate and Power Apps usage? You have several options, and I’ll cover four in this post:

  • On a trial? Change the environment type
  • Purchase a capacity add-on
  • Free up space
  • Delete unused environments

Not what you’re looking for? Check out this detailed information on Dataverse storage capacity.

On a per user plan trial?

Change the environment type from Production to Trial. This will allow you to proceed with provisioning the environment for your trial purposes. You can later convert this to Production, but only if you have more database capacity when you’re ready to do so.

Click to enlarge – change the environment type from Production to Trial when creating a new environment as a user.

Purchase a capacity add-on

Not on a trial? Just out of space? Maybe it’s time to purchase a capacity add-on. View full documentation for more information on this, but here are the basic steps to purchase a capacity add-on:

As a global admin, go to the Microsoft 365 admin center (https://admin.microsoft.com). Then choose Billing > Purchase services from the left nav.

In the search bar, search for capacity and choose the type of capacity you’d like to add for your organization (i.e. Power Apps portals page views, AI Builder, etc.).

Click to enlarge

Choose Details for the capacity type you’re seeking to expand and complete your purchase.

Click to enlarge

You should also be sure to check out these two resources once you’ve completed your purchase:

Free up space

Just trying to clean up a bit? Start your evaluation by going to the Power Platform admin center’s Capacity page to see what’s using up the most space. Are there things you could clean up? Notice any unusual usage?

Click to enlarge

Depending on what you find in the Capacity page, you may find yourself wanting to look more closely at environments. To do this, select the Environments node from the left-hand nav.

From Environments, you can select an environment and choose to view its resources which will give you a good idea of what might be using more than anticipated. Perhaps a flow or app just needs adjusted. You could, for example, open a listed environment and choose Resources > Flows, examine the flows using the environment, see their owners, and even disable the flows until further action can be taken to address the underlying issue.

Delete an environment

See any environments that could be deleted? Just keep in mind a deleted environment takes its resources and backups too – so consider any flows, apps, etc. that might need updated to use a different environment first.

If you do determine there are unused and unneeded environments in your organization, you can delete them from the Power Platform admin center.

  1. Log in to the Power Platform admin center
  2. Click on Environments on the left nav if not already there
  3. Select the environment that you wish to delete, and choose Delete (can’t delete your default environment, though)
Click to enlarge

Environment owners have 7 days from deletion to recover it if they wish.

Posted on

Solution: Creating an environment requires a Power Apps per user plan or may be done by an admin in Power Platform admin center

time lapse photo of stars on night

If you’re attempting to use Solutions, AI Builder, certain Power Apps templates, etc. you may run into a situation where you’re working in an environment without a Dataverse (formerly known as Common Data Service) database. This will prompt you to create a new environment or database as a power user (if allowed).

You can add a database to your current environment, or create a new environment with a database. In this post, I’ll cover the steps to create a new environment.

To proceed with creating an environment, you’ll need a Power Apps per user plan or should be an admin. I’ll cover both methods below in the following sections. You can also see this detailed documentation on who is able to create new environments.

Create a new environment with a Power Apps per user plan

Once you’ve been licensed with a Power Apps per user plan, you’ll be able to create a solution and use existing or create new environments unless your admins have limited who can create new environments.

If you’re allowed, you can simply begin building your flow or app as you normally would, but now that you’re licensed appropriately, you’ll be able to choose to create a new environment in-context as you go. For example, let’s say there are no environments with databases you can use for a new Assets Checkout app you want to build from a template in Power Apps. Simply begin building the app from template, and choose to Create new environment when prompted.

Click to enlarge – prompt received when creating the model-driven app template named Assets checkout from Power Apps

Then in the panel that appears to the right, give the environment a name, choose a data region, and environment type. Then choose Create environment.

Choose whether you want to create a database with this new environment or create it without one. In this scenario, Power Apps is telling us we need a database so we’re going to choose to create our environment WITH a database. Click Create database.

Click to enlarge – prompt to create a database with our new environment.

Verify your currency and language. And if you’re creating a sample app (as we are in this scenario) you’ll also decide whether to bring in the sample data with that template. When satisfied, click Create my database.

Now as you’re building solutions in the Power Platform, you can switch between environments by selecting the name of the active environment and choosing the environment in which you wish to build (or utilize data from).

Click to enlarge

Now let’s create an environment from the Power Platform admin center as an admin.

Create a new environment as an admin in the Power Platform admin center

This is arguably the better method to use at an organization level to make sure your environments have a consistent naming convention, no efforts are duplicated, and boundaries are clear from one environment to another. With each environment potentially belonging to a different geography depending on how it was set up, this could be a significant compliance concern for some sectors. If you need to restrict environment creation to admins only, check out this other post. Otherwise, let’s proceed with creating a new environment for your users from the Power Platform admin center.

First, log in to the Power Platform admin center and choose Environments on the left nav if you’re not already there. Then, click New.

Click to enlarge

Name and describe your new environment, and choose the region in which its data needs to be stored. You’ll also choose type (Trial, Sandbox, Production, etc.). If this environment is going to be used to store and use data, you’ll want to also enable database creation (creates a Dataverse database). Click Next when ready.

Click to enlarge

Then choose the language, currency, and additional options (including restricting usage to a specific security group). Click Save when ready.

Click to enlarge

You (and/or your organization’s users whom are allowed to use the environment) will now be able to connect to the environment and any of the tables within its Dataverse database. This Dataverse connection can be used in Dynamics 365 apps, Power Apps portals and apps, and Power Automate flows.

Click to enlarge
Posted on

Restrict creation of new Power Platform environments to admins only

A person buried under a pile of boxes

Note: This post applies to traditional environments, not Dataverse for Teams environments. Thanks to Loryan Strant for adding that clarification.

As long as someone in your organization is on a Power Apps or Power Automate per-user plan, they may have permission to create their own environment (unless you’ve already limited it previously in your organization). These environments can be used and shared by Dynamics 365, Power Apps portals and apps, and Power Automate flows. Environments can house multiple Dataverse tables (which can also be provisioned by a power user with appropriate licensing). Power Platform apps and Dynamics 365 can then connect to, read from, and write to these tables which would likely be shared across multiple applications/processes.

For example, if Megan Bowen is licensed on a Power Apps per-user plan she would, by default, be able to create new environments as she wished. And with the right training and deployed best practices, this may not be an issue. But if training isn’t provided and users are creating environments left and right, it may be time to limit who can create them (regardless of their licensing) until proper training and governance can be deployed.

So if you wish to manage environments centrally and prevent environment sprawl, you will want to limit the ability of users in your organization so they can’t create their own environments. Doing this may slow their individual productivity, but could also prevent duplicated efforts, inconsistent data organizationally, scattered naming conventions, and more. As long as you replace this restriction with a formal and effective governance policy, request form, etc. it will minimize disruption to your colleagues’ productivity.

Ready to do this? Let’s go over the steps to limit Microsoft Power Platform environment creation and management.

Limit new environment creation via the Power Platform admin center

As a Power Platform admin, sign in to the Power Platform admin center.

Choose the Settings gear in the upper right corner and choose Power Platform settings.

Click to enlarge

Then change Who can create production and sandbox environments to Only specific admins. As seen in the tooltip in the following screenshot, this limits creation to:

  • Global admins
  • Dynamics 365 service admins
  • Power Platform service admins and
  • Delegated admins

Click Save and you’re finished!

Note that this doesn’t remove existing environments or limit the abilities of their creator(s) to continue managing pre-existing environments. This setting will only apply to new environments and prevent additional unwanted sprawl.

Prefer to restrict environment creation and management via PowerShell? Check out this documentation.

Posted on

Auto-approval of Microsoft Teams Shifts requests using Power Automate

Today I happily stumbled across a collection of Power Automate templates for auto-approval of different types of Microsoft Teams Shifts requests, such as time off requests, open shift requests, and swap requests.

Not familiar with Shifts? Check out my write-up.

The ability to auto-approve removes the current reliance on a Team owner to approve requests. In less formal Teams, this would be an excellent improvement to speed up the process and give autonomy to your team members.

While most of the templates’ triggers are set to use “Recurrence” (regularly reviewing requests and approving on the hour), you can also create your own flow using Shifts itself as a trigger instead.

Note: In high-activity Teams, using Recurrence as the trigger might cut down the number of runs/flows you use if that’s a consideration for you. Using Shifts as the trigger as seen below will run every time a request is made, but provides a faster response to your users.

Click to enlarge.

The templates for Power Automate auto-approval of Shifts requests range from simple flows to more complex flows. Check them out below:

  1. Auto Approve Offer Shift Requests
  2. Auto Approve Open Shift Requests
  3. Auto Approve Swap Shifts Requests and Send Email Notification
  4. Auto Convert Shift to Open Shift
  5. Share My Shifts as iCalendar Feed
Auto Approve Offer Shift Request
Image taken from Auto Approve Swap Shifts Requests and Send Email Notification template example. Click to enlarge.