Power Apps Model-Driven Apps: Data-First Design

Model-driven apps are built on your data model. Define tables and relationships in Dataverse—the UI generates automatically.

When to Use Model-Driven

Model-Driven	Canvas
Complex data relationships	Simple data needs
Business processes	Custom UI designs
Security requirements	Pixel-perfect control
Dataverse-centric	Any data source

Creating a Model-Driven App

1. Design data model in Dataverse
2. Create app in Power Apps maker
3. Add tables to site map
4. Configure forms and views
5. Publish

Data Model Example

Customer (Table)
├── Name (Text)
├── Email (Text)
├── Company (Lookup → Account)
└── Status (Choice: Active/Inactive)

Order (Table)
├── Order Number (Autonumber)
├── Customer (Lookup → Customer)
├── Order Date (Date)
├── Total (Currency)
└── Status (Choice: Draft/Submitted/Completed)

Order Line (Table)
├── Order (Lookup → Order)
├── Product (Lookup → Product)
├── Quantity (Number)
└── Line Total (Currency, Calculated)

Site Map Configuration

<SiteMap>
  <Area Id="Sales" Title="Sales">
    <Group Id="Customers" Title="Customers">
      <SubArea Id="Customers" Entity="customer" />
      <SubArea Id="Accounts" Entity="account" />
    </Group>
    <Group Id="Orders" Title="Orders">
      <SubArea Id="Orders" Entity="order" />
      <SubArea Id="Products" Entity="product" />
    </Group>
  </Area>
  <Area Id="Settings" Title="Settings">
    <Group Id="Admin" Title="Administration">
      <SubArea Id="Users" Entity="systemuser" />
    </Group>
  </Area>
</SiteMap>

Form Customization

Forms control record create/edit experience:

• Main form: Full record editing
• Quick create: Fast inline creation
• Quick view: Embedded related data
• Card form: Compact display

Business Rules

No-code field logic:

If Status = "Submitted"
Then
  - Lock "Customer" field
  - Lock "Order Date" field
  - Show notification "Order is submitted"

Business Process Flows

Guide users through stages:

Lead Qualification Process
┌─────────┐   ┌──────────┐   ┌─────────┐   ┌─────────┐
│ Qualify │ → │ Develop  │ → │ Propose │ → │  Close  │
│         │   │          │   │         │   │         │
│ □ Budget│   │ □ Demo   │   │ □ Quote │   │ □ Sign  │
│ □ Auth  │   │ □ Trial  │   │ □ Nego  │   │ □ Pay   │
└─────────┘   └──────────┘   └─────────┘   └─────────┘

Views

Display record lists:

Active Orders View
├── Filter: Status != Completed
├── Columns: Order#, Customer, Date, Total, Status
├── Sort: Order Date (Descending)
└── Default view for Orders table

Dashboards

Sales Dashboard
┌────────────────┬────────────────┐
│ Orders by      │ Revenue by     │
│ Status (Chart) │ Month (Chart)  │
├────────────────┼────────────────┤
│ My Active      │ Recent         │
│ Orders (List)  │ Customers      │
└────────────────┴────────────────┘

Security Roles

Control access at row and field level:

Sales Role
├── Customer: Create, Read, Write (User scope)
├── Order: Create, Read, Write (User scope)
├── Product: Read (Organization scope)
└── Settings: None

Model-driven apps: enterprise apps from data models.