The Library · Insights
Deep dives across data, automation & AI
88 in-depth articles — from Excel foundations to production machine learning. Filter by topic or difficulty to find exactly what you need.
Power AppsPractitioner
Configuring Dataverse Calculated Columns and Multi-Table Rollup Columns in Model-Driven Apps
Learn how to configure Dataverse calculated columns and rollup columns to aggregate related record data for forms, views, and business logic. Build an Account Health scoring system using real rollup and formula patterns with no code.
24 min read
Power AppsFoundation
Configuring Dataverse Table Permissions in Model-Driven Apps: Mapping Security Roles to Tables, Privileges, and Access Levels for New Makers
Misconfigured table permissions are the most common way model-driven apps go wrong after launch. This lesson teaches new makers how Dataverse security roles, privilege types, and access levels work together — with real-world examples, step-by-step role configuration, and a hands-on exercise to test your understanding.
19 min read
Power AppsFoundation
Configuring Model-Driven App Dashboards: Building Interactive Charts, Lists, and System Dashboards for Dataverse Data
Model-driven app dashboards give your users live, interactive summaries of Dataverse data without spreadsheets or manual reports. This lesson teaches you how to build charts, assemble system dashboards, and set them as the default app experience — step by step with a real scenario.
18 min read
Power AppsExpert
Designing Dataverse Hierarchical Relationships and Rollup Security: Modeling Parent-Child Table Hierarchies, Hierarchical Security Roles, and Visualizing Tree Structures in Model-Driven Apps
Learn how to build self-referential parent-child hierarchies in Dataverse, configure hierarchical security so managers automatically inherit access to subordinates' records, set up multi-level rollup aggregation, and display interactive tree visualizations in model-driven apps. This expert-level lesson covers the architecture, edge cases, and performance trade-offs you need to get it right.
32 min read
Power AppsPractitioner
Configuring Dataverse Polymorphic Lookups and Customer Columns: Modeling Multi-Table Relationships in Model-Driven Apps
Standard lookups point to one table. But real business data is messier than that — a customer might be an Account or a Contact, an expense might belong to a Project or a Department. Learn how Dataverse polymorphic lookups, Customer columns, and Regarding columns solve this cleanly, and how to configure them end-to-end in model-driven apps.
24 min read
Power AppsPractitioner
Configuring Dataverse Virtual Tables: Connecting External Data Sources to Model-Driven Apps Without Migration
Virtual tables let you surface live data from SQL Server, REST APIs, and OData services directly inside your model-driven app — no ETL, no data copy, no sync. This lesson teaches you to configure OData data sources, map columns, build cross-system relationships, and handle the security and performance challenges that come with production virtual table deployments.
26 min read
Power AppsFoundation
Configuring Model-Driven App Column Properties: Data Types, Required Fields, and Display Settings for Dataverse Tables
Column properties are the difference between a model-driven app that produces clean, consistent data and one that's constantly fighting user errors and dirty records. This lesson teaches you how to choose the right data type, configure required fields at the right layer, and set up display settings that guide users toward correct data entry — without writing code.
21 min read
Power AppsExpert
Extending Model-Driven Apps with PCF Controls: Building and Deploying Custom Field and Dataset Components for Dataverse Forms and Views
Standard model-driven form controls hit a wall when you need genuinely custom UX — star ratings, card layouts, traffic lights, and more. This expert lesson walks you through building, testing, and deploying real PCF field and dataset controls from scratch, with full TypeScript implementations and production deployment patterns.
27 min read
Power AppsFoundation
Configuring Dataverse Table Relationships in Model-Driven Apps: One-to-Many, Many-to-Many, and Cascade Behaviors Explained
Learn how to configure one-to-many and many-to-many relationships in Dataverse, understand cascade behaviors that protect your data integrity, and see exactly how relationships surface inside model-driven app forms. This is the structural knowledge every Power Apps maker needs.
18 min read
Power AppsFoundation
Configuring Model-Driven App Views as Default Views, Quick Find Views, and Lookup Views: Controlling How Records Are Surfaced Across the App
Most model-driven app problems aren't about missing features — they're about misconfigured views. Learn how to set Default Views, Quick Find Views, and Lookup Views so records are always findable, searchable, and presented with the right context wherever they appear in your app.
18 min read
Power AppsFoundation
Configuring Model-Driven App Site Maps: Navigation Areas, Groups, and Subareas for Role-Based Menu Structures
A poorly structured site map makes even great apps unusable. Learn how to design navigation Areas, Groups, and Subareas from scratch — and wire them to security roles so each user sees exactly the menu they need, nothing more.
18 min read
Power AppsFoundation
Model-Driven App Security: Configuring Security Roles, Field Permissions, and Team-Based Access for Table Data
Learn how to secure your model-driven app from the ground up. This lesson walks through creating security roles, applying column-level security profiles, and using team-based access — so the right people see exactly the right data.
20 min read