Create Power Apps Canvas App With Data From a SharePoint List

A little while ago, I helped a client build a Power Apps Canvas app that connects straight to their SharePoint list. This app allows users to view and interact with information stored in SharePoint without leaving the app.

For example, if an employee submits a request in the SharePoint list, they can use the app to quickly check the status or update details.

In this Power Apps tutorial, I will explain how to create Power Apps Canvas app with data from a SharePoint list.

Create Power Apps Canvas App With Data From a SharePoint List

There are two different ways to create a Power Apps canvas app using a SharePoint list. Such as:

• Create a Power Apps Canvas app using the Start with page design option
• Alternatively, you can start directly from the SharePoint list and create the app from there.

After the app is created, Power Apps Studio opens with three screens:

1. Browse screen: Lets you scroll through all the items in the list.
2. Details screen: Displays all information for a single selected item.
3. Edit screen: Allows you to add a new item or update an existing one.

Refer to the screenshot below to see how it looks:

Let’s get started.

Set up a SharePoint List

I created a SharePoint list named IT Hardware Issues that has the columns below:

Column	Data type
Title	Single line of text
Employee Name	Single line of text
Device Type	Choice [Laptop, Monitor, Keyboard, Printer]
Issue Description	Multi-line of text
Date Reported	Date time
Department	Choice [IT, HR, Sales, Marketing]

Create a Power Apps Canvas App Using Start With a Page Design

Now we will use the above SharePoint list to create the canvas app step by step.

1. Sign in to Power Apps.
2. Select Create (from the left navigation) -> Start with a page design.

3. Choose the Gallery connected to external data (as it supports SharePoint, Excel, and SQL databases).

4. Select a specific SharePoint site under the Recent sites. Or you can enter the SharePoint URL and connect directly.
5. Choose a specific SharePoint list. Click on Create app.

6. After a few seconds, the app will create a gallery and a form, as shown below. When you select an item from the gallery, its details will display on the right side in the form. You can also preview the app and perform create, read, update, and delete (CRUD) operations.

Once everything is complete, ensure that you save and publish the app. Then only others can see the updated things.

When you add or change information in the app, it is automatically updated in SharePoint or Lists as well.

Create a Power Apps Canvas App Directly From a SharePoint List

Here, we will use the same SharePoint list mentioned above, specifically the IT Hardware Issues. Let’s follow the instructions below:

1. Go to the SharePoint List.
2. Select Integrate -> Power Apps -> Create an app.

3. After a second, the app will generate and be ready to use. This canvas app contains a total of 3 screens:
   • BrowseScreen1
   • DetailScreen1
   • EditScreen1

BrowseScreen1:

This screen helps you to add new items, search, sort, and reload items as needed.

DetailScreen1:

When you select an item from the gallery, you’ll be taken to the detail screen where all the information about that item is shown.

EditScreen1:

This screen lets you add a new item or edit an existing one.

4. Once everything is completed, select the Preview app icon to run or play the app.

5. Save and publish your app. Provide the app name and click Save. When you publish the app next time, Publish the version as shown below.

When you add or change information in the app, it automatically updates in the SharePoint list as well.

I hope this article helped you learn how to create a Power Apps Canvas app using data from a SharePoint list in two easy ways: by starting with the page design option and by creating the app directly from the SharePoint list.

Try these ways, and you’ll make your apps quickly!

Additionally, you may like some more Power Apps articles:

• Power Apps Form Validations
• Power Apps RSS Feed
• remove Power Apps form from SharePoint list
• Add an Image to a PDF Form in Power Apps
• Create Power Apps Repeating Table With New Form
• Filter Power Apps Gallery Based On Search Box