Setting up Billing Policy for Dataverse Environments in Power Platform for Azure Pay-As-You-Go plan | Microsoft Azure

October 31, 2022October 31, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Microsoft Azure, Microsoft PowerApps, Power Platform Admin Center Dataverse, Microsoft Azure, power apps, power platform billing policy, power platform pay as you go

Pay-as-you-go has been recently announced with Azure and I too wanted to explore this topic myself on my trials Dataverse/D365 Sales environment as well as my Microsoft Azure trial subscription which I started.

Disclaimer: Please note that I’m exploring this topic and sharing as I go on. Hence, I’ll continue to write further topics as I proceed. Please try on your Dataverse trial & Microsoft Azure trial subscription to identify / estimate the costs your actual implementation will incur.

I also recommend going through the below Microsoft Learn Pages for detailed information on pricing and meters of the Pay-as-you-go model –

Detailed Microsoft Docs for Pay-as-you-go: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/pay-as-you-go-overview?WT.mc_id=DX-MVP-5003911

Power Apps Pricing: https ://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/

Pay-as-you-go Meters: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/admin/pay-as-you-go-meters?tabs=image?WT.mc_id=DX-MVP-5003911

Let’s see how we can get started!

Setting up Billing Policy

Here’s how you create Billing Policy in Power Platform –

In Power Platform Admin Center (https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com/), you can see Policies section. If you expand the same, you can see Billing Policies.
Here, you can start by creating a new Billing Policy
You can give it an appropriate name. And it doesn’t allow you to have spaces.
Next, you’ll be asked to select the Subscription you wan to assign the Billing Policy under.
Notice the error below. My Free Trial Azure Subscription doesn’t have a Resource Group created yet. Hence, this need to be present.
Since at this point, I don’t have a Resource Group under the Azure Subscription I selected, I need to go to Azure Portal (https://portal.azure.com/), search for Resource Groups
Since you might not have any Resource Group right away, you can create one.
I’ll just give it a name which I can identify with.
I’ll validate and Create the same in Azure.
Resource Group will be created here.
Now, when I come back to Power Platform, if I reselect the Azure Subscription, I’ll now see that the Resource Group I created is showing up.
I’ll select the same and select United States as the Region.
And click on Next.
In the next steps, I can select which all Environments should be included in the Policy. Then, I can click on + Add to policy.
You can see the Added to policy tab now showing your environment. Once you are satisfied with the selection, you can click on Next.
Final step is to now Review and confirm the policy you are creating.
It’ll take a moment to start provisioning. Then, you’ll see the status as Provisioning.
Once completed, the status will show as Enabled.
Now, when you go back to Azure Portal and open the Resource Group, you’ll find a Deployment show up
Open it up and you’ll see a Deployment created.
And if you open the Deployment, you can see the DataverseBilling which we had set up in Power Platform.
And this point, you are now setup with using Pay-As-you-go plan for your Dataverse environment(s).

Note: Further, I’ll write follow up posts as I explore Pay-as-you-go scenarios and experience myself.

Hope this helps!

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Instant Cloud Flow asking for Location Services to be turned on | [Quick Tip]

October 29, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Power Automate location for instant cloud flow, location services for flow, power automate instant cloud flow

If you are using Instant Cloud Flows in Power Automate, you must be asked the below –

That’s because Instant Cloud Flow needs Location Services to be on for Power Automate.

Turn On Location Services

Here’s how you can turn on Location Services.

If you click on the “Lock” icon on the Chrome (or other browsers), you’ll see Location is turned off. This is when you would have initially denied sharing location.
All you need to do is turn this on. Flip the switch!
And now when you Run the Flow again, you’ll notice that the Location services has passed on the Location details to the trigger of the Flow i.e. Instant Flow trigger.

Hope this helps!

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Check which Power Automate or Power Apps Licenses are assigned to you | [Quick Tip]

October 28, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Microsoft PowerApps, Power Automate licensing, Power Automate, power automate licenses

In case you are using Power Automate for your own use or asked to build something for the team, here’s how you can check what capabilities you are entitled to –

Check Licenses in Power Automate

Here’s how you can check licenses assigned to you in Power Automate –

When in Power Automate, click on the Gear icon.
Now, select View My Licenses.
Here, you’ll clearly see all the licenses and the capabilities you have with the Power Automate license assigned to you.
Another example is a User with only Power Automate Free license assigned to them. This is what they will see –
This simple and clear distinction helps you identify with the capabilities you have in Power Automate.
Here’s the Power Automate Pricing Link provided in the “Learn how to add capabilities” section at the bottom.
https://powerautomate.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/
Here’s a Bonus! Same applies for Power Apps as well. If you are in Power Apps (https://make.powerapps.com/) or in the App Designer in a Canvas App, you can see the Plan(s) option under the Gear Icon.
And you’ll see the Capability available to your user.

Hope this helps!

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Background Processing Flow for Approvals in Project Operations

October 28, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Project Operations approval set in project operations, background processing flow for approvals, Project Operations

If you have newly provisioned a Project Operations instance and if you’ve come across the below error message –

The error message says, “The background processing cloud flow is inactive. Approvals will be processed while you wait. Please report this to your administrator to enable background processing.“

Background Flow for Approvals

Here’s what it means when you see the above notification –

You can go to the Power Automate portal (https://make.powerautomate.com/) and then navigate to the Environment on which Project Operations is installed on.
If you go to My Flows, you’ll see this Flow with the title “Project Service – Recurrently Schedule Project Approval Sets“
You just need to turn this Flow on.
This Flow comes from the Project Operations Solution in your environment.
And you’ll see the same Flow here as well. And you’ll notice that it will be Off by default if you are in a newly provisioned environment.
Once this is turned on, you won’t see the notification in Approvals.

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Create Azure DevOps Organization in your tenant

October 26, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Microsoft Azure azure devops, create org in azure devops, sign up on azure devops

Here’s how you can create Org in Azure DevOps!

Login to DevOps

here’s how you can search for Azure Dev Ops as below –

You can use this URL [https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/devops/] which will take you to the Azure DevOps Home Page –
You’ll see the Sign in to Azure DevOps button as shown below
Once you click on Sign in, you’ll see this screen where you need to enter the name of the Org (which is already pre-populated) –
So, I’ll just click on Continue.
Next, you’ll need to agree to terms.
Then, you’ll be asked to provide a name of the organization for the DevOps, so I’ll enter here as an example based on what my trial Org is named.
Also, you can change where the server location. Finally, enter Captcha and click Continue.
Once I click Continue, next, I’ll see this where it will create the Organization for me.
Once this is completed, I’ll be asked to create the first Project right away –
You can leave it here if you don’t want to create a Project right away. Your DevOps organization has been set up though.
But, as an example – I’ll create my first Project just to show you. So, I’ll enter a sample project and click on ” + Create project“
And once this is created, here’s how it will look in the list of projects. You can open it up and see what all is available –
And this is how the Project itself has by default.

Create Org from Azure Portal

Here’s an alternate way from the Azure Portal (https://portal.azure.com/#home) to create your DevOps organization in your tenant –

Search for DevOps in Azure Portal and you’ll see the below option –
And when you go to Azure DevOps organizations, you’ll see the below homepage.
You can then spot My DevOps organization button to show which all DevOps orgs have been created.
If you don’t have any organizations at this point, you’ll be asked to create one just as in the first method shown above –
If you already have at least 1 Org created, you’ll be show the list of organizations in the DevOps which have been created-

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Set up Power Platform Tools in Visual Studio Code | Power Platform CLI

October 24, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Power Platform, Power Platform Admin Center power platform cli, power platform tools for vs code, visual studio code

In your Visual Studio Code, you can now set up Power Platform Tools / Power Platform CLI Extension for Visual Studio Code (VS Code).

Here’s VS Marketplace Link for Power Platform Tools – https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=microsoft-IsvExpTools.powerplatform-vscode

Let’s review in this post!

Extensions in Visual Studio Code

Here’s how you can install Power Platform Build Tools in Visual Studio Code

Navigate to Extensions section in Visual Studio Code.
Search for Power Platform Tools
It’ll then start installing –
When you open the installed extension, you’ll be asked to Add Auth Profile.
Clicking on Add Auth Profile will open up the Login dialog.
Once you enter Username and Password and authenticate yourself into the environment, after a few moments, you’ll see the environments show up in Visual Studio Code.
And if you expand on the environments, you’ll see the Solutions in the environment and each of them will let you get some information right away –

Testing Power Platform Tools Extension

Let’s make sure the Power Platform Tools were successfully installed –

Once installed, you can open a new Terminal and type ‘pac‘
It should show you all the Commands available since you are logged in.
And as you start to use the Commands, they have other options inside the Menus themselves.
Here’s a sample Command I used to see all the Environments
Had Power Platform Tools not been installed or Disabled, you’d see the below error –

Here’s the reference Blog which talks about Power Platform Extension for VS Code – https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/power-platform-extension-for-vs-code/

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Cards for Power Apps [Preview] | Power Platform

October 18, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Adaptive Cards, Microsoft PowerApps, Microsoft Teams Adaptive Cards, adaptive cards designer in power apps, adaptive cards in power apps, cards in power apps

So Cards are finally in Power Apps! As of writing this post, Cards is in Preview in the Power Apps (https://make.powerapps.com/)

Here’s the official page of Adaptive Cards – https://adaptivecards.io/

In case you are new to Adaptive Cards and figuring out how they work with Teams, you can check my post here – Adaptive Cards for Teams to collect data from users using Power Automate | SharePoint Lists

Cards in Power Apps

Here’s how you can start creating Cards in Power Apps –

In the appropriate environment having correct rights, you can see Cards section –
Then, you can click on “+ Create a card” button in the Create section of the menu.
Give the Card a suitable name. In my example, I’m calling it Swag Kit Card. You can name it based on your application/use.
It’ll take a few moments for your card to be created. You’ll see the below dialog while it’s getting created in the backend.
Once the process is completed, you’ll be taken to the Editor itself and this is what it looks like –
And as you can see on the left hand-menu, the controls which you can get are the ones you could see in the Adaptive Cards IO designer.
In the Data, you’ll see only Dataverse at the time of this being in a Preview release.
In this example, I’ll keep things simple and generate a static card which can be used.
Once I save this card, you can see how the JSON is built out
You can copy the selected part which is expected in the below used Teams action in Power Automate
And as an example, since this Card currently supports for Teams – I can simply copy this from the JSON view and paste it in one of the Actions for Teams i.e. Post adaptive card in a chat or channel.
So, when I Run the Flow, I can get the Adaptive Card show up as a message from Flow Bot.

And that’s it!!

Accessing Cards in your Environment

All the Saved Cards appear here in the environment –

Navigate the the Cards section in Power Apps and click on Cards.

Microsoft Docs for Cards for Power Apps (preview) – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/cards/overview?WT.mc_id=DX-MVP-5003911

Hope this was useful! As this continues to evolve in GA, I’ll write more about using Cards in Power Apps.

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Format Data by Examples in a Flow [Preview] | Power Automate

October 17, 2022October 17, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Power Automate format data by examples, format data by examples in flow, format data in power automate

Here’s an exciting update users are starting to see in Oct 2022. Is to Format Input data based on examples i.e. generating Expressions instead of writing them yourselves in Power Automate!

At the time of this post, this is in Preview and hence, please consider that this might or might not make it to final release and hence, not recommended for Production use!

Let’s see how this works!

Expressions using Data Samples in Power Automate

Here’s how you can generate Expressions that have been generated from Examples you provide –

In Dynamic Content, go to Expressions, you’ll see the Format data by examples option at the top.
I’m passing Date in the Flow as below –
This will open up a pane on the right hand side to select the data variable for which the expression has to be generated.
I want to format a Date from the Inputs in a certain way. Hence, I’ll select Date from the Pane which has opened up.
Upon selection, I’ll provide some examples on what values can come in and what should it be translated to.
Here, I’ll enter some examples on how the input date can be expected to which what the output format should be desired.
Once I provide a few examples, I can click on Get expression for the Flow to generate a custom expression for me based on the examples I provided.
Upon clicking Get expression, the Flow will generate a custom Expression for you which you can test/copy right away.
Note that in the above, the key-button-date is set, you need to set this to the actual field
Here’s an example which I’m testing –

And it produced the correct result –
So, I’ll click on Apply.
You’ll be asked confirmation before Applying this formatting –
Once you confirm, the Expression will be generated.
And when you test the actual Flow, it’ll expect the value based on how you tested the Expression and produce the result –
In this case, the key-button-date i.e. the current Date was formatted. Hence, the current date will be returned.
And the answer is as below –

Hope this was useful!!

Other Examples

Currently, below are the types of formats supported –

Date
Text
Number

Text Example

Here’s a Text based example you can think of –

In a Text based Example, I want only first 3 letters of a City.
Here’s the expression Generated which I can check –
And like the main example above, this expression can be applied!

Number Example

Here’s a quick number example you can think of –

Let’s say you want to format a number in a phone format or currency –
And the expression will be generated for the same –

Here’s Microsoft Documentation on the same – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/power-automate/format-data-by-examples?WT.mc_id=DX-MVP-5003911

Hope this was useful!

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Using Environment Variables in Power Automate and Canvas Apps

October 16, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Microsoft PowerApps, Power Automate, Power Platform environment variable in power automate, environment variables in canvas app, environment variables in flow, environment variables in power platform

Here’s how you can use Environment Variables in your environment in Power Automate and Canvas Apps!

In case you are looking to create Environment Variables, here’s the post: Environment Variables in Power Apps and Power Automate

Power Automate

Here’s how you can use Environment Variables in a Flow –

You can’t use/access Environment Variables in a Flow which is not in a solution –
Environment Variables are accessible in the Dynamic Content section on the very top of the list. [Since the below Flow is outside a Solution, you can’t see the Environment Variables]
Now, this Flow is within a Solution –
And then you access the Dynamic Content, you can see the Environment Variables.
And when you Run the Flow, the Environment Variable will show the value based on the Data Type set for the variable at appropriate places –

Canvas Apps

Unlike Power Automate Flow, Environment Variables in Canvas Apps can be utilized even if the Canvas App was created outside a solution –

In a Canvas App, click to Add Data Source.
On the Environment Variable Definitions/Values is added to the Canvas App as Data Sources, let’s take a simple Text control to read the Value from the Environment Variable used in the above Flow example –
I’ll use Lookup() function in Power Automate to fetch the value of the Environment Variable by it’s Schema Name –
Even if you only added Environment Variable Values table as Data Source, the Environment Variable Definition too will be added once you use the Lookup() function to fetch the value.

Hope this was useful!

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

Environment Variables in Power Apps and Power Automate

October 16, 2022October 16, 2022 priyeshwagh777 Power Platform, Power Platform Admin Center environment variables, environment variables in power platform

Here’s how you can create Environment Variables in Power Apps or Power Automate portal.

Creating Environment Variable in a Solution

First, create Solution to store your environment variable.

In this example, I’m using Power Apps (https://make.powerapps.com/) to create a n Environment Variable.
In the Solution, I can click on New and then look for an Environment variable.
Below are the types of Environment variables which you can create –
For example, I’m storing the current Org’s ID in an Environment Variable which I want to re-use in my Flow for whatever purpose (Just an example 🙂).
I’ve given it a suitable name and stored the current value as well.
And my Environment Variable will be created in a Solution in either Power Apps or Power Automate.
Now that your Environment variable is ready, you can feel free to use it in Power Automate and Power Apps. Environment variables can be used in Flows and Canvas Apps which are in a solution.
Here’s how you can use Environment Variables in Canvas Apps and Flow – Using Environment Variables in Power Automate and Canvas Apps

You can look at Microsoft’s Documentation on Environment Variables for more info – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/data-platform/environmentvariables?WT.mc_id=DX-MVP-5003911

Hope this was useful!

Here are some Power Automate posts you want to check out –

Thank you!

D365 Demystified

A closer look at Microsoft Dynamics 365.

Month: October 2022

Setting up Billing Policy for Dataverse Environments in Power Platform for Azure Pay-As-You-Go plan | Microsoft Azure

Setting up Billing Policy

Instant Cloud Flow asking for Location Services to be turned on | [Quick Tip]

Turn On Location Services

Check which Power Automate or Power Apps Licenses are assigned to you | [Quick Tip]

Check Licenses in Power Automate

Background Processing Flow for Approvals in Project Operations

Background Flow for Approvals

Set up Power Platform Tools in Visual Studio Code | Power Platform CLI

Extensions in Visual Studio Code

Testing Power Platform Tools Extension

Cards for Power Apps [Preview] | Power Platform

Cards in Power Apps

Accessing Cards in your Environment

Format Data by Examples in a Flow [Preview] | Power Automate

Expressions using Data Samples in Power Automate

Other Examples

Text Example

Number Example

Using Environment Variables in Power Automate and Canvas Apps

Power Automate

Canvas Apps

Environment Variables in Power Apps and Power Automate

Creating Environment Variable in a Solution

Setting up Billing Policy

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Turn On Location Services

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Check Licenses in Power Automate

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Background Flow for Approvals

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Login to DevOps

Create Org from Azure Portal

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Extensions in Visual Studio Code

Testing Power Platform Tools Extension

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Cards in Power Apps

Accessing Cards in your Environment

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Expressions using Data Samples in Power Automate

Other Examples

Text Example

Number Example

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Power Automate

Canvas Apps

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Creating Environment Variable in a Solution

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