Module 1: Introducing Microsoft Dataverse for Teams

This module will introduce students to Microsoft Dataverse. Microsoft Dataverse has two offerings, a more comprehensive service that is available at a cost, known as Dataverse, and a free to use service that comes as part of your Microsoft Teams license called Microsoft Dataverse for Teams, which is consumed directly from within Microsoft Teams. We will learn about the differences between these services, what are the limitations of Microsoft Dataverse for Teams and when to use each service. We will then discover how Microsoft Dataverse for Teams can be leveraged by Microsoft Power Apps, Microsoft Power Virtual Agents, Power BI and Microsoft Power Automate. In this module we cover how to add the Power Apps for Teams app, directly to Microsoft Teams, which will become our hub for designing business solutions. We will also provide a brief overview of the Microsoft Teams interface to discuss key elements that are essential to Microsoft Dataverse for Teams creations.

 

Lessons

Microsoft Dataverse

What is the Power Platform?

Licensing for Microsoft Dataverse

Licensing for the Power Platform

What is Microsoft Dataverse for Teams?

Database terminology

Chatbots, apps and flows

Usage scenarios and limitations

Power BI in Microsoft Teams

An overview of Microsoft Teams

Where can you use Microsoft Teams?

The desktop app interface

Pining apps in Microsoft Teams

 

Lab 1: Getting Ready

 

Download required materials for the labs

Login to Microsoft 365

Create a Team

Pin apps

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Understand what Microsoft Dataverse for Teams is.

Describe the limitations of Microsoft Dataverse for Teams.

Explain what an app, chatbot and a flow is in context to a Team.

Be able to navigate Microsoft Teams and pin apps.

 

Module 2: Setting up tables

This module will cover how to set up tables in your Microsoft Dataverse for Teams environment. Each Team utilising Microsoft Dataverse for Teams has its own environment where you can design your database. You can create tables, columns, rows, views, and relationships to model your data. The tables that you design can be used to support your apps, chatbots, reports and flows, acting as a centralised data source that you can tap into. Ensuring your data tables are correctly configured and secured is essential for success in other areas of Microsoft Dataverse for Teams.

 

 

 

Lessons

Getting started with tables

Creating an environment for a Team

Creating a new table

Table settings

Adding columns

Choice columns

Adding rows of data

Creating table relationships

Designing new views

Table security

Deleting tables

Lab 1: Create tables and relationships

 

Create multiple tables

Add columns

Create relationships between tables

Set table security

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Understand environments for Teams.

Structure their data effectively using tables.

Set up relationships between tables.

Create views for filtering content.

 

Module 3: Creating new apps

In this module we will design the interfaces that your Team’s members are going to use to add new rows of data to your tables. We will introduce you to Power Apps in Microsoft Teams which is tailored to work with Microsoft Dataverse for Teams. The app itself can be based on an existing sample or you can choose to create your own app. This module will also cover adding components to your apps, writing formulas, introducing media, and using variables. We will then show you how to test, publish and use our apps within a Team.

 

Lessons

An introduction to Power Apps

Power Apps services

The Power Apps interface

Creating a new app from a sample

Create a blank app

Working with screens

Connecting to data sources

Adding and editing controls

Introducing formulas

Using variables

Media

Testing an app

App settings

Publish to Teams

Broad distribution apps

Lab 1: Create a new app

 

Create a new app

Adding screens

Add controls and media

Implement formulas and variables

Test and publish the app

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Know where to start designing an app.

Understand how to connect to data sources.

Know when to use specific controls in an app.

Understand formula syntax and when to use variables.

Be able to test an app and publish it.

 

Module 4: Designing chatbots

 

In this module we will cover using Power Virtual Agents within Microsoft Teams. Power Virtual Agents allows us to design chatbots. A chatbot is an interface where an individual can type in a question or request information or support. The chatbot will look at the entry and interpret a logical response. Power Virtual Agents allows us to design the pace of these conversations. The full tool allows chatbots to be designed for enterprise use and for external facing customers. Within Teams these chatbots are only applied to a Team but are free whereas the full tool is not. We will show you how to get started with designing a chatbot, implement logic, test, and publish a chatbot to a Team. As Microsoft Teams is a chat enriched platform, understanding how to build chatbots can help you field common conversations that emerge within your Team.

 

Lessons

An introduction to Power Virtual Agents

Chatbot topics

How do chatbots work in Teams?

The Power Virtual Agents interface

The authoring canvas

Entities

Creating a new chatbot

Working with topics

Setting up triggers

Adding nodes

Call a flow

Testing your chatbot

Publish a chatbot

Using a chatbot in Microsoft Teams

Maintaining a chatbot

 

Lab 1: Create a chatbot

 

Create a new chatbot

Design a topic

Add an entity

Working with nodes

Test your chatbot

Publish your chatbot

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Create a new chatbot within Teams.

Use the authoring canvas to create a conversation.

Be able to test a chatbot.

Understand how to publish a chatbot to a Team.

 

Module 5: Adding automated processes

 

With the ability to create chatbots and apps as well all the capabilities Teams has to offer, it can prove to be a challenge to form a narrative between these services. Enter Power Automate in Teams. Power Automate offers Teams users the option to create business processes that bring together services from across Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Dataverse for Teams. Power Automate in Teams prioritises workflows that interact with features in Teams, such as chat and channel posts. It can also interact with elements of Microsoft Dataverse for Teams. This module provides instructions on how to get new business processes up and running quickly, and how to customise workflows further to enhance their logic and reach.

 

Lessons

An introduction to Power Automate

How does Power Automate help Microsoft Team users?

Configuring Microsoft Teams flows

Testing a flow

Designing new flows or customising flows

The Power Automate interface

Working with actions

Branching logic

Connect a flow to Dataverse for Teams

Expressions and variables

Publish a flow

Flow history and error resolution

 

Lab 1: Create a new flow

 

Create a new Microsoft Team flow

Test the flow

Modify the flow in Power Automate

Publish and test your changes

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Understand when and how to add Microsoft Teams flows.

Recognise when a flow needs to be customised and how to make changes.

Implement branching logic within the flow.

Connect a flow to your tables in your environment.

Thoroughly test a flow and review workflow history.

 

Module 6: Designing reports

 

Data within our tables in Microsoft Dataverse for Teams can tell a story. But often displaying the data as a table does not offer an invested party much insight into this information. Microsoft Dataverse for Teams can connect to Power BI Desktop to allow you to design reports against the live data in your custom tables. Although there is a lot of value in this, it is worth noting that Power BI does require additional licensing for the service to work. In this module we will show you how to connect to your data tables in Microsoft Dataverse for Teams and use Power BI Desktop to design and publish an engaging report. Once published we will show you how to schedule the report to update on its own so that it is displaying up to date information.

 

Lessons

An introduction to Power BI

The Power BI suite

User based licensing

Premium capacity workspaces

Connecting to tables

Queries and data modelling

Designing reports

Hide and rename columns

Adding basic content

Visualisations

Publishing reports

Scheduling a data refresh

Share in Teams

Lab 1: Connect a chatbot to a table using flow

 

Design a new flow to access a table

Update a topic and add your flow

Complete the remaining topic notes

Test your enhanced bot and publish

Exploring Power BI Desktop

After completing this module, students will be able to:

Understand what Power BI is as a service and what tools you can use to leverage it.

Explain the licensing that is required for Power BI to be used within an organisation.

Demonstrate how to connect to tables in Microsoft Dataverse for Teams using Power BI Desktop

Design reports using tables and columns from Microsoft Dataverse for Teams.

Adhere to best practices.

Feel confident publishing and scheduling reports.

Share a report with colleagues or add a report directly to Microsoft Teams

Required Prerequisites