Try out the Power Apps October release wave 2 updates today!

The Power Apps October release wave 2 has many exciting end user productivity enhancements you can try out and start to take advantage of now for your model-driven apps.

Start by opting your environment into the October release wave 2, learn how ( https://docs.microsoft.com/power-platform/admin/opt-in-early-access-updates  ).

We have a list of the Power Apps early access features ( https://docs.microsoft.com/power-platform-release-plan/2020wave2/features-ready-early-access ) and Dynamics 365 apps early access features ( https://docs.microsoft.com/dynamics365-release-plan/2020wave2/features-ready-early-access  ).

Let’s dive into a few enhancements that will increase productivity for your end users.

Additional Chart Customization Options

Unified Interface charting has been updated to support common non-designer customizations available in the legacy web client. These customizations are more advanced since they are only available through XML editing from export and import of the chart definition. This included adding X and Y axis support for grid line color, grid tick marks, data label color, data label hiding, axis label hiding, and axis line color. On the Y axis, support was enabled for minimum, maximum, and intervals. On funnel charts, the neck height and neck width can be defined to adjust the bottom tapering. On the pie, funnel, and multiple donut charts, support was added for border width and border color to enable more visual definition.

Improved model-driven app header, sitemap, and app switching

Model-driven apps have several enhancements for usability and reliability. The header has an updated Office app launcher to match other Office products.  The app name in the header now opens the inline model-driven app switcher which is a faster experience. When the website is opened without an app parameter, the message bar enables switching to a specific app. The classic sitemap control has been replaced with the modern sitemap control for better usability. The embedded mode is updated to an experience aligned with the web browser providing a neutral styling to blend into the host.

To align with Office header styling and to make space for the upcoming app search box in the header, the header breadcrumb has been removed. To support this navigation change and help users with navigation discovery, page back buttons have been added to the main page types of Form, View, and Dashboard.

Model-driven apps now support an upgraded sitemap as the launch pad of experiences on Dynamics 365 mobile app for phones and tablets. This sitemap is now consistent with the web experience.  Recently accessed and pinned records are easier to find for end users to be more productive on the go.

In addition, on phone devices commonly used commands are removed from the bottom bar to the top corners of the screen for easy access, reducing the levels of navigation. The commands and gestures are tailored to match iOS and Android patterns. Form tabs are scrollable and grids and sub-grids are compact. Less commonly used areas like settings and profile information are tucked away for users to access only as needed, as users better orient themselves within the Dynamics 365 mobile app.

Simplified and intuitive experience to email on mobile app

The enhanced email experience allows users to compose, edit, update and send an email from the Dynamics 365 mobile app.

With the new experience you can now:

• Compose and send email from Dynamics 365 Mobile app.
• Full email editor formatting supported.
• Create emails from home page grid and using quick create.
• All email ribbon commands are available.
• Search for and apply a predefined template to an email.
• Insert attachments to email.

UX improvements to sub grids and form tabs in Power Apps mobile app

Usability improvements on how data is presented on a form for model-driven apps in mobile app.

• Sub grids have a prominent header that separates them from the rest of the sections on the form.
• Empty sub grids display the option to add a new record inline, reducing the number of taps needed to add a record.
• Commands on the sub grid are also updated to show up in a drawer from the bottom of the screen, consistent with the page-level commands.
• Form tabs are more discoverable; with the tabs, you can scroll and span horizontally across the screen. When you select a tab, it adjusts the header just enough to reveal the next few tabs.

Next Steps

If you have not taken advantage of Unified Interface in your Common Data Service environment now is the time.  You can transition at any time from legacy web client to Unified Interface ahead of the final December auto transition deadline (https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/dynamics365/bdm/2020/03/23/our-commitment-to-customers-to-help-ensure-business-continuity/ ).

If you are ready to move to Unified Interface and need to learn more about the process take a look at our supporting materials  ( https://powerapps.microsoft.com/blog/moving-forward-with-your-transition-to-unified-interface/  ) and switch as soon as you are ready.