Model-Driven Apps

Model-Driven Basics

• Model-Driven apps only work with CDS, you must import any external data into CDS to use it in a Model-Driven app
   
• You CAN'T use the 270 already built connectors in Model-Driven apps like you can in Canvas apps and Flow
   
• Model-Driven apps are the replacement of the XRM development environment in Dynamics 365
   
• Because Model-Driven apps are essentially the Dynamics customization engine, you have all the components available in Dynamics in your Model-Driven app!

Model-Driven Apps Features

• The model-driven apps are built by composing multiple page types and components using several focused designers.
• You can write and send emails from your Model-driven app and add the "App for Outlook". Not clear if you can do this with an "App" license.
• Model-driven apps can integrate with SharePoint with Dynamics 365 license. Not sure about "App" license. See this post.
• You can add interactive Power BI tiles to Model-driven dashboards if you have a Dynamics license.
• You can embed a canvas app into a model-driven app with either a Dynamics 365 license or an "App" license.

Model-driven Designers

• App Designer specifies the sitemap, global dashboards, business processes flows, and entity forms, views, and dashboards
• Sitemap Designer provides the application navigation
• Business Process Designer provides stages and steps to guide users consistently through common business processes within a form
• Entity Designer defines the fields, relationships, and metadata for an entity
• Business Rule Designer provides no-low business logic for an entity
• View Designer specifies columns and filter conditions for a record list
• Form Designer specifies the fields and controls along with layout for a single record
• Dashboard Designer summaries one or more entities using charts, lists, etc.

Note that new features will frequently appear without warning! :-)

Create a new Model-Driven App

The first thing you see is the App Designer

Adding an Entity automatically adds Forms, Views, Charts and a Dashboard

The next step is to choose the particular Forms, Views, etc. that you want in your app

Model-Driven App Links

• Download and go through the AIAD Labs
   
• YouTube video that basically goes through the labs
   
• Comparison of Model-driven app features in PowerApps and Dynamics 365 from May 2018
   
• Download this PDF for instructions on creating a trial environment with CDS and Model-Driven app capabilities