From the Microsoft Power Platform blogs: Plan designer preview; SharePoint Copilot agent; Power Pages solution management; Boosting canvas apps

In this review of the Power Platform blogs:

• Introducing the plan designer in Power Apps (preview)
• Introducing the SharePoint Copilot agent: your site’s new best friend
• Power Pages solution management tips, tricks, and gotchas
• Boosting canvas apps with Copilot Control in Power Apps: a complete step-by-step guide

Introducing the plan designer in Power Apps (preview)

On the Microsoft Power Apps Blog, Jessica Lo wrote that the new plan designer is now in public preview and available to makers worldwide.

Lo stated that this tool makes it easier than ever to turn a basic business need into a complete low-code solution in just minutes. 

She noted that with the help of Copilot and a team of smart agents skilled in solution design, data modeling, and user experience, the plan designer is here to change how you build business solutions. Lo pointed out that the plan designer aims to help you create intelligent, impactful solutions quickly and easily.

In her blog post, Lo explained how the plan designer will change the way you build solutions as well as how you can get started with it.

Introducing the SharePoint Copilot agent: Your site’s new best friend

Writing on the PowerApps911 blog, Jeff Taylor asked if you've ever felt that navigating SharePoint is like walking through a huge library without anyone to guide you? 

He wrote that although you know the information you need is there, finding it feels like a tricky treasure hunt. He noted that there's some good news as Microsoft has provided a guide to navigating SharePoint called the SharePoint Copilot agent.

First, Taylor offered some important information that you need to know before you get started:

• To use the features of the SharePoint Copilot agent, you'll need a Microsoft 365 Copilot license.
• Currently, SharePoint Copilot agents only work with files up to 3 mb.
• SharePoint lists are not currently supported with agents.

In his blog post, Taylor explained how to use the existing SharePoint Copilot agent. He then provided details on how to create your first SharePoint Copilot agent.

Power Pages solution management tips, tricks, and gotchas

Writing on his blog, Nick Doelman stated that one of the key benefits of using the enhanced data model for Power Pages is that you can add a website to a Power Platform solution and easily move it to other environments. 

He noted that this makes creating and managing Power Pages and application lifecycle management simpler and more consistent with the rest of the Power Platform.

However, Doelman pointed out that adding Power Pages websites to solutions works a little differently compared to other parts of the Power Platform. In his blog post, Doelman explained a few things that make it different from the usual process of building with solutions in the Power Platform.

First, he described how to add new websites to a solution. Doelman also noted that you have to be aware of related tables added to solutions when adding a website

In addition, Doelman explained that website assets created in Power Pages tools are not automatically added to solution and provided information on a couple ways to add all the components you and other makers create to a solution.

Doelman also offered several other Power Pages solution management tips and tricks.

Boosting canvas apps with Copilot Control in Power Apps: a complete step-by-step guide

On the Inogic blog, Sam Kumar wrote that the Copilot control is a smart AI assistant that lets users interact with data in canvas apps through simple, natural language. 

He stated that with this feature, app creators can provide users with quick insights and automated help, enhancing the user experience.

In his blog, Kumar offered step-by-step instructions on how to add the Copilot control to a canvas app and link it to various data sources, such as contacts, leads, or cases. He explained how to integrate a custom Copilot into your canvas app without having to place it on a specific screen in your app.