Manage versions of canvas apps

Introduction:

In Microsoft Power Platform, App Maker allows users to create canvas apps that can be tailored to meet specific business requirements. These canvas apps undergo continuous development and improvement, making it essential to manage different versions effectively. In this article, we will explore how to manage versions of canvas apps using the features provided by Microsoft Power Platform.

1. Understanding Canvas App Versions:

Canvas apps in Power Platform are developed using the Power Apps Studio. Each canvas app is associated with a version number to identify and track changes made over time. The version number follows a major.minor.update scheme, where major indicates significant changes, minor signifies feature additions, and update represents bug fixes or minor enhancements.

2. Creating a New Version:

To create a new version of a canvas app, follow these steps:

• Open the canvas app in Power Apps Studio.
• Click on the “File” tab and select “Save as.”
• Provide a version number or let the system auto-generate the next version.
• Optionally, add release notes to provide a brief description of changes made in the new version.
• Click on the “Save” button to create a new version.

3. Managing Version History:

Power Platform offers version history to keep track of all changes made to a canvas app. This enables developers to revert to earlier versions if required. To manage version history, follow these steps:

• Open the canvas app in Power Apps Studio.
• Click on the “File” tab and select “Details.”
• In the “Version history” section, you can view a list of all versions created, along with their release notes.
• To revert to a previous version, select the version from the list and click on the “Restore” button.

4. Publishing and Sharing Versions:

Publishing allows you to make a specific version of your canvas app available for use by end-users. Publishing a version ensures that changes made in subsequent versions won’t impact the version being published. To publish a canvas app version:

• Open the canvas app in Power Apps Studio.
• Click on the “File” tab and select “Details.”
• In the “Version history” section, select the version you want to publish.
• Click on the “Publish” button to make that version available for end-users.

Sharing a specific version of a canvas app with colleagues or stakeholders can be done by sharing the app’s URL or its specific version URL.

5. Promoting a Version:

Promoting a version allows you to make a specific version the default version of your canvas app. This version will be opened by default when users access the app. To promote a version:

• Open the canvas app in Power Apps Studio.
• Click on the “File” tab and select “Details.”
• In the “Version history” section, select the version you want to promote.
• Click on the “Promote” button to make it the default version.

6. Managing Environment and Solution Versions:

In addition to canvas app versions, Power Platform provides features to manage environment and solution versions. Environment version represents the overall version of the environment, including canvas apps, flows, connections, and other components. Solution version represents the version of a specific solution that includes multiple canvas apps, flows, and other assets. These versions are useful when deploying canvas apps across different environments or configuring solution dependencies.

Conclusion:

Managing versions of canvas apps in Microsoft Power Platform App Maker is essential for effective development and maintenance. By utilizing the versioning features provided, developers can seamlessly create, track, publish, share, and promote different versions of canvas apps. This ensures smooth collaboration, aids in troubleshooting, and enables reverting to earlier versions if required. Keeping track of version history is crucial in an iterative development process, allowing developers to continuously improve canvas apps while maintaining stability and backward compatibility.