Tutorial / Cram Notes

Microsoft Teams allows team owners and members to enhance their collaborative experience by adding apps, connectors, tabs, and messaging extensions. These features can significantly improve productivity, streamline workflows, and integrate external services directly into the Teams environment.

Adding Apps to a Team

Apps in Microsoft Teams can range from bots that assist with work to integrations with other services like project management or customer relationship management (CRM) software.

To add an app to a team:

  1. Go to the team where you want to add the app.
  2. Click on the Apps icon on the left-hand sidebar or click on the ellipsis (…) next to the team name and select Manage team.
  3. Browse or search for the app you want to install.
  4. Select the app and click Add. This may add the app’s tab, bot, or messaging extension to the team.

For example, adding the Trello app allows team members to manage their Trello boards directly from Teams.

Adding Connectors to a Team

Connectors are a set of prebuilt integrations that enable services to post updates within the Teams channels. This can be useful for receiving notifications from project management tools, RSS feeds, or incident management systems.

To add a connector to a channel:

  1. Navigate to the channel and click on the ellipsis (…) and choose Connectors.
  2. Browse through the list of available connectors.
  3. Choose the desired connector and configure it by following the provided setup prompts.

An example of a connector is the GitHub connector that notifies a channel of git pushes, pulls, or other events in a repository.

Adding Tabs to a Team

Tabs are used to integrate content and tools directly into a channel or a chat, making them easily accessible.

To add a tab:

  1. Within the desired channel, click on the + icon next to the existing tabs.
  2. Choose from the list of available apps and services.
  3. Configure the tab settings as necessary and click Save.

For instance, adding a OneNote tab provides a shared notepad for the team, while a Planner tab integrates Microsoft’s task management tool.

Adding Messaging Extensions to a Team

Messaging extensions allow users to include rich content in their messages or to carry out searches and other operations without leaving Teams.

To add a messaging extension:

  1. Go to the compose message box in any conversation.
  2. Click on the ellipsis (…) below the compose box to see the list of available messaging extensions.
  3. Search for or select a messaging extension and then add it to your compose box by following the setup instructions.

As an example, the Polly messaging extension enables quick polling within conversations.

Things to Consider

  • Permissions: Not all users may have permission to add apps or tabs. Permissions can be managed in the Teams admin center.
  • Policies: Organizations can have specific policies regarding which apps and features are allowed.
  • Scope: Some apps, connectors, tabs, or extensions may be added at the team level affecting everyone, while others can be added just for personal use or specific chats.

Best Practices

  • Evaluate Apps Before Adding: Ensure that any app or service you add complies with your organization’s security and compliance policies.
  • Keep Teams Organized: Only add tabs that provide real value to avoid clutter.
  • Train Team Members: Provide guidance on how to use new apps or extensions to help team members adapt quickly.
  • Monitor Usage: Track the usage of apps and integrations to ensure they are beneficial.

Integrating apps, connectors, tabs, and messaging extensions into Teams can make a significant difference in how teams collaborate and manage their workflows. By harnessing these features effectively, users can create a more dynamic and integrated digital workspace.

Practice Test with Explanation

Multiple Choice: Which feature can be added to a team in Microsoft Teams to enhance project management capabilities?

  • A) Tabs
  • B) Connectors
  • C) Messaging extensions
  • D) All of the above

Answer: D) All of the above

Explanation: Tabs, Connectors, and Messaging Extensions all serve to enhance project management by integrating various tools and services into a team environment in Microsoft Teams.

True/False: Bots can be added to a Microsoft Teams channel to interact with team members.

Answer: True

Explanation: Bots can be added to channels in Microsoft Teams to provide interactive experiences and automate tasks for team members.

Multiple Select: Which of the following are considered tabs in Microsoft Teams?

  • A) Planner
  • B) OneNote
  • C) Third-party apps
  • D) T-Bot

Answer: A) Planner, B) OneNote, C) Third-party apps

Explanation: Planner, OneNote, and third-party apps can all be added as tabs within a team or channel in Microsoft Teams to provide quick access to these services. T-Bot is not a tab; it was an assistant in earlier versions of Teams.

True/False: To use a messaging extension in Microsoft Teams, you should first install the corresponding app or service.

Answer: True

Explanation: Messaging extensions typically require the installation of the associated app or service to function correctly within the Microsoft Teams environment.

Multiple Choice: Which permission level must a user have to add an app to a Microsoft Teams environment?

  • A) Member
  • B) Owner
  • C) Guest
  • D) Administrator

Answer: B) Owner

Explanation: Typically, team Owners have the necessary permissions to add or manage apps within a team. Guests and members usually have limited permissions.

True/False: You can pin a messaging extension to the bottom of the chat input box for easy access.

Answer: True

Explanation: Messaging extensions can be pinned to the compose box in Microsoft Teams to provide quick and easy access for users when sending messages.

Multiple Choice: What is the maximum number of tabs that can be added to a single channel in Microsoft Teams?

  • A) 10
  • B) 15
  • C) No limit
  • D) 100

Answer: C) No limit

Explanation: There is no explicit limit to the number of tabs you can add to a single channel in Microsoft Teams, though practical usability considerations may suggest a reasonable number.

True/False: Connectors are not available in private chat conversations.

Answer: True

Explanation: Connectors are designed to post updates and notifications to channels within teams, not in private chat conversations.

Multiple Choice: Which of the following settings must be enabled by an admin for users to add apps to Microsoft Teams?

  • A) External apps setting
  • B) Sideloading of apps
  • C) Third-party storage services
  • D) Both A and B

Answer: D) Both A and B

Explanation: An admin must enable settings for external apps and sideloading for users to add apps to Microsoft Teams.

True/False: Messaging extensions can be used to trigger workflows in Microsoft Teams.

Answer: True

Explanation: Messaging extensions can integrate with services such as Power Automate to trigger specific workflows directly from the chat in Microsoft Teams.

Multiple Choice: How can a team member discover new apps or services to integrate with Microsoft Teams?

  • A) Check the Teams Admin Center
  • B) Browse the Teams store within the app
  • C) Consult the Microsoft 365 Roadmap
  • D) Google search for compatible apps

Answer: B) Browse the Teams store within the app

Explanation: Team members can browse the Teams store from within the Microsoft Teams app to discover new apps or services to integrate into their teams and channels.

True/False: Only Microsoft services like OneNote and Planner can be integrated as tabs in Microsoft Teams.

Answer: False

Explanation: In addition to Microsoft services, third-party services can also be integrated as tabs in Microsoft Teams, offering a broad range of functionality and collaboration options.

Interview Questions

What is the Microsoft Teams admin center used for?

The Microsoft Teams admin center is used to manage Teams settings for your organization.

How can you add an app to a team in Microsoft Teams?

You can add an app to a team in Microsoft Teams by clicking on the “Apps” button in the team’s left-hand menu, searching for the app you want to add, and then clicking the “Add” button.

What are the different types of built-in custom tabs that can be added to a Teams channel?

The different types of built-in custom tabs that can be added to a Teams channel are Website, Document Library, Power BI, Planner, Forms, and Stream.

What are connectors in Microsoft Teams?

Connectors in Microsoft Teams are third-party services that can be used to send information to a channel.

What is a messaging extension in Microsoft Teams?

A messaging extension in Microsoft Teams is a way to find and share information with your team without leaving the chat.

What is an Office 365 custom connector in Microsoft Teams?

An Office 365 custom connector in Microsoft Teams is a way to integrate Teams with external services by creating custom notifications in channels.

How do you add a custom tab to a channel in Microsoft Teams?

To add a custom tab to a channel in Microsoft Teams, click on the “+” button in the channel’s left-hand menu, select “Tabs,” and then click on “Add a tab.”

What are some examples of Office 365 connectors that can be added to a team?

Some examples of Office 365 connectors that can be added to a team include Twitter, Trello, Asana, and GitHub.

How can you configure the permissions for an app in Microsoft Teams?

You can configure the permissions for an app in Microsoft Teams by going to the app’s settings and selecting the “Permissions” tab.

Can you add an app to a private channel in Microsoft Teams?

Yes, you can add an app to a private channel in Microsoft Teams by going to the private channel’s left-hand menu and clicking on the “Apps” button.

What are some considerations to keep in mind when adding apps to a team in Microsoft Teams?

Some considerations to keep in mind when adding apps to a team in Microsoft Teams include ensuring that the app is compatible with Teams, verifying the app’s permissions, and ensuring that the app adheres to your organization’s security policies.

How do you remove an app from a team in Microsoft Teams?

To remove an app from a team in Microsoft Teams, go to the team’s left-hand menu, click on the “Apps” button, select the app you want to remove, and then click on the “Remove” button.

Can you create your own custom tabs in Microsoft Teams?

Yes, you can create your own custom tabs in Microsoft Teams by using the Teams app studio.

How do you add a connector to a channel in Microsoft Teams?

To add a connector to a channel in Microsoft Teams, click on the “Connectors” button in the channel’s left-hand menu, search for the connector you want to add, and then click on the “Add” button.

How can you restrict the ability to add apps in Microsoft Teams?

You can restrict the ability to add apps in Microsoft Teams by configuring the app permission policies for your organization in the Teams admin center.

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Mendo da Luz
1 year ago

Great post on adding apps and connectors to a team! This really helped me understand the process better.

Letizia Deschamps
1 year ago

I’ve been struggling with adding tabs in Microsoft Teams. Do I need special permissions to do this?

Eetu Jokela
8 months ago

Are there any limitations on the number of apps you can add to a team?

Ellie Wallace
1 year ago

Can someone explain how messaging extensions work?

Magdalena Almeida
1 year ago

This article is very superficial. It lacks depth on the security implications of adding third-party apps.

Candice Robert
7 months ago

I’m a new team admin, and I found the explanation of connectors very helpful. Thanks!

Oliver Ma
2 years ago

For those experiencing issues with tabs not displaying, check your Teams policies. That sorted out the issue for me.

Marilyn Stevens
1 year ago

Is there a way to integrate GitHub directly into a Teams channel?

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