Key insights

• The session demonstrated creating a modern People Picker in Power Apps using a refined combo box integrated with Microsoft Entra ID. This feature enhances user selection by displaying profile images dynamically and integrating with SharePoint lists.


• A Combo Box Control utilizing the Office 365 Users connector allows retrieval and selection of users from Azure Active Directory or Office 365, including filtering options based on criteria like departments.


• Integration with Dataverse and SharePoint enables a richer user selection experience, leveraging data sources for enhanced functionality and flexibility in applications.


• Modern Combo Box Features include efficient searches in large datasets through delegable queries and integration with Microsoft Entra ID, crucial for managing extensive user lists.


• The Creator Kit Controls, such as the Person Picker Control, simplify People Picker creation with built-in functionalities geared towards user selection tasks.


• The modern People Picker offers improved performance through delegable queries, dynamic features like custom search placeholders, real-time suggestions, and display options such as user profile images, enhancing both the visual aspect and efficiency of user selection.

Creating a Modern People Picker in Power Apps: A Comprehensive Overview

The evolution of the People Picker in Power Apps has brought about significant advancements, offering developers and users enhanced functionality and flexibility. The recent demo from the Microsoft Power Platform community call on January 15, 2025, showcased the creation of a modern People Picker using a refined combo box integrated with Microsoft Entra ID. This article delves into the methodologies, advantages, and features available for building a contemporary People Picker experience.

Understanding the Modern People Picker

A People Picker is a control used in applications to select users from a directory, facilitating user interactions and role assignments. In Power Apps, several methods have emerged to create an effective People Picker, allowing integration with platforms like Office 365, SharePoint, and Dataverse. These methods offer various functionalities that cater to different user needs and application requirements.

• Combo Box Control with Office 365 Users Connector: This method utilizes the Office 365 Users connector to retrieve and select users directly from the Azure Active Directory (AAD) or Office 365 tenant. It supports internal users, guest users, and filtering options by various criteria like departments.
• Dataverse and SharePoint Integration: Leveraging data from Microsoft Dataverse or SharePoint lists allows for a richer user selection experience, which can also utilize SharePoint Groups.
• Modern Combo Box Features: Recent updates have enhanced the Modern Combo Box control, enabling efficient searches in large datasets through delegable queries. This feature is crucial for applications managing extensive user lists.
• Creator Kit Controls: The Creator Kit includes specialized controls such as the Person Picker Control, simplifying the creation of a People Picker with built-in functionalities geared towards user selection tasks.

Advantages of a Modern People Picker

The modern People Picker offers several advantages that enhance both developer and user experiences:

• Enhanced User Experience: Modern controls provide a seamless interaction model, making it easier for users to find and select individuals from extensive lists. The user-friendly interface significantly improves the overall experience.
• Flexibility and Integration: The ability to integrate with various data sources enhances the utility of the People Picker, whether it be for internal user selection or external collaborations. This flexibility is crucial for diverse organizational needs.
• Improved Performance: Utilizing delegable queries reduces load times and increases performance, demonstrating significant efficiency, especially in applications with large datasets.
• Dynamic Features: New properties of the combo box control allow for custom search placeholders, real-time suggestions, and display options such as user profile images, enriching the visual aspect of user selection.

New Developments in Power Apps

Recent community calls and updates from Microsoft highlight ongoing improvements and feature rollouts that enhance the People Picker functionality:

• Modernization of User Controls: Features like the ability to customize search text and response times have been introduced, ensuring that developers can tailor the user experience according to their application needs.
• Educational Resources: Ongoing tutorials and community initiatives provide valuable insights and hands-on experience, helping users create effective solutions using the latest tools and technologies available in Power Apps.
• Integration with Modern Form Controls: New capabilities allow users to easily link People Picker functionalities with modern form controls, such as those used in SharePoint, enhancing overall application integration and user experience.

Challenges and Tradeoffs in People Picker Development

While the modern People Picker offers numerous advantages, developers must navigate certain challenges and tradeoffs:

• Complexity vs. Simplicity: Balancing the complexity of features with the simplicity of use is crucial. While advanced functionalities are beneficial, they should not overwhelm the user or complicate the application's interface.
• Data Privacy and Security: Integrating with platforms like Office 365 and SharePoint requires careful consideration of data privacy and security. Developers must ensure that user data is protected and that access permissions are appropriately managed.
• Performance Optimization: While delegable queries improve performance, developers must also consider the impact of large datasets on application speed and responsiveness. Optimizing data retrieval and processing is essential for maintaining efficiency.
• Customization vs. Standardization: Offering customization options can enhance user experience, but it may also lead to inconsistencies across applications. Developers must find a balance between providing customizable features and maintaining a standardized user interface.

Conclusion

The modern People Picker in Power Apps represents a significant step forward in creating user-friendly applications that harness the power of organizational data. By leveraging the latest features and methods discussed, developers can create intuitive, responsive, and efficient systems tailored to their operational requirements. As Power Apps continues to evolve, staying informed about new developments and best practices will be key to maximizing the potential of the People Picker and other innovative tools.

Keywords

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