Power Apps: Rapidly Create with Generative Pages Using Dataverse & SharePoint

Key insights

• Generative Pages is an AI-powered feature in Microsoft Power Apps that lets users create model-driven app pages by describing their needs in natural language, instead of manual design and coding.
  
• This tool connects to Dataverse tables and SharePoint lists, allowing fast creation of editable grids, dashboards, sorting, filtering, and CRUD operations using real business data.
  
• Natural language prompts guide the AI to generate fully functional and responsive UI pages; users can also upload images for more accurate design suggestions.
  
• Generative Pages currently works only with model-driven apps. The environment must have Copilot features enabled and is mainly available in the US region during its public preview phase.
  
• The main benefits are speed and ease of use: even complex app pages with advanced functionality can be built in minutes without writing code or formulas. This lowers barriers for both citizen developers and professional developers.
  
• This approach marks a shift toward conversational, AI-assisted app creation on the Microsoft Power Platform, making it easier to build rich apps that integrate with Dataverse and SharePoint, while requiring a Power Apps premium license for use.
  

Introduction to Generative Pages in Power Apps

Microsoft has introduced a groundbreaking feature called Generative Pages within its Power Apps platform, aiming to revolutionize the way users build model-driven applications. In a recent YouTube video by Reza Dorrani, viewers are guided through the process of using this AI-powered tool to rapidly create app pages through natural language prompts. This innovation is particularly significant as it enables both citizen developers and professional app makers to design complex interfaces without the need for extensive coding or manual configuration.

The ability to leverage conversational input for app creation marks a major shift in development methodology. Instead of spending hours wiring up galleries, configuring layouts, and connecting data sources, users can now describe their requirements in plain English and let AI handle the heavy lifting. This approach not only speeds up the process but also democratizes app development, making it more accessible to a broader audience.

How Generative Pages Work

At the core of Generative Pages is its integration with Microsoft Dataverse and SharePoint, two widely used data sources within the Microsoft ecosystem. Users begin by specifying the tables or lists they want to include in their app page, with current support for up to six data tables per page. By entering a natural language prompt, such as "Create an events calendar with filtering and bulk update capabilities," the AI engine interprets the request and generates a fully functional, responsive page.

Moreover, users can upload images to provide additional design guidance, enhancing the AI's understanding of their vision. The resulting output is a React-based UI page that seamlessly integrates into the larger model-driven app, complete with features like editable grids, dashboards, sorting, filtering, and CRUD operations. This process dramatically reduces the technical barriers for app customization and accelerates overall development timelines.

Real-World Use Cases and Demonstrations

In the video, Reza Dorrani demonstrates two practical scenarios: building an Events Calendar page and a Product Catalog page. Both examples showcase how quickly and effectively Generative Pages can assemble complex app components using simple, descriptive prompts. The Events Calendar leverages Dataverse tables, while the Product Catalog taps into SharePoint lists via virtual tables, illustrating the flexibility of the tool across different data environments.

These demonstrations highlight the platform's ability to generate not just static layouts but interactive, data-driven interfaces. With AI handling the initial setup, developers can focus on fine-tuning and customizing functionality, striking a balance between automation and creative control.

Tradeoffs and Challenges

While Generative Pages offers impressive speed and convenience, there are important tradeoffs to consider. The feature currently operates exclusively within model-driven apps and requires Copilot AI features to be enabled, with initial availability limited to US-based environments. As the technology is still in early preview, some advanced customization options may be restricted, and integration with additional data sources could be limited as Microsoft continues to expand regional support.

Another challenge is ensuring that AI-generated pages meet specific business requirements without introducing unintended complexity or design inconsistencies. Developers may need to review and refine the output to align with organizational standards. Nevertheless, the benefits in productivity and accessibility often outweigh these limitations, especially for teams seeking rapid prototyping and deployment.

Looking Ahead: The Future of App Development

The transition towards AI-assisted app creation, as exemplified by Generative Pages, signals a new era for the Microsoft Power Platform. By embedding intelligent tools directly into the development workflow, Microsoft is empowering users to move from concept to deployment faster than ever before. As regional availability expands and features mature, the potential for even greater automation and integration will likely follow.

Ultimately, Generative Pages represents a significant step forward in making enterprise app development more intuitive, flexible, and efficient. The balance between automation and customization will remain a central consideration, but the promise of building robust, data-driven applications with minimal coding effort is now within reach for many more organizations.

Keywords

Power Apps Generative Pages Dataverse SharePoint Build Power Apps Fast Low Code Development Microsoft Power Platform App Building Automation