Power Apps: Data Grid & Nested Layouts

Key insights

• Power Apps grid control (model-driven) and Data Grid modern control (canvas) are the two modern tabular experiences.
  Model-driven grids let users view and edit records in views and subgrids; canvas data grids use Fluent UI for rich, formula-driven cells.
• Inline editing, search, sorting, and multi-select speed up data work.
  These built-in features reduce the need to build galleries or open many forms for simple updates.
• Nested grid support shows related child records inline under a parent row.
  Use the Child items property to pick the related view and Child items parent ID to link parent and child records.
• Row virtualization and infinite scrolling keep performance smooth for large datasets.
  These features load only visible rows and help apps handle thousands of records without slowdowns.
• Grid container and card controls in screen templates teach responsive layouts.
  Study template formulas to copy and adapt responsive behavior into your own apps instead of rebuilding from scratch.
• Practical setup steps: insert the data grid, connect a data source (for example SharePoint), choose column types, then add filters, search, and sorting.
  You can show selected items in a second grid and use formatting or icon/button columns for clearer UI.

Laura Rogers [MVP] presents a clear walkthrough of a YouTube video that examines the evolving world of Power Apps grid controls. The video demonstrates practical use of the modern Data Grid for canvas apps and the grid experience for model-driven apps, plus hands-on examples with the grid container and card controls. In addition, Rogers dissects the screen template formulas that make layouts responsive across devices. Overall, the session aims to help makers reuse template patterns and speed up app building.

What the video shows

Rogers opens by touring a finished app and then inserts a Data Grid connected to a SharePoint source to show real-world setup. She highlights how toggles enable built-in features like sorting, search, multi-select, icon columns, and button columns so makers can skip hours of manual gallery work. Next, the demonstration covers filtering, multi-grid selection, and linking selected rows across two grids to show dynamic interactions. Throughout, she points to hidden lessons inside Microsoft screen templates that makers can copy and adapt.

She also examines the newer screen template controls such as the grid container and card controls, showing how these pieces respond when formulas are applied. Rogers pulls apart the template formulas step by step, which clarifies how responsive sizing and alignment are achieved on phones, tablets, and web. This demystifies template behavior so developers can reuse patterns without starting from scratch. Consequently, viewers learn both practical steps and design reasoning.

Key features and capabilities

The video highlights the modern grid features that matter to app makers, including inline editing, infinite scrolling, and nested grids for hierarchical data. Rogers reviews column types such as icons and buttons, and she demonstrates search, sorting, and multi-select in action to show how these capabilities change user workflows. She emphasizes that row virtualization keeps performance smooth for large datasets by rendering only visible rows. Therefore, the control is positioned as suitable for data-heavy scenarios.

Rogers also draws attention to accessibility and keyboard navigation improvements, which are often overlooked in demos but essential in production apps. She shows how Fluent UI theming and keyboard support make grid experiences more inclusive. Additionally, formula-driven cell content lets makers customize renderers without deep code changes. As a result, makers gain both visual and functional flexibility.

Nested layouts and card controls

One important section focuses on nested grids and how the Child items and Child items parent ID properties connect parent and child tables. Rogers explains that nested rows let users expand parent records to reveal related child records, which reduces page switching and keeps context. She uses examples like orders with order lines and accounts with contacts to show the practical value. This layout improves productivity for users who work with hierarchical data.

She then walks through the grid container and card controls, explaining how card templates can host fields and actions inside a responsive layout. Rogers shows how these controls adapt when the screen size changes, thanks to formulas that scale card width, padding, and arrangement. She also demonstrates combining grids with cards to create mixed layouts that balance list and detail views. Consequently, makers can design richer interfaces without building complex custom components.

Tradeoffs and performance considerations

Rogers does not shy away from tradeoffs: enabling inline editing or nested grids increases complexity and may raise performance considerations for some data sources. For example, SharePoint lists may hit delegation limits, and heavy formula logic can impact load times on weaker devices. Conversely, row virtualization reduces rendering overhead but can complicate actions that assume all rows are in memory. Therefore, makers must weigh interactivity against responsiveness when choosing features.

She also notes accessibility and testing tradeoffs, since richer cell renderers and custom buttons require validation across screen readers and keyboard flows. Moreover, nested layouts improve context but can make row-level navigation and bulk operations harder if not designed carefully. Rogers recommends testing designs with representative datasets and devices to reveal real-world constraints. This pragmatic approach helps balance feature richness with reliability.

Practical takeaways for app makers

Rogers encourages viewers to inspect screen templates to learn useful patterns and to copy small pieces into their apps instead of rebuilding entire screens. She shows that toggles and properties in the modern grids can dramatically reduce development time while offering advanced behaviors. Additionally, separating layout concerns and keeping formulas readable helps future maintenance. As a result, makers can deliver polished experiences faster.

Finally, the video stresses experimenting with combinations of grids, cards, and templates to find the best tradeoffs for each business case. Rogers advises makers to document assumptions about data volume, editing needs, and accessibility so teams make consistent choices. With these steps, developers can adopt modern grid controls confidently while managing the challenges that come with richer interfaces. The session thus serves as a practical guide for makers upgrading their Power Apps UX.

Keywords

Power Apps grid controls, Power Apps data grid, nested layouts Power Apps, Power Apps responsive grid, editable data grid Power Apps, canvas app grid controls, Power Apps layout templates, Power Apps nested galleries