Launch Native iPhone Apps from Power Apps

When I made my first app with Microsoft Power Apps, I was so excited and impressed by the relative ease to quickly create a useful and functioning app. It was great getting an app in the hands of co-workers and other users, fast.

As I create more and more apps, I have learned that it is not always best to get an app out super-fast. Sometimes, I sacrifice some speed for thoughtfulness by considering building in some user-friendly features in each app.

Build user-friendly features into your Power Apps

Now, for each app I build, I include a tutorial, a support screen, and a screen listing the app’s update history. I also pay special attention to the attractiveness of the app and tend to use less text and more images and though I use color in my apps, I refrain from using colors to convey meaning so that all users, even users that are color blind, may understand the app.

Why build a support screen in Power Apps?

Today’s post focuses on just one of these considerations: the support screen. Over time I realized apps really need a way for users to get help. Although, I think the apps I create are perfectly easy to use and no one would ever have a question about it, that just isn’t true. I have had users ask questions about calculations in an app, text character limits in fields, why certain controls did not appear or were disabled and more.

I have also found that the lack of a support screen can inundate the normal tier one support channels with questions about apps that this support channel’s members are unfamiliar with. In essence, the app drives customers to the wrong support channel.

To remedy this problem, I incorporate a support screen in each app.

The basic elements of the support screen may be slightly different depending on the app and the team that supports the app. For example, each group does not receive text messages. Typically, each support screen includes a phone number and an FAQ and may also include a button to navigate to the tutorial.

This idea has been pretty popular because users working with this app are using a mobile device and do not want to switch to a computer to find documents and phone numbers.

The best part of this support screen is the ease of use. Not only does the user have the ability to see the support methods but they can launch the support method, i.e., call, message, FAQ page from the app as shown in the clip, below.

Launch native iPhone apps from your Power Apps

This is actually pretty easy to set up. All you need is the proper URL syntax for the app.

Create a phone call button in Power Apps in 3 easy steps

1. In your app, insert a new button. In my example, I have changed the color of the button so that it doesn’t look like a button.
2. In the Text property for the button, enter your desired text. In my example, I display the phone number but you could display something like Call Support, instead.
3. In the button’s OnSelect property, enter the following code:
   
   Launch("tel://5155551212")
   
   Replace my phone number with your phone number. Check out the syntax for this code. The app to launch and the number are wrapped in quotes. Note: If you place this button in a gallery, you could use this code:
   
   Launch("tel://" & ThisItem.'Phone number')
   
   Replace my field name ‘Phone number’ with your field name. Check out the syntax for this code. The app to launch is in quotes but the internal app references are not. Note: In my example, my field name ‘Phone number’ appears in single quotes automatically because there is a space in the name.

That’s it! You’re done in three steps.

Create a text message button in Power Apps in 3 easy steps

1. In your app, insert a new button.
2. In the Text property for the button, enter your desired text.
3. In the button’s OnSelect property, enter the following code:
   
   Launch("sms://5155551212")
   
   Replace my phone number with your phone number. Note: If you place this button in a gallery, you could use this code:
   
   Launch("sms://" & ThisItem.'Phone number')

That’s it!