Microsoft 365 services offers a seamless experience among its many products. Although they are different in look and feel and have different designs, the user experience remains the same. This chapter explores the seamless integration experience of SharePoint communication sites with Microsoft Forms, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Teams, to kick off your journey through this seamless experience.
Seamless Integration Between SharePoint Communication Sites and Microsoft Forms
This section explores the seamless integration with SharePoint communication sites and Microsoft built in the Microsoft 365 space. In this section, we demonstrate Microsoft Forms creation within and outside a communication site. For a case that’s outside a communication site, we also explain how do bring such forms back into SharePoint communication sites.
Creating a New Form in Communication Site
Microsoft Forms can be created in communication sites using the Forms webpart. Using this webpart, you can create multiple forms in a communication site and make them accessible through this communication site. Although the form is built in a communication site, you can share it with wider audience. Use the following steps to create a new form using the webpart available in the SharePoint communication sites.
Also in Figure 7-6, the form’s web address is highlighted in red.
You should now be able to create forms in the communication sites and you’ve witnessed the seamless integration experience between SharePoint communication sites and Microsoft Forms.
Seamless Integration Between SharePoint Communication Sites and Power Apps
This section shows you how to create a Canvas app using Power Apps and Microsoft Lists. You can do this from within either Power Apps or Microsoft Online.
The app will have three screens—the Browse, Details, and Edit screens. The Browse screen allows you to view all the details about a single item in the list, while the Details screen shows all the information about that item. The Edit screen allows you to update or create an existing item.
Even if you create a list that’s very complex, the principles of creating an app will not change. The app will still have the same features regardless of the complexity of the list. In this section, we create an app from Power Apps and SharePoint Online (i.e., from a list part of the SharePoint communication). This will demonstrate the seamless nature of Power Apps and communication sites.
To create an app within Power Apps based on information coming out of the list part of the communication site, follow these steps:
The app will automatically show the data in more columns if your list has multiple entries. On the top of the screen, there are icons that will allow you to sort the list, create an item, and refresh the list. A search box will also allow you to filter the list based on text.
Next, you will create Power Apps using SharePoint Online.
The app will automatically appear as a view when you open it in SharePoint Online. You can also run it in a web browser, on an Android device, or on an iOS device.
In this section, you experienced the seamless nature between communication sites and Power Apps.
Seamless Integration Between SharePoint Communication Sites and Power Automate
Chapter 8 includes a detailed example of seamless integration between SharePoint Online and Power Automate. In this section, you’ll see how to enable data flows from Power Automate and data flows from SharePoint communication sites to demonstrate the seamless experience between them.
First, let’s kickstart flow creation in SharePoint Communication sites by following these steps:
Along with this flow, there are many other flows, including Send an Email When New Item Is Created or Modified in SharePoint List, Copy Files from One Document Library to Another, and Move Files from Document Library to OneDrive. This concludes this section of seamless learning with Power Automate and communication sites.
Seamless Integration Between SharePoint Communication Sites and Microsoft Teams
OneDrive is very similar to the My Folder concept on standard laptops. You store attachments that you diligently share with colleagues when there is a need and you do not share them with all colleagues. For example, Salary Slips, Project Manuals, ID Card Soft Copies, and others.
Therefore, OneDrive is used to share documents for very specific purposes and with people whom you choose. On the other hand, SharePoint Online is used to share documents with a wider audience.
An important point to remember is that whenever a file is uploaded in Microsoft 365, it is stored in SharePoint Online. Files shared through Teams Chat are hosted in OneDrive along with other files uploaded by the users.
When a team is created, a corresponding SharePoint communication site is also created. The contents inside this SharePoint communication site can be managed via Teams and the SharePoint communication sites, thus offering a seamless experience.
Summary
Now that you’ve seen how seamless integration experiences between communication sites and Microsoft Forms, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Teams works, you end your journey of seamless experiences. In the next chapter, you will explore the usefulness of communication sites to perform project management activities.