1. Understanding Excel-Like Editable Grids in Power Apps
Managing business data through traditional forms can be time-consuming, especially when users need to update multiple records one at a time. An Excel-like editable grid solves this challenge by allowing users to edit records directly within a table, creating a faster and more familiar experience similar to working in Microsoft Excel.
In this tutorial, Reza Dorrani demonstrates how to build an editable grid inside a model-driven Power Apps application using the new Generative Pages (Gen Pages) feature. Instead of manually designing every control, he uses natural language prompts to generate a fully functional React-based page connected to Dataverse.
The generated solution is a Task Manager application that manages tasks stored in Dataverse. Users can create, edit, delete, search, sort, and filter task records directly from the grid while viewing related project information and command threads—all without building the interface manually.
Why Use an Editable Grid?
An editable grid offers several advantages over traditional forms:
- Edit multiple records without opening each form individually.
- Perform inline updates similar to Microsoft Excel.
- Search, sort, and filter data quickly.
- View related records within the same interface.
- Improve productivity by reducing navigation between screens.
By combining editable grids with Generative Pages, developers can create professional business applications much faster while maintaining a modern and responsive user experience.
2. Setting Up the Data Model & Generative Pages
Before generating the editable grid, Reza first prepares the application’s data model in Dataverse. The solution is built around three related tables that organize project information, task records, and task discussions.
| Table | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Project | Stores project information and acts as the parent record for tasks. |
| Task | Contains the main task details, including status, priority, due date, assigned user, and project lookup. |
| Command | Stores multiple comments or command records related to each task. |
The relationships between these tables allow every task to belong to a project while also supporting multiple command records for tracking conversations and updates.
Once the data model is ready, Reza uses the Plan Designer to describe the business scenario in natural language. The AI automatically generates user requirements, process diagrams, and suggests an appropriate data model that can be used to build the model-driven Power App.
Next, he opens the Describe a Page feature within Generative Pages. Here, he selects the Project, Task, and Command tables and optionally provides an image as a visual reference for styling. Finally, he writes a simple natural-language prompt requesting an Excel-like editable grid, and the AI begins generating a fully connected React page based on the selected tables and relationships.
This approach dramatically reduces development time because the AI already understands the available data, relationships, and required user interface before creating the page.
3. Exploring the Generated Editable Grid
After the page is generated, Power Apps produces a professional editable grid that is fully connected to the Dataverse tables. Rather than displaying records in a standard model-driven view, the page provides a spreadsheet-like experience where users can interact with task data directly.
The generated grid supports complete CRUD (Create, Read, Update, and Delete) operations. Users can add new task records, edit existing information inline, remove records, and save changes back to Dataverse without leaving the page.
One of the most useful features is the ability to display related data. Each task can show its associated Project while also providing access to the related Command records, allowing users to review conversations or updates without navigating to another screen.
To improve productivity, the generated page also includes several built-in data management features:
- Search tasks instantly using keywords.
- Sort records by any available column.
- Filter data based on business conditions such as Status, Priority, or Due Date.
- Show or hide columns to customize the grid according to user preferences.
- Apply conditional formatting to visually highlight important information, such as different task statuses using color coding.
These capabilities create a modern, Excel-like editing experience while keeping the data fully synchronized with Dataverse, making it easier for users to manage large datasets efficiently.
4. Bulk Editing & AI Iteration
One of the most impressive features demonstrated in the tutorial is the ability to switch between View Mode and Edit Mode. Instead of editing one record at a time, users can enable Bulk Edit Mode, allowing multiple rows and columns to become editable simultaneously—similar to working in Microsoft Excel.
When Edit Mode is enabled, every editable cell becomes interactive while visual indicators clearly show which fields can be modified. Users can update several records without immediately writing changes to the database.
Unlike traditional forms, changes are staged locally until the Save button is selected. This batch-saving approach allows users to review all modifications before committing them to Dataverse, reducing unnecessary database updates and improving the overall editing experience.
Another powerful capability of Generative Pages is the ability to iterate on the generated solution using natural language. After generating the page, the AI presents a summary of the planned changes, allowing makers to:
- Review the generated page before applying it.
- Undo individual changes if required.
- Regenerate the page with updated requirements.
- Modify styling, colors, layouts, and behaviors through additional prompts.
5. Best Practices & Limitations
Although Generative Pages can produce impressive applications within minutes, following a few best practices will help generate more accurate and useful results.
Best Practices
- Always include all relevant Dataverse tables so the AI understands relationships and available fields.
- Use clear, descriptive prompts that explain both the layout and required functionality, such as inline editing, conditional formatting, or batch saving.
- Provide a reference image if you want the generated page to match a specific visual style.
- Test generated features like search, sorting, filtering, and related records to ensure they meet your business requirements.
- Refine the page through additional prompts instead of rebuilding it manually.
Current Limitations
While Generative Pages automate much of the development process, they may not fully implement every complex business rule or advanced validation. Some scenarios may still require additional configuration or custom development after the page is generated.
The generated page should always be reviewed and tested before deployment to ensure it aligns with your organization’s requirements and data validation rules.
6. Conclusion
Generative Pages are transforming the way developers build applications in Power Apps. Instead of spending hours designing layouts, configuring controls, and writing repetitive code, makers can simply describe their requirements in natural language and generate fully functional, data-connected pages within minutes.
In this tutorial, Reza demonstrated how an Excel-like editable grid can be created using Dataverse, enabling inline editing, bulk updates, advanced filtering, related records, and conditional formatting—all generated through AI-assisted development.
While some advanced business logic may still require manual customization, Generative Pages provide an excellent starting point for rapidly building professional business applications. By combining well-structured Dataverse tables with clear AI prompts and iterative refinement, developers can significantly reduce development time while delivering modern, user-friendly experiences.
