Pieter Veenstra

Create custom error messages in Power Apps We've all seen those error messages that don't make any sense. Have you ever wanted to replace an error messages with your own custom error messages?

We've all seen those error messages that don't make any sense. Have you ever wanted to replace an error messages with your own custom error messages?

UTCNow and that little hidden feature in Power Automate If you have been following my posts on SharePains.com, then you will know about the UTCNow function generating the current UTC time. But did you know that there is a hidden parameter that comes with t...

If you have been following my posts on SharePains.com, then you will know about the UTCNow function generating the current UTC time. But did you know that there is a hidden parameter that comes with this function?

sharepains.com/2025/11/04/u...

UTCNow and that little hidden feature in Power Automate If you have been following my posts on SharePains.com, then you will know about the UTCNow function generating the current UTC time. But did you know that there is a hidden parameter that comes with this function?

If you have been following my posts on SharePains.com, then you will know about the UTCNow function generating the current UTC time. But did you know that there is a hidden parameter that comes with this function?

OnChange events in Power Apps What can be easier than the OnChange event in Power Apps? When a user selects or types a new value for a control we can configure our app to do something. But what if that OnChange event triggers at the wrong time?

What can be easier than the OnChange event in Power Apps? When a user selects or types a new value for a control we can configure our app to do something. But what if that OnChange event triggers at the wrong time?

How to dynamically select properties in Power Apps In Power Apps there is sometimes a need to select a property dynamically. You get the name of the property from ,for example, a dropdown, and now you want to retrieve the value of that property in a record.

In Power Apps there is sometimes a need to select a property dynamically. You get the name of the property from ,for example, a dropdown, and now you want to retrieve the value of that property in a record.

In the my previous posts about Copilot Studio, I've already had a look at Variables and how to work with variables. However it will be useful to take this a bit further. In this post I'm looking at all the things you can do with variables in Copilot Studio.

Actions in Copilot Studio After yesterday's post about Activities in Copilot Studio, today I'm looking at Actions in Copilot Studio. The terminology here is confusing for Power Automate users.

Actions in Copilot Studio

After yesterday's post about Activities in Copilot Studio, today I'm looking at Actions in Copilot Studio. The terminology here is confusing for Power Automate users.

How to use Activities in Copilot Studio After looking at Triggers in Copilot Studio a few weeks ago, I'm taking the next step in this post. Activities in Copilot Studio.

After looking at Triggers in Copilot Studio a few weeks ago, I'm taking the next step in this post. Activities in Copilot Studio.

Get the Largest Divisor in Power Apps Last week I someone ask me about calculating the largest divisor for a number within Power Apps. This had to be fast! With the right approach, this is easy to do.

Last week I someone ask me about calculating the largest divisor for a number within Power Apps. This had to be fast! With the right approach, this is easy to do.

Allow management of Content Types on SharePoint Lists using Power Automate Within SharePoint there is the option to allow management of content types. But how do you manage this setting within Power Automate?

Within SharePoint there is the option to allow management of content types. But how do you manage this setting within Power Automate?

1 Quick Tip – Think positive conditions in Power Automate This is a quick tip blog post about Power Automate conditions in Power Automate. With the new(?) development UI, it is important to think positive.

This is a quick tip blog post about Power Automate conditions in Power Automate. With the new(?) development UI, it is important to think positive.

Microsoft Releases Custom Power Fx Functions Feature for Power Automate Today Microsoft released custom Power Fx functions to support reusable code within Power Automate. In this post how to create and use these custom functions.

Today Microsoft released custom Power Fx functions to support reusable code within Power Automate. In this post how to create and use these custom functions.

Create your Copilot agent and add it to Microsoft Teams In my last few posts, I've looked at creating an Copilot agent. Now the next step is to put the agent somewhere useful. In this post I'll create a basic agent and add it to Microsoft Teams.

In my last few posts, I've looked at creating an Copilot agent. Now the next step is to put the agent somewhere useful. In this post I'll create a basic agent and add it to Microsoft Teams.

Trigger your Topics in Copilot Studio After yesterday's general introduction into developing agents in Copilot Studio. Today I will have a look at the first step of topics, triggers.

Trigger your Topics in Copilot Studio

After yesterday's general introduction into developing agents in Copilot Studio. Today I will have a look at the first step of topics, triggers.

Get started with Copilot Studio To get started with Copilot Studio is easy visit and we are ready to get started with the creation of our first Agent.

To get started with Copilot Studio is easy visit https://copilotstudio.microsoft.com/ and we are ready to get started with the creation of our first Agent.

Use Power Automate Connector Actions directly from Power Apps Often people create flows to call Microsoft Graph end points or Approval from within Power Apps rather than "Power Automate connector actions" from within Power Apps.

Often people create flows to call Microsoft Graph end points or Approval from within Power Apps rather than "Power Automate connector actions" from within Power Apps.

Stop contacting Microsoft support for simple questions with Microsoft 365 Self-Help connector! (Maybe ) Microsoft has released a new connector in Preview. The Microsoft 365 Self-Help connector can now be used in a Power Automate flow.

Stop contacting Microsoft support for simple questions with Microsoft 365 Self-Help connector! (Maybe )

Microsoft has released a new connector in Preview. The Microsoft 365 Self-Help connector can now be used in a Power Automate flow.

Restore deleted flows in Power Automate Now, it might happen to all of us. We delete a flow in Power Automate and then there is this oops moment. How do I restore deleted flows?

Restore deleted flows in Power Automate

Now, it might happen to all of us. We delete a flow in Power Automate and then there is this oops moment. How do I restore deleted flows?

6 Essential Data Strategies for Success in the Power Platform I'm very often asked, where should I store my data? Most of the time data strategies include one or more of the following: - SharePoint - Dataverse - SQL - Excel In this post 6 data strategies that you could consider before you design your next app.

I'm very often asked, where should I store my data? Most of the time data strategies include one or more of the following:

- SharePoint
- Dataverse
- SQL
- Excel

In this post 6 data strategies that you could consider before you design your next app.

Using Power Automate Desktop to do automated testing Power Apps Power Apps studio includes test tools, however these are not available when you use co-authoring. So how about automated testing your Canvas Apps using Power Automate Desktop?

Power Apps studio includes test tools, however these are not available when you use co-authoring. So how about automated testing your Canvas Apps using Power Automate Desktop?

HTTP vs Send an HTTP Request in Power Automate HTTP vs Send an HTTP Request in Power Automate One of my favourite actions in Power Automate is the HTTP action. However it is premium, while for a lot of the Graph API endpoints there are standard actions available.

One of my favourite actions in Power Automate is the HTTP action. However it is premium, while for a lot of the Graph API endpoints there are standard actions available.

SQL Functions for Encrypting and Decrypting Large text fields After my post about Encrypting Rich Text fields in Power Apps that store their data in SQL server now the promised decryption code in this post as well.

SQL Functions for Encrypting and Decrypting Large text fields

After my post about Encrypting Rich Text fields in Power Apps that store their data in SQL server now the promised decryption code in this post as well.

Encrypt a large rich text field in SQL Stored Procedures Recently I have done a lot of work with SQL Stored Procedures in Power Apps. But what do you do if you want to have some fields encrypted in your SQL database. In this post how to Encrypt and decrypt using stored procedures.

Recently I have done a lot of work with SQL Stored Procedures in Power Apps. But what do you do if you want to have some fields encrypted in your SQL database. In this post how to Encrypt and decrypt using stored procedures.

Weird date handling in Power Apps This is a typical post on a Friday afternoon, about weird date handling in Power Apps. But understanding this issue will help in many situations. Dates in Power Apps A couple of examples of using dates in Power Apps Now() "2024-12-31" // huh this is not a date it is a text with a date or maybe not?? Formatting of dates in If statement…

Weird date handling in Power Apps

This is a typical post on a Friday afternoon, about weird date handling in Power Apps. But understanding this issue will help in many situations. Dates in Power Apps A couple of examples of using dates in Power Apps Now() "2024-12-31" // huh this is not a date it…

When tea time has finished, you have to go for the coffee. It isn't possible to make another tea once it is late until the next tea time, of course.

AI generated posts don't add anything useful. The reader can just generate it themselves.

It does make me think, if AI is a modern version of plagiarism. Then copying AI content is plagiarised plagiarism. Something wrong with that.

When an item is created vs When an item is created or modified As part of my SharePoint connector series, I had a look at the When an item is created and the When an item is created or modified triggers in this post. When and item is created Then when an item is created trigger may sound like the trigger that you want to use when new items created in a list need to trigger your flow.

As part of my SharePoint connector series, I had a look at the When an item is created and the When an item is created or modified triggers in this post.

Synchronise Microsoft Shifts with Outlook Calendars in Power Automate the 2024 way I've been planning to rewrite my Synchronise Microsoft Shifts with Outlook Calendars in Power Automate post for quite a while. This post will give you the new

For everybody looking for a sync between Microsoft Shifts and Outlook calendars. I have now added a link to download the Power Automate flow as an unmanaged solution.

sharepains.com/2024/03/07/s...

I would have hoped for something more butterfly like.

Like wing or flap.

To wing it.
Or write it in a flap.

On twitter we used to write tweets. I guess this was related to the blue bird.

What do we call posts on Bluesky? Not sure what noise a butterfly makes.