To reduce confusion, Microsoft have renamed flows.
Flows are now Power Automate Cloud flows, the instant, automated, and scheduled flows that connect to web services and APIs via connectors
UI flows are now Power Automate Desktop flows, the attended and unattended Robotic Process Automate (RPA) for desktop and web applications that do not have an API, for which you capture steps with Power Automate Desktop.
See more at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/flow-types
When Microsoft moved to role-based examinations almost two-years ago, the plan was to renew certifications to keep up to date with the rapid changes in cloud produces.
As I explained in my last post https://ukcrm.wordpress.com/2020/11/28/microsoft-certification-exam-expiration/ Microsoft has extended by six months those certification exams due to expire before June 30th 2021.
Microsoft has now announced the renewal process. Instead of two years, the period of certification will be one year. You will take an online assessment on Microsoft Learn at any time within six months of your certification expiry date. You will then need to renew your certification every twelve months.
For Timescales and another other questions see https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/certifications/renew-your-microsoft-certification?WT.mc_id=BA-MVP-5003797
Microsoft switched to role based exams two years ago from MCSE and MCSA. The role based exams are focussed on the day to day tasks of a job role, not the features of a product.
You may have seen on your exam transcript https://mcptnc.microsoft.com/ that the role based certifications are valid for two years such as my Sales Functional Consultant Associate below.
When the role based certifications were announced, Microsoft did say they would have a process for renewal. That process is not yet ready so all certifications due to expire between January 1 and June 30 2021 will be extended for 6 months.
Microsoft are working on their approach for renewing role based certifications and I hope details will be announced soon.
Check your learning dashboard https://www.microsoft.com/learning/dashboard.aspx to see what is happening with your certifications that are due to expire.
After years of using entities, attributes, and option sets in Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform, Microsoft are changing the terminology for elements in the data model as follows:
| Old term | New term |
| Entity | Table |
| Field, attribute | Column |
| Record | Row |
| Option set, Picklist | Choice |
| Two options, Boolean | Yes/No |
More details at https://docs.microsoft.com/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/data-platform-intro#terminology-updates
Lots of updating of documentation to do…….
Here are links to all the sessions for the Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and IoT.
Power Apps
https://powerapps.microsoft.com/blog/power-apps-at-microsoft-ignite-virtual-conference/
Power Automate
https://flow.microsoft.com/blog/power-automate-at-microsoft-ignite-virtual-conference/
Power Virtual Agents
https://powervirtualagents.microsoft.com/blog/power-virtual-agents-at-microsoft-ignite-virtual-conference/
IoT
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/internet-of-things/iot-at-microsoft-ignite-2020/ba-p/1673323
Find links to all my sessions on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/posts/juliansharp_msignite-activity-6713382679250776064-wg-9
This session is a 30 minute introduction to Dynamics 365 and how you can get started on your journey into skilling up for Dynamics 365 apps and discover the resources available to you.
There are three sessions in different time zones:
Check out the Learning Zone https://myignite.microsoft.com/learning-zone for more skilling sessions and workshops
PS Take part in the Cloud Skills Challenge to earn a free exam voucher https://aka.ms/IgniteCloudSkillsChallenge
On Thursday 24 I will be on the chat answering questions and assisting on the Microsoft Learning workshop, Work with external data in a Power Apps canvas.
This is a guided online workshop using material from Microsoft Learn https://aka.ms/Learn/PowerAppsExternalData
Sign up at https://myignite.microsoft.com/sessions/80a76dc5-8cf3-4ef9-bb8d-d3bfdaf98d4d
Check out the Learning Zone https://myignite.microsoft.com/learning-zone
PS Take part in the Cloud Skills Challenge to earn a free exam voucher https://aka.ms/IgniteCloudSkillsChallenge
On Wednesday 23 I will be on the chat answering questions and assisting on the Microsoft Learning workshop, Shape data in a Power Apps canvas app.
This is a guided online workshop using material from Microsoft Learn https://aka.ms/Learn/PowerAppsShapeData
Sign up at https://myignite.microsoft.com/sessions/df7c7313-e055-4132-bd98-8f228958e3bb
PS Take part in the Cloud Skills Challenge to earn a free exam voucher https://aka.ms/IgniteCloudSkillsChallenge
Table Talks are scheduled 30 minute Microsoft Teams meetings for the community to connect face-to-face.
One of the best things about Ignite isn’t the sessions but the organic conversations you have while walking the hallways.
As Ignite is virtual Talk talks are a way to meetup and have those valuable discussions. Come and meetup with Alex Chandiwana, Stefano Demiliani, Mohamed Mostafa, Antti Pajunen, myself Julian Sharp and 300 others members of the community on Wednesday 23rd at 5AM PT/1PM BST. Make sure you RSVP to reserve your place.
We will be using questions and topics added to the Microsoft Tech Community page for this table talk. To see the questions and topics , or if you want to ask a question of your own go to https://aka.ms/TableTopic/BusinessApplications.
You can find the table talk in the Connection Zone https://myignite.microsoft.com/community-connect and search for CON188. The direct link is https://myignite.microsoft.com/sessions/51060721-3dc7-40d2-9775-35962db68982.
PS Take part in the Cloud Skills Challenge to earn a free exam voucher https://aka.ms/IgniteCloudSkillsChallenge
