Is A Data Connection Required?

[Anonymous]

I have been trying to find out through different sources if a data connection to a PowerApp is absolutely needed. Can one create a free standing PowerApp that does not use a data connection source and that is simply processed via a work flow to send to an email address? 

Since this used to be possible when working with the now defunct InfoPath forms I am assuming that this should be possible with PowerApps which replaced it, but have not found clarity on that.

Any insight is appreciated!  tga

[timl · Accepted solution]

Yes, it's possible to create a PowerApp without a connection to a traditional data source, such as SharePoint/SQL/Excel etc.

To send an email from PowerApps, it's necessary to add a data source that uses an email connector. Technically, this would be defined in PowerApps as a data connection.

>>that is simply processed via a work flow to send to an email address?

I'm not quite sure what you're asking here. Are you asking if it's possible for a 3rd party work flow program to automatically run a PowerApp that sends emails, in an unattended way?

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the quick response and good to know that a data connection is not needed as many sources seem like it's necessary... 

What I meant by that statement is that when previously working with InfoPath forms, one could use a "work flow" to send the form results to an email mailbox. So since SharePoint 365 has workflows still, I was assuming that one would apply a workflow to the PowerApp for it to send to the form via email... 

Let me know if I am still not clear... Thanks!  tga

[timl]

Hi @Anonymous

Thanks for clarifying that. I'm not too familiar with InfoPath and Workflows, but I'm fairly confident that you can build something that satisfies your requirements by either connecting to SharePoint, or by using the workflow capabilities that Microsoft Flow provides.

Good luck!