Revolutionize Your Model-Driven Apps with Copilots Smart Paste & Grids

Key insights

• Smart Paste is a new feature in model-driven apps that allows users to copy text from any source and paste it into forms, where Copilot automatically fills in the relevant fields.


• The feature offers Effortless Data Entry, enabling users to populate forms by copying text from emails or documents. Copilot analyzes the text and suggests field entries.


• User Control is maintained as suggestions are optional and not saved until accepted by the user. Users can ignore or clear suggestions as needed.


• Quick Create Forms Compatibility: Smart Paste works with quick create forms, broadening its application across different form types within model-driven apps.


• Copilot provides Source Transparency, citing origins of suggestions like "Records you have updated recently" or "Clipboard," ensuring clarity on data sources.


• Language Support: Smart Paste supports multiple languages including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Spanish, and English (US), among others.

Introduction to Smart Paste and Smart Grids in Model-Driven Apps

In a recent video by Dian Taylor, a Microsoft MVP known for her expertise in Dynamics 365, two innovative features—Smart Paste and Smart Grid—were introduced for model-driven apps. These features are currently in preview and are expected to become generally available in early 2025. They aim to enhance productivity by simplifying data entry and management processes. This article delves into the functionalities of these features, their benefits, and the challenges they address.

Understanding Smart Paste: A Leap in Data Entry

Smart Paste is a new feature designed to streamline data entry within model-driven apps. This enhancement to Copilot’s form fill assistance allows users to populate forms effortlessly by copying text from any source and pasting it into a form. Copilot then intelligently analyzes the text and suggests appropriate field entries. This reduces the need for manual input and minimizes errors, making the data entry process more efficient. Key Features of Smart Paste:

• Effortless Data Entry: Users can copy text from various sources such as emails or documents and paste it directly into a form. Copilot processes this text and provides inline suggestions for specific fields.
• User Control: Suggestions are optional and not saved until accepted by the user, ensuring control over the data entered. Ignored suggestions are automatically discarded, and users can clear all suggestions if needed.
• Quick Create Forms Compatibility: The form fill assistance, including Smart Paste, is available in quick create forms, enhancing its utility across different form types.
• Source Transparency: Copilot offers citations indicating the origin of its suggestions, such as “Records you have updated recently” or “Clipboard,” providing clarity on data sources.

Language Support and Activation of Smart Paste

One of the standout features of Smart Paste is its support for multiple languages, making it accessible to a diverse user base. It supports languages including Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian (Bokmål), Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, and English (US). To enable Smart Paste, administrators can activate it in the Power Platform admin center. By navigating to Settings > Product > Features > AI form fill assistance, they can set “Enable this feature for” to “All users immediately” and turn “Enable smart paste (Preview)” to On. This integration aims to enhance efficiency in form completion, making the process more intuitive and less time-consuming.

Exploring Smart Grid: Simplifying Data Management

Alongside Smart Paste, the Smart Grid feature offers a new way to manage data within model-driven apps. It allows users to filter and sort data using natural language queries, simplifying the process of creating and managing views. This feature is particularly beneficial for users who need to handle large datasets, as it provides a more intuitive way to interact with data. By using natural language queries, users can quickly find and organize the information they need without having to navigate complex menus or learn specific query languages. This approach not only saves time but also reduces the learning curve for new users, making model-driven apps more accessible to a broader audience.

Balancing Innovation and Usability

While Smart Paste and Smart Grid offer significant advantages in terms of productivity and ease of use, there are tradeoffs involved in balancing these innovations with usability. For instance, while Smart Paste reduces manual data entry, it relies heavily on the accuracy of Copilot’s suggestions. Users must remain vigilant to ensure that the suggested entries match their intentions, which could require additional verification steps. Similarly, while Smart Grid simplifies data management through natural language queries, it may not fully replace traditional methods for more complex data manipulations. Users accustomed to advanced data handling techniques might find the natural language interface limiting in certain scenarios.

Challenges and Future Prospects

The introduction of Smart Paste and Smart Grid highlights Microsoft's commitment to enhancing user experience in model-driven apps. However, challenges remain in ensuring these features are robust and reliable across different use cases. As these features are still in preview, user feedback will be crucial in refining their functionality and addressing any limitations. Looking ahead, the general availability of these features in early 2025 promises to bring significant improvements to model-driven app users. By continuing to innovate and respond to user needs, Microsoft is poised to further solidify its position as a leader in business application platforms. In conclusion, Smart Paste and Smart Grid represent a significant step forward in making model-driven apps more efficient and user-friendly. While challenges exist, the potential benefits of these features make them a promising addition to the Dynamics 365 ecosystem. As these tools evolve, they are likely to play a critical role in shaping the future of data entry and management in business applications.

Keywords

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