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In this Power Platform article, we will learn how to create and extend trial environment in Power Platform.
The Microsoft Power Platform is a suite of tools designed to empower businesses to build apps, automate workflows, analyse data, and create intelligent chatbots. To explore its capabilities, users often start with a trial environment—a temporary setup that allows you to test features and evaluate how the platform can meet your needs. But what if your trial expires before you’ve fully explored everything? That’s where extending the trial comes in handy.
In this tutorial, we’ll cover:
- What a trial environment in Power Platform is
- Step-by-step instructions to create a trial environment
- How to extend your trial environment when it’s nearing expiration
- Best practices for managing trial environments effectively
By the end, you’ll have a complete understanding of creating and extending trial environments in Power Platform.
How to Create and Extend Trial Environment in Power Platform
Before getting into the demo, let us understand what a trial environment is in Power Platform.
What is a Trial Environment in Power Platform?
A trial environment in Power Platform is a sandbox-like space where you can experiment with tools such as Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI without affecting your production environment. These environments are great for learning, testing, and building prototypes.
Key Features of a Trial Environment:
- Duration: Typically lasts for 30 days.
- No Production Impact: It’s isolated from your live environment, so you can experiment freely.
- Includes Premium Features: You can test advanced features like Dataverse, custom connectors, and AI Builder.
Common Use Cases:
- Evaluating Power Platform for business needs
- Testing app prototypes or workflows
- Learning and training purposes
How to Create a Trial Environment in Power Platform
Step 1: Access Power Platform Admin Center
- Go to the Power Platform Admin Center.
- Log in using your Microsoft account (Work or School account).
Step 2: Navigate to the Environments Page
- Once inside the Admin Center, click on “Environments” in the left-hand navigation bar.
- This will show you a list of existing environments associated with your organization.
Step 3: Create a New Environment
- Click on the “New” button at the top of the page.
- Fill in the following details:
- Name: Choose a name for your trial environment (e.g., “TrialEnvironment01”).
- Type: Select “Trial” from the dropdown menu.
- Region: Select your preferred region. It’s best to choose a region close to your business location for optimal performance.
- Enable Dataverse: Check this option if you want to use Dataverse for database functionality.
- Click “Save” to create the environment.
If you select “Add a dataverse data store” to yes, you will get a “Next” button, instead of “Save” button.
On the “Add Dataverse” screen, select your environment’s Language, Currency, Security Group (You can select none if you want to keep your environment open for all, or you can restrict your environment by assigning security group).
This is how we can add a security group to Power Platform environment, either you can select open access as “None” or you can select your security group for the restrict access as shown below:
After creating your environment, you can add security roles , business unit and Teams for your environment.
Step 4: Wait for Deployment
- It may take a few minutes for your trial environment to be provisioned. Once ready, you’ll see it listed on the Environments page.
Step 5: Start Using the Trial Environment
- Open the environment by clicking on its name.
- You can now access Power Apps, Power Automate, and other tools to start building and testing!
How to Extend a Trial Environment in Power Platform
If your trial environment is about to expire, you don’t have to start over. Microsoft allows you to extend your trial environment once, usually for an additional 30 days.
Step 1: Check Expiry Date
- Go to the Power Platform Admin Center.
- Navigate to the “Environments” page.
- Locate your trial environment and check the expiration date listed under the “State” column.
Step 2: Extend the Trial
Once your trial environment is about to expire, you will get message like “This environment will expire in days. To keep it, convert it to a Production type or Extend your trial.”
- Click on the name of the trial environment you wish to extend.
- In the environment settings, look for the “Extend Trial” option.
- Click “Extend”, and Microsoft will grant you an additional 30 days of access.
Note: The ability to extend a trial is granted once per environment. If you need more time after the extension, you may need to contact Microsoft Support or upgrade to a paid plan.
Why Extend Your Trial Environment?
Extending your trial environment gives you more time to explore and evaluate the platform. Here’s why you might want to extend it:
- Complete Testing: Ensure your workflows and apps are ready before moving to a production environment.
- Evaluate Features: Trial environments include premium features, giving you more opportunities to see their value.
- Learn at Your Pace: More time means you can train your team thoroughly on Power Platform tools.
Best Practices for Managing Trial Environments
1. Plan Your Testing Goals
Before creating a trial environment, have a clear plan of what you want to achieve. Whether it’s building a prototype app, testing a workflow, or learning Power BI, define your objectives.
2. Assign Proper Roles
Grant appropriate permissions to users within the trial environment. For instance:
- Maker Roles: For team members building apps or workflows.
- Admin Roles: For overseeing and managing the environment.
3. Monitor Usage and Performance
Regularly monitor the performance of your trial environment to identify any bottlenecks or issues in your prototypes.
4. Export Your Work Before Expiration
If you’ve built apps, workflows, or dashboards, make sure to export your work before the trial expires. Use tools like Power Platform Solutions to package and export your projects.
5. Upgrade If Needed
When your trial ends, consider upgrading to a production environment. This ensures all your work remains accessible and ready for deployment.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. Can’t See the “Extend Trial” Option
If you don’t see the “Extend Trial” option in the Admin Center, it may mean:
- The trial has already been extended once.
- The trial has expired. In this case, you may need to create a new trial or contact Microsoft Support.
2. Issues with Environment Provisioning
If your trial environment isn’t provisioning correctly:
- Ensure you have sufficient licenses.
- Check your region settings for compatibility.
- Contact your IT admin for additional support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I create multiple trial environments?
Yes, you can create multiple trial environments as long as your organization allows it. Each trial environment is isolated and won’t affect others.
2. What happens when my trial expires?
Once a trial environment expires, it becomes inaccessible, and all data is deleted after a grace period (usually 7 days). Ensure you export any work before this happens.
3. Can I convert a trial environment into a production environment?
Yes, Microsoft allows you to upgrade a trial environment to a production environment. You’ll need to purchase a license and follow the upgrade process in the Admin Center.
YouTube Video Demo: Trial Environment in Power Platform
Conclusion: Trial Environment in Power Platform
Thus, in this article, we have learnt what an environment is in Power Platform, how to create an environment, how to add a security group in an environment, how to add security roles in an environment, and how to extend an environment after expiry.
Creating and extending a trial environment in Microsoft Power Platform is a simple yet powerful way to explore the platform’s capabilities without any commitment. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can set up a trial environment, extend its duration, and make the most of the features offered.
Remember to plan your testing goals, monitor your environment, and export your work before the trial ends. If Power Platform meets your needs, upgrading to a production environment is a seamless next step.
Start your Power Platform journey today, and unlock the potential of tools like Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI to transform your business processes.
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