Use VM Environments to Complete Power Platform Labs on MS Learn
Tags: lowcode, beginners, learn, powerapps
Published: 2022-08-12 22:01:00

Microsoft Learn just introduced a better learning experiencing with **hands-on-labs** that citizen, professional developers, educators and students can complete using **VM Environments**. This allows all developers, students and educators to build and run lab solutions without using up any of the school, work or personal account resources.

### Objectives
* Set up a VM environment for a lab
* Complete a lab using a VM environment
* Next Steps

### Set Up A VM Environment
1. Go to the [Power Platform Labs Cloud Skills Challenge](https://aka.ms/PowerPlatformLabsChallenge) and join the challenge
2. Click on **Navigation in a canvas app in PowerApps**. You can choose a module of your choice here to see the VM environment in action.
![A picture showing a list of modules on MS Learn](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/deisuw66dmyuvqfz3c21.png)
3. Go through and complete the first two units namely **Understanding navigation** and **The navigation and back function**.
![A picture showing units in a MS Learn Module](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/zxj6sptkgy6xuwr7lbze.png)
4. Once these are completed click **continue** to move to the **Lab - Create navigation functions**
![A picture showing a unit](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/07hcqyhjpqe1katcu8gq.png)
5. On this unit, you will need a VM environment to complete the lab. To do so, click on **Launch VM mode** as this will launch a VM environment.
![A picture showing how to launch the VM mode for a lab](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/kltuzned3ao3hwhaun7n.png)
6. A PowerShell window and a Windows Command window will appear. After about two to three minutes, they'll close, and Power Apps will open automatically. Wait for the Power Apps home screen.
7. To see the lab instructions, select the Instructions tab on the lab side bar.
![A picture showing a launched VM Environment](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/4vm43sw5app6lu5d1465.png)

###Complete a Lab using the VM Environment
1. Go to the [Power Apps Studio](https://make.powerapps.com/?WT.mc_id=power-73895-somelezediko). If you're already using the virtual environment, skip to the next step.
2. Select the **New app** dropdown and choose **Canvas**
3. A new window will open in your browser, create a name and choose **Tablet layout**. Select **Create**.
4. In the new blank app, select the **Insert Tab**, select the **New screen** dropdown, and choose **Blank**.
![A picture showing how to add a new screen in PowerApps](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/h4zcxmy6uva36o2cdcpo.png)
5. This will create a new blank screen in your app. Repeat once more to have three screens total.
6. On Screen1, insert a **Button** control and change the **Text** property to **Next**.
7. On Screen2, add a **Button** control and change the **Text** to **Next**.
8. Add another **Button** control and change the **Text** to **Back**.
9. On Screen3, add a **Button** control and change the **Text** property to **Back**.
10. On Screen1, set the **Next** button **OnSelect** property to **Navigate(Screen2,ScreenTransition.Fade)**.
![A picture showing how to add the Navigate function for Screen 2 in PowerApp](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/2yth8z0ww3vwea5t69dl.png)
11. On Screen2, set the **OnSelect** property for the **Next** button to **Navigate(Screen3,ScreenTransition.Cover)**.
12. Set the **OnSelect** property for the **Back** button to **Back()**.
![A picture showing how to add the Back function in PowerApps](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/k96a8d34tq6o24jazdin.png)
13. On Screen3, set the **OnSelect** property for the **Back** button to **Back()**.
![A picture showing how to add the Back function for Screen 3 in PowerApps](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/1qwd6rekomn5v3bafesz.png)
14. To test this, select Screen1, and put the app in** Preview** or **Play mode** and navigate through the app as a user would.
15. Once finished with the lab, click on **Done** this will end the session on the VM Environment. Then click on **Continue** to complete the rest of the module.

###Next Steps or Call to action
1. Join and complete the [Power Platform Labs Cloud Skills Challenge](https://aka.ms/PowerPlatformLabsChallenge). Make sure to complete the modules in this challenge and labs within the modules.
2. Tag me or @mention me on twitter, [Someleze Diko](https://twitter.com/DikoSomeleze), to share your progress, your experience and thoughts/feedback about these labs and if you want to see more of these on [Microsoft Learn](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn?WT.mc_id=power-73895-somelezediko) modules.