Create Scrolling Text in Power Apps Canvas Apps

Introduction

Power Apps Canvas Apps provide a highly customizable user interface for business applications. While Power Apps offers numerous controls for displaying data, it does not include a built-in marquee or scrolling text control.

Why Use Scrolling Text?

Organizations often need to communicate important information to users without interrupting their workflow. Scrolling text is commonly used in enterprise applications to display announcements, notifications, alerts, system messages, KPI updates, and important information without occupying large amounts of screen space.

Benefits

• Display company announcements
• Show maintenance notifications
• Highlight important alerts
• Present KPI updates
• Display dynamic messages from Dataverse
• Improve application usability
• Create a modern user experience

Business Examples

HR announcements, IT maintenance notifications, sales performance updates, customer service alerts, compliance reminders, and more.

Prerequisites

Before implementing scrolling text, ensure you have a Power Apps Canvas App, basic knowledge of Power Fx, Label Control, Timer Control, and appropriate permissions.

Solution Overview

The scrolling text functionality works by adding a Label control, creating a variable to store the position, using a Timer control, continuously updating the position, and resetting the text when it leaves the screen.

Step 1: Add a Label Control

Insert a Label control onto the screen. Example message: Welcome to CRM Once! Explore our latest Power Platforms solutions and updates.

Step 2: Add a Timer Control

Insert a Timer control. The Timer will continuously update the text position.

Step 3: Initialize Position Variable

Set the Screen OnVisible property: Set(varTextPosition, App.Width)

Step 4: Move the Text

Configure the Timer OnTimerEnd property. If(varTextPosition < -Label1.Width, Set(varTextPosition, App.Width), Set(varTextPosition, varTextPosition - 5))

Step 5: Bind the Label Position

Set the Label X property: varTextPosition

Complete Formula Summary

Screen OnVisible: Set(varTextPosition, App.Width)

Timer Properties: Duration = 50, Repeat = true, AutoStart = true, Visible = false

Timer OnTimerEnd: If(varTextPosition < -Label1.Width, Set(varTextPosition, App.Width), Set(varTextPosition, varTextPosition - 5))

Label X Property: varTextPosition

Customization Options

Increase Speed: Set(varTextPosition, varTextPosition - 10)

Decrease Speed: Set(varTextPosition, varTextPosition - 2)

Dynamic Dataverse Message

First(Announcements).Title

Real-World Use Cases

Company announcements, IT notifications, sales dashboards, customer portals, manufacturing operations, and more.

Performance Considerations

When using scrolling text, recommended practices include storing values in variables, using efficient formulas, using a single timer, and testing on mobile devices.

Best Practices

Keep messages concise, use appropriate speed, test across devices, and use dynamic data.

Conclusion

Creating scrolling text in Power Apps Canvas Apps is a simple yet powerful technique that enhances the user experience and improves communication within business applications.