Getting Started with PowerAutomate

Henrique Zhen

Hello everyone,

I'm eager to dive into Power Automate but could use some guidance on where to begin, especially regarding testing in a safe environment and finding sample datasets.

Firstly, for those experienced with Power Automate, how did you approach testing workflows in a safe environment before implementing them in production? Are there specific strategies or tools you recommend for testing automation without affecting live systems?

Secondly, I'm curious about where to find sample datasets that I can use to practice and experiment with Power Automate. Are there any recommended sources or repositories where I can access realistic datasets that align with common automation scenarios?

Your insights and recommendations would be incredibly valuable as I embark on this learning journey. Looking forward to your responses!

Thank you kindly. ?

Austen Brown

@Henrique Zhen - Welcome to BB Community! There are a few options for how to handle testing -

1. Get a sandbox environment that is a copy of your production database. There is an extra fee for this. If interested, reach out to your account rep.
2. Join the cohort sample database through SKY Developer. Email skyapi@blackbaud.com requesting access to the cohort RE NXT database.
3. Create a sub-set of 4-5 fake records within your database to test with. You'll have to be very intentional when setting up flows to ensure you're only ‘talking' with these specific records for testing.

Check out the Template Showcase for flows shared by community members and Blackbaud staff to see what's possible within PA and have a starting point. For beginners, I recommend starting with a gift digest. https://docs.blackbaud.com/microsoft-connectors-docs/microsoft-power-platform/showcase

There is a User Group happening today at 11am CT, these are also recorded. https://community.blackbaud.com/events/item/66/4259