SharePoint Document Issues

Low-Code Alternatives for a SharePoint Designer Dashboard

Partner Editor Sep 30, 2026 868 views

Question details

Find modern, low-code replacements for older SharePoint Designer dashboards that combine lists, libraries, and search boxes.

Low-Code Alternatives to a SharePoint Designer Dashboard

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Modernizing legacy SharePoint dashboards and workflows following the discontinuation of SharePoint Designer.
Observed behavior: Seeking a way to combine and display SharePoint lists, libraries, and search capabilities using supported Microsoft 365 tools.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary site permissions to edit SharePoint pages and access to Microsoft Power Apps within your Microsoft 365 environment before building a new dashboard.

Solution 1Recommended

Build a Power Apps Canvas App

Create a highly customizable dashboard connected directly to your SharePoint data and embed it on a modern page.

Power Apps provides a robust, low-code environment to replace complex SharePoint Designer workflows and dashboards. It allows for advanced filtering, custom layouts, and deep integration with SharePoint lists and libraries.

Open Power Apps

Launch Power Apps from your Microsoft 365 app launcher or navigate to make.powerapps.com.

Create a Canvas App

Select 'Create' from the left menu and choose 'SharePoint' to generate a canvas app connected to your existing list or document library.

Customize the Dashboard

Customize the app interface by adding galleries, data tables, search boxes, and forms to replicate or improve upon your old dashboard's functionality.

Save and Publish

Save your changes and publish the app to make it available within your organization.

Embed on a SharePoint Page

Navigate to your SharePoint site, edit the desired page, add the 'Power Apps' web part, and enter your app's web link or ID to embed it seamlessly.

Advanced Customization: Power Apps is the ideal solution if your dashboard requires complex data manipulation, custom workflows, or advanced conditional formatting.

Solution 2

Use Modern SharePoint Web Parts

Assemble a dashboard quickly using out-of-the-box modern SharePoint web parts without any coding.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Enhance Your Document Collaboration with WPS Office

While modernizing your SharePoint dashboards, you might also be looking for a more efficient way to create, edit, and manage the documents stored within those libraries. WPS Office is a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that meets all your document editing needs.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Free Download' button.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installation file and follow the on-screen prompts to set up WPS Office on your computer.
3. Start Editing Documents: Open WPS Office and start creating or editing your Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with ease.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx) stored in your SharePoint libraries.Free and lightweight, ensuring fast loading times and smooth performance on any device.Familiar, tabbed user interface that requires zero learning curve for seamless migration.Built-in PDF editing tools for comprehensive and secure document management.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was SharePoint Designer discontinued?

Microsoft discontinued SharePoint Designer to shift focus toward modern, cloud-based, and low-code solutions like Power Automate and Power Apps, which offer better integration, responsiveness, and security across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Can I still use my old SharePoint Designer dashboards?

While existing dashboards may still function temporarily on older on-premises SharePoint versions, they are not supported or recommended in SharePoint Online. It is highly advised to transition to modern web parts or Power Apps to ensure continued functionality and compatibility.

Do I need coding experience to build a dashboard in Power Apps?

No, Power Apps is specifically designed as a low-code platform. While a basic understanding of logic and formulas (similar to Microsoft Excel) is helpful, you can build functional canvas apps and dashboards without any traditional programming knowledge.

Document & File Issues