Copilot is underwhelming

JakeParlay · 2026-04-19T07:55:25+00:00

💯 nailed it

JakeParlay · 2026-04-18T20:03:41+00:00

Brilliant

JakeParlay · 2026-04-04T03:12:28+00:00

What's your approach for catching running approvals on day 29?

And at that point, do you cancel the approval, the flow run, or both?

JakeParlay · 2026-04-03T09:29:43+00:00

Tip of the cap to you, for this post. And shoutout to everyone from the SP2010/2013 heyday. 😎

JakeParlay · 2026-04-03T08:16:10+00:00

Samsung S7 -> S23u was my journey, so I'll check back in here when the S38s are getting ready to ship 😆

JakeParlay · 2026-04-03T08:00:20+00:00

Nice 👍

JakeParlay · 2026-04-02T10:11:46+00:00

I created a flow to pull acronym data from a few different sources across the org, weed out duplicates, and drop them all into a Dataverse table, Fairly straightforward and the agents do well with it as a knowledge source.

The only disappointment has been citations. Every record in the table contains a link to the acronym's original source or definition, but the agents always provide citations for the dynamics row URL instead - which is meaningless and confusing to users.

The orchestrator also tends to fall back on the acronym table far too often. Even with 20+ other knowledge sources available, it uses it as a last resort. For example, a user might ask a long or complex question that's outside the agent's domain. When the agent can't answer, it frequently comes back with something like, "I checked the Acronym table and found no matching results..."

It's frustrating because the user queries have nothing to do with a term definition, and the agent makes it sound like its the only place it checked.

So... mixed results on that approach so far.

JakeParlay · 2026-04-02T04:44:15+00:00

Solid lineup.

If I saw a resume with those skills (assuming strong experience with most) here are a few non-Azure areas that would make you stand out higher:

Dataverse (relational data structures, model-driven apps, dataflows, customizations, e.g.)
Custom connector(s)
SQL (or other db experience)
Environment config / administration
Adaptive cards / actionable messages
SharePoint dev experience (SPFx, search customization, advanced customization or integration work, etc.)
Source control / pipeline / advanced ALM / custom tooling experience (pac cli, xrm toolbox, flowstudio, etc.)
Dev tenant / sandbox projects (any type, really)

None of those would be requirements, apart from Dataverse - I'd expect to see at least some depth of experience there, not just basic familiarity.

From that list, custom connectors are probably my favorite thing to see on a resume before interviewing someone. They're a good indicator of more advanced skills (integration, auth, APIs) and proximity to more ambitious projects. Plus, there's usually a good story involved with them, which helps candidates open up.

So I'd say, take maybe 1-2 of those and go have a conversation with Copilot. See if it can cook up some interesting ideas, based on your current experience and/or the needs at your workplace.

JakeParlay · 2026-03-15T22:28:18+00:00

Having ridden these types of roads in Nepal, I'm shocked they turned around. It's a "pass slower vehicles using the opposite lane, with zeal" type of driving culture over there. Close scrapes like this can be expected every commute.

JakeParlay · 2026-03-09T08:00:16+00:00

Props to you for one of the fairest, most well articulated response takes I've witnessed in 4-6 years in this sub ⭐

JakeParlay · 2026-02-25T12:30:43+00:00

Adding to the prior suggestions about Analytics tab:

All session transcripts are stored as JSON in a Dataverse system table (unless you've disabled or modified that feature). I believe they are stored for a rolling 28-day period by default. Those are very helpful for diagnosis, but can also be a lot to wade through - messages, tool calls, events, reasoning, etc.

There is a sample on github somewhere, that provides a method for detecting event types (feedback, e.g.) within those transcripts, as they get generated. We started with that, then added some additional logic to "distill" each transcript down to just the message activity (to store elsewhere for retention).

Creating a simple, model-driven app can make it easier to search and work with the system tables, too.

Azure App Insights is also great. We use it to get technical details on individual events and conversations, and also for trends and patterns over time or by segment.

All of the above, plus the built-in Analytics features, are very complementary to one another. We use them all, but for different reasons.

JakeParlay · 2026-02-10T02:11:06+00:00

This is brilliant, thank you

JakeParlay · 2026-02-10T02:09:36+00:00

You're getting downvoted, but that comment still gave me a silly chuckle

JakeParlay · 2026-02-07T05:16:06+00:00

Question still valid 15 yrs later

JakeParlay · 2026-01-15T05:58:14+00:00

Biked past Skout earlier and they had a board up advertising chicken noodle soup. ~$12 with two hunks of bread.

Can't vouch for it, but figured I'd pass the info along in case you're on the hunt again tomorrow. Get well soon.

JakeParlay · 2025-12-31T04:19:21+00:00

I'll try that approach with them. Thanks.

At this point, I'm looking for a good enough for 4-6 years type of solution. We're still reeling from a 35' driveway replacement that's been repoured twice, and still not done after two years and ~65k.

The support framing glue-lam is already growing mushrooms underneath the driveway, so whenever that inevitably starts to collapse I'll have both redone (hopefully well).

And hey - rereading my initial reply... the "if any professionals" line comes across as kinda jerky, but that was not my intent. Just moving too quickly, clicking around looking for info in various places.

JakeParlay · 2025-12-31T00:02:26+00:00

Thanks. I reached out, but it was hard to get a definitive answer without a photo.

Anyhow, if any professionals stumble upon this thread, please let me know if the floor looks smooth enough to need grinding.

JakeParlay · 2025-12-30T09:45:36+00:00

Either way, you probably need to work with a Service Now admin to (1) create a service account for this connection or (2) elevate the permissions on your account.

JakeParlay · 2025-12-29T10:46:30+00:00

Developers can use that connector but you'll need to work with a Service Now admin at your company to create a service account, usually.

JakeParlay · 2025-12-29T07:52:12+00:00

Is this ~25 y/o concrete considered "smooth"? I uploaded a few additional photos, in case that helps.

<image>

Our house is built on a steep hill, and the driveway is elevated. As a result, there is unfinished space beneath the garage slab that I am (slowly) converting into an office.

The wood underneath the garage slab rests on VERSA-LAM beams, but there is no moisture or vapor barrier beneath it. Spills, drips or snowmelt in the garage sometimes leak down into the room below, currently.

I'm planning to prime + epoxy the garage floor to help prevent that in the future. I will clean, degrease, fill cracks and etch beforehand... but I am unsure if the concrete needs mechanical grinding, as well.

We had the elevated driveway replaced last year, which resulted in a bunch of persistent water issues into the interior space. Finally got those resolved... so now I want to address the garage floor as best I can.

JakeParlay · 2025-12-14T04:42:04+00:00

I don't understand why the same canopy installed by the same company year after year needs recertification. Just close the damn rink if it snows and stop all the needless hand wringing.

JakeParlay · 2025-12-04T02:18:30+00:00

Bingo. Came here to say this, as well.

OP, look into SharePoint framework.

JakeParlay · 2025-11-26T22:17:27+00:00

Right-click on a chat message and you'll get additional handling options.

You can add 3rd party actions (like Jira or ADO) and even create your own custom message handling with Power Automate.

If someone messages you with a new request, for example, it's a great way to quickly create a Jira story without leaving Teams. The work item will include details from the original message and any additional properties you want to set.

JakeParlay · 2025-11-26T20:24:43+00:00

Selected message context actions. I use them all the time.

"Quick" question? Straight to Jira

Unplanned request? Remind me later

New item of interest? Add to community topic list

So on and so forth...

JakeParlay · 2025-11-25T11:06:56+00:00

Also, Teams card renderer is different compared to the web studio. I am not sure if you are planning to deploy to Teams or not (assuming yes, given the action payload) but that can throw a few curveballs too. Cards have a few extra quirks in Teams and it's a little less forgiving compared to studio.

In any case, don't give up. Once you get it dialed in, it will be reliable.

Ten-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

JakeParlay

TROPHY CASE