add-pen-input
Internal implementation skill invoked by /add-native for pen, signature, ink, drawing, and handwriting capture workflows using @microsoft/power-apps-native-pen-input.
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/power-platform-skills /tmp/add-pen-input && cp -r /tmp/add-pen-input/plugins/mobile-apps/skills/add-native/add-pen-input ~/.claude/skills/add-pen-inputSKILL.md
**📋 Shared instructions: [shared-instructions.md](${PLUGIN_ROOT}/shared/shared-instructions.md)** — read first.
# Add Pen Input
**Internal helper.** Users should invoke `/add-native pen-input`, `/add-native signature`, or `/add-native @microsoft/power-apps-native-pen-input`; `/add-native` routes here after resolving the capability.
Generate or verify the native pen input wrapper and show how to call its **native React Native API**. Do not use the HostingSDK / PCF path from the package README; that is for a different use case.
## Steps
### 1. Verify app
```bash
test -f app.config.js && test -f power.config.json && test -f package.json && test -d src
```
If this fails, tell the user to run `/create-mobile-app` first and STOP.
### 2. Verify package is already present
```bash
node -e "const p=require('./package.json'); const m='@microsoft/power-apps-native-pen-input'; if (!p.dependencies?.[m]) { console.error('MISSING: ' + m + ' is not in package.json. The template/app must already ship this native extension. This skill will not install it or edit native config.'); process.exit(1); } console.log('OK: pen input package present');"
```
If the check fails, STOP. Do not run `npm install`, `npx expo install`, `pod install`, or edit `app.config.js`. This package contains native iOS/Android code and must already be part of the app's native build.
### 3. Write or verify `src/native/penInput.ts`
Create `src/native/penInput.ts` if it does not exist. If it already exists, inspect it and patch only if cancellation is treated as an error or the wrapper can throw.
The wrapper MUST:
- Return a discriminated union and never throw.
- Return `{ ok: false, reason: 'USER_CANCELLED' }` for user cancellation; this is a non-error path.
- Return `NATIVE_MODULE_MISSING` when the extension is installed in JS but unavailable in the native build.
- Return a PNG data URI (`data:image/png;base64,...`) on success.
```ts
// src/native/penInput.ts
import {
PenInputNative,
PenInputStatus,
PenInputErrorCode,
} from '@microsoft/power-apps-native-pen-input';
export type PenInputResult =
| { ok: true; dataUri: string }
| { ok: false; reason: 'USER_CANCELLED' | 'NATIVE_MODULE_MISSING' | 'CAPTURE_FAILED'; message?: string };
export async function captureSignature(options?: {
backgroundColor?: string;
strokeColor?: string;
strokeWidth?: number;
}): Promise<PenInputResult> {
if (!PenInputNative?.capturePenInput) {
return { ok: false, reason: 'NATIVE_MODULE_MISSING', message: 'Pen input module is not available in this build.' };
}
try {
const result = await PenInputNative.capturePenInput({
backgroundColor: '#ffffff',
strokeColor: '#0078d4',
strokeWidth: 2,
...options,
});
if (result.status === PenInputStatus.Ok && result.result) {
return { ok: true, dataUri: result.result };
}
if (result.error === PenInputErrorCode.UserCancelled) {
return { ok: false, reason: 'USER_CANCELLED' };
}
return { ok: false, reason: 'CAPTURE_FAILED', message: result.error };
} catch (error: any) {
return { ok: false, reason: 'CAPTURE_FAILED', message: error?.message ?? String(error) };
}
}
export function stripDataUriPrefix(dataUri: string): string {
return dataUri.replace(/^data:image\/png;base64,/, '');
}
```
### 4. Use the wrapper
Screens import the wrapper, not the native package directly:
```ts
import { captureSignature } from '@/native/penInput';
const result = await captureSignature({
backgroundColor: "#ffffff",
strokeColor: "#0078d4",
strokeWidth: 2,
});
if (result.ok) {
setSignatureUri(result.dataUri);
} else if (result.reason === 'USER_CANCELLED') {
// User cancelled; do not show this as an app error.
} else {
console.warn("Failed to capture pen input:", result.reason, result.message);
}
```
Display the captured PNG with a normal React Native image:
```tsx
{signatureUri ? (
<Image
source={{ uri: signatureUri }}
style={{ width: "100%", height: 160 }}
resizeMode="contain"
/>
) : null}
```
Notes:
- The result is a PNG data URI: `data:image/png;base64,...`.
- Color inputs support `#RGB` and `#RRGGBB`.
- Cancel is normal and returns `USER_CANCELLED`; screens should leave current state unchanged and avoid failure banners.
- Use `@microsoft/power-apps-native-pen-input` only for native freehand drawing, ink, handwriting, and signature capture. For unrelated native use cases, use the relevant Expo module or other dependency already present in `package.json`.
### 5. Optional Dataverse save
If the user wants to save the signature to a Dataverse Image/File column, use generated services only. Do not write direct Dataverse Web API calls.
Image column pattern: normalize the data URI to the generated service's expected image payload. If raw base64 is required, strip the prefix.
```ts
import { stripDataUriPrefix } from '@/native/penInput';
const signatureBase64 = stripDataUriPrefix(result.dataUri);
const update = await Cr123_evidenceService.update(id, {
cr123_signatureimage: signatureBase64,
cr123_signedat: new Date().toISOString(),
});
if (!update.success) {
showError(update.error?.message ?? 'Signature was not saved.');
}
```
File column pattern: save or update the parent row first, then upload the PNG bytes/File through the generated service helper. Never put File column bytes in the create/update JSON body.
### 6. Type-check
```bash
npx tsc --noEmit
```
Fix any TypeScript errors before rebuilding.
### 7. Native rebuild note
This skill does not install native code. If the package was just added outside the skill, the app needs a native rebuild outside this workflow. If the package was already in the build, Metro hot reload is enough for wrapper edits.
### 8. Do not use HostingSDK / PCF
Do not import or register:
```ts
import { PenInputExtension } from "@microsoft/power-apps-native-pen-input";
```
Do not wire Companion PCF or `PenInputExtension`. In Power Apps native code apps, useGuide the user to add a data source, connection, or API connector to a Canvas App via Power Apps Studio, then verify and continue. USE WHEN the user asks to add a data source, add a connection, add an API, add a connector, connect to SharePoint / Dataverse / SQL / Excel / OneDrive / Teams / Office 365, or any similar request to make new data available to the app. DO NOT USE WHEN the user is asking to list or describe existing data sources — call list_data_sources or list_apis directly instead.
Creates or edits a Power Apps Canvas App through the Canvas Authoring MCP coauthoring session. Handles new app generation, direct targeted edits, complex multi-screen changes, responsive layout, per-screen self-QA, and compile-error convergence. Trigger on requests to create, build, generate, modify, update, change, fix, or edit a Canvas App or .pa.yaml files.
Configure the Canvas Authoring MCP server for the current coauthoring session. USE WHEN "configure MCP", "set up MCP server", "MCP not working", "connect Canvas Apps MCP", "canvas-authoring not available", "MCP not configured", "set up canvas apps".
[DEPRECATED — use canvas-app instead] Generate a complete Power Apps canvas app.
>
Adds Azure DevOps connector to a Power Apps code app. Use when querying work items, creating bugs, managing pipelines, or making ADO API calls.
Use when adding a Power Platform connector to an Expo/React Native Power Apps mobile app and no dedicated mobile connector skill exists.
Use when adding an unspecified data source to an Expo/React Native Power Apps mobile app; routes to Dataverse, SharePoint, or another connector.