App.OnStart should completely initialize the whole applications

[jets]

Now, for instance, collections or variables which are already initialized and filled, and which I do not want to use anymore, are still filled after running App.OnStart. So I have to Save, close and reopen the App for all no longer needed variables and collections to be removed out of memory. 

[WarrenBelz]

@jets ,

You can clear a collection

Clear(YourCollectionName)

and reset a Variable

Set(YourVariableName,Blank())

however your post seems in the reverse as nothing exists before running App.OnStart. You would set variables and collections in this and more during the app execution.

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[jets]

Hi @WarrenBelz ,

thanks for your reply. I am well aware of Clear and Set. I think I have not been clear. I am fairly new to PowerApps, but not to programming. Sometimes I have named a variable, started using it, only then to decide the name no is no longer right for the use of that variable.

For instance, I am using the variable varTemp. But, I am not satisfied with naming that variable varTemp, so I want to rename it to varDef. My code is still using varTemp, and varTemp is still in memory so the code is still using the value of varTemp. By running App.OnStart, I would like the application to behave as though I have just started the app, and varTemp is no longer known to the application. But as I see it now, varTemp lingers on in the View, Variables screen. Even though it is no longer used anywhere in the code. So now I have to save, close and reopen my app, varTemp is then gone, and I can start cleaning and changing the code which still uses varTemp.

I think App.OnStart should clear the memory and all variables and their values, and start all over, just like PowerApps does when opening the app. A fresh start!

[WarrenBelz]

@jets ,

It does not do this (App.OnStart if run manually), however if you remove all references to where the unwanted variable is set (or collection is collected) it will “disappear” and anything referencing it will show up as an error (good for changing values in the manner you have mentioned). You can find all instances of a Variable set or referenced in View > Variables.

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[jets]

Hi @WarrenBelz ,

that is correct. It does not do that. That is why my suggestion was: App.OnStart should completely initialize the whole applications.

[WarrenBelz · Accepted solution]

Hi @jets ,

You probably need to post this over in Power Apps Ideas however I can tell you that I would not want this to happen when as was testing has I only rerun OnStart when I change something in there and would not want to clear the rest of my values. Maybe an option “switch” or simply a “clear all value” command of some sort.

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