Capturing variables in a choice field

[Lefty]

Hi all,

I have 7 checkboxes, if any of them is selected I create a variable for each using the OnCheck property and OnUnCheck I set each one to false, allowing to navigate to the different sections only if the checkbox is checked e.g. Section1, Section2, Section3 etc.

When I come to view the submitted data in PowerApps, the variables of course are no longer active as they have been reset - So I needed to capture which checkboxes were selected when the user submitted the form, the checkboxes are not being written to a SPO column.

What's the best way to be able to view the submitted data and only navigate to the checkboxes which were selected by the applicant? 

[v-xiaochen-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Lefty ,

According to your description, I assumed some conditions.

I assume:

1\ I have 4 check box controls. Each check box control has a variable. When a check box control is selected, the value of the variable is an option value of choice column in SP LIST. When the check box control is not selected, the value of the variable is blank.

2\ I have 4 options in the choice column. The value of each option is equal to the variable value of a check box control .

3\ To test, I use the button control and patch() function to submit data.

I've made a test for your reference:

1\ This is my “LIST46”.

// Test is the choice column. This column allows multiple selections.

2\ Add 4 check box controls . Set their oncheck property and onuncheck property in turn.

Checkbox1:

Oncheck property : Set(A,"AAA")

OnUncheck property : Set(A,"")

Checkbox2:

Oncheck property : Set(B,"BBB")

OnUncheck property : Set(B,"")

Checkbox3:

Oncheck property : Set(C,"CCC")

OnUncheck property : Set(C,"")

Checkbox4:

Oncheck property : Set(D,"DDD")

OnUncheck property : Set(D,"")

3\ Add a button control and set its onselect property to:

Patch(LIST46,Defaults(LIST46),{Title:1,Test:Table( {Value:A},{Value:B},{Value:C},{Value:D})})

4\ The result is as follows:

Best Regards,

Wearsky

If my post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help others. Thanks.

[RandyHayes]

@Lefty 

Yes, sorry for the delay.

Yes, this is a simple one to do and does not need any variables (from what I see), but I need to know more about those checkboxes. 

You mention that they were added to the screen....are they outside or inside of the EditForm? (for this I would recommend inside).

If they are outside, is it that you have them as 7 separate checkboxes or as part of a gallery that depends on the choices of your choice column?  

Is the main issue that you cannot get them to repopulate to the stored values when a record is opened?

Are the values getting stored in the source?  If so, what is your formula for that?

Since this is centered around an EditForm, what is the Item property of the EditForm?

Still a screenshot of the app and the control tree on the left would be most helpful.

Please clarify the above so I can guide you with information that is relevant to your scenario.

[Lefty]

@v-xiaochen-msft 

Apologies for the delayed response, I have not been online, due to the public holidays here in the UK.

I will come back to you next week when I have been able to test this

[Lefty]

@RandyHayes 

Sorry offices are closed, with no one working, hence the delayed response.

You mention that they were added to the screen....are they outside or inside of the EditForm? (for this I would recommend inside). - They are outside of the Editform, which is probably why I have the issue of not being able to pick them up once the form is submitted and a user re-visits the submitted data.

If they are outside, is it that you have them as 7 separate checkboxes or as part of a gallery that depends on the choices of your choice column?   They are 7 separate checkboxes

Is the main issue that you cannot get them to repopulate to the stored values when a record is opened?  Spot on, once I submit my data, and a the user re-visits the submitted record, the conditions I have on my next button do cannot pick up the values of the checkboxes, or by using the variables, which were set as they reset once the form is submitted.

Are the values getting stored in the source?  If so, what is your formula for that?  Nope they are not being stored, only as variables, which of course are being reset after the form is submitted. 

Since this is centered around an EditForm, what is the Item property of the EditForm?  This question i'm unsure what you are asking?

Sending screen shot of the form, is not so straightforward as I work in a secured environment.... hopefully you can help me with the responses I have provided to your questions. 

[Lefty]

@v-xiaochen-msft 

Apologies in the delay in coming back to you.

I think what you have suggested is what I am looking for. The only thing I'm unsure about is your patch formula,

After the open curly bracket, what is "Title:1" - from your screen shot it's another column and you have set it to a value of 1.... not sure why?
I presume Test is what my column name would be i.e. "SectionsComplete"

Patch(LIST46,Defaults(LIST46),{Title:1,Test:Table( {Value:A},{Value:B},{Value:C},{Value:D})})

 When submitting my form I am already patching, so I would just add another line to capture the values, but unsure on the exact code needed to patch my column

[v-xiaochen-msft]

Hi @Lefty ,

In the SP list, "Title" is the default column, and it is required. ( When you create a list, the list will generate a title column.) So I created a record and assigned 1 to the “Title” column.

You could replace 1 with other values.

In addition, if you modify a record instead of creating a record, the Title column does not need to be modified . It already has value.

Best Regards,

Wearsky

If my post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help others. Thanks.

[Lefty]

@v-xiaochen-msft 

Still confused, so I went ahead and tried this in my app.

As I already had a patch occurring, i added the following line of code at the end and it has written back to the column with the values which were not blank:

 {SectionsComplete:Table({Value:B}, {Value:C}, {Value:D})}

Hence why I'm unsure why I need a default column, in your example the Title column... The reason for asking, is I of course don't want other issues occurring by not setting this up correctly?

[RandyHayes · Accepted solution]

@Lefty 

Yes, so there is no need for doing an additional Patch statement as is being suggested as you already have an EditForm that you are working from. 

You would do better to have the checkboxes inside of the EditForm as the checkboxes appear to be related to the record being edited.  It can still be done outside of the form, but there are some more hoops to jump through.

So, in your EditForm, make sure you have the SectionsComplete field in the form.  It does not need to be visible if you are keeping the checkboxes outside of the form.

Set your Update property on the DataCard for the SectionsComplete field to the following:

Filter(
    ForAll([Checkbox1, Checkbox2, Checkbox3, Checkbox4, Checkbox5, Checkbox6, Checkbox7],
       If(Value.Value, {Value: Value.Text})
    ), !IsBlank(Value)
)

NOTE: The above is predicated on the condition that the Text of your Checkboxes matches the values in your Choice column.  IF THEY ARE NOT, then let me know and I can modify the above to be based on the text.

That will resolve the values being written to the datasource.

As for displaying them again when a record is shown (again this would be easier with the checkboxes in the form) - you will need to look at the Item property of your Form and use whatever you have there.  Please look at your EditForm and then look at its Item property.

So, let's pretend that your Item property is something like Gallery1.Selected

If so, then in the Default property of each checkbox will look like this:

    (Self.Text in Gallery1.Selected.SectionsComplete.Value) && !(yourEditFormName.Mode = FormMode.New) 

This would be the same for each checkbox.  Substitute your EditForm name into the above.

Also, this again is based on your Checkboxes having the same Text values as the Values in your Choice column in the list.  If that is different, then let me know so we can adjust accordingly.