Crate history view

[venka91]

Hi team.  For a helpdesk application we would like to create a history view so when the support person enter his comments it will be visible to end user and support person. 

Basically a activity log.

Is that doable in any controls 

[Irfan]

Hi @venka91 

I believe you are after an activity log sort of thing. Natively its not possible. The only way you can achieve this is by creating an extra column in your database and keep on appending the text you want in that column whenever there is an update in that row.

Eg:

In my example, I have setup a column called as "History" which is of type multiline (multiple lines of text) in a Sharepoint list.

Whereever I am patching my records which updates my sharepoint list, I first fetch the values from this column into a variable and then append my custom text to that variable and patch it back. Basically I am appending to that column. Alternatively, I believe you can also setup a column as type "append" in sharepoint which when patched will always append text to that data. I have not used it.

My code:

Set(varHistoryToPatch, LookUp(PCT_ProjectConcept, ConceptNo = varConceptNo,History));

PCT_Project Concept is my Sharepoint List. History is the column where I am storing my data. 

Basically I am setting up a variable which searches my sharepoint list PCT_Projectconcept using the column ConceptNo (sort of primary key in my case) and retuns back the value stored in History. That gets saved to variable varHistoryToPatch.

Next:

Patch(PCT_ProjectConcept, LookUp(PCT_ProjectConcept, ConceptNo = varConceptNo),
{
ConceptInitiatorComments: txt_Comments_2.Text,
Status: "200",
History: varHistoryToPatch & "Date:" & Text(Today(),"[$-en-US]dd/mm/yyyy") & " Time: "&Text(Now(),"[$-en-US]hh:mm:ss") & " Status: " & LookUp(PCT_UDC,Child1Code="200",Child1Description) & "<br>",
PCTDateSubmitted: Text(Today(),"[$-en-US]dd/mm/yyyy"),
EstimatedCapex:lbl_EstimatedCapexValue_1.Text,
EstimatedCarbonImpact:lbl_EstimatedCarbonImpactValue_1.Text

});

I have highlighted the code which would be of interest to you. I am appending the data to that code with date and time followed by the text which I want to append. You will need to replace with the date that you want to append in your app. Please note that I have used <br> in my text to be appened. Reason being, the control that I have used to display the history is HTMLText. Adding <br> to the text makes sure that when HTMLText reads the data, it will add a line break where it finds <br>

Hope it helps.

-Irfan

[venka91]

Sounds interesting. But now i want to display this append column in a Label Box. Is that possible too ?

[Irfan]

Yes. It is possible. But the issue with label box is that it will show everything in a single line. That is the reason why I went for HTMLText and added <br> in the code where I knew that I needed a line break.

Below is a side by side comparision between a label box and HTMLText.

Code for HTMLText

"<b>History</b> <br>" & gallery_ConceptInitiator.Selected.History

Code for Labelbox

gallery_ConceptInitiator.Selected.History

Basically HTMLText will allow you you to do formatting if you want.

-Irfan

[venka91]

Great Input.  I am using a SP list with Comment as a multiple line input append column. When i click on View Entries, it shows the name and date with comment. Is that possible i can show this entries alone with the comment entered.

I am just rethinking because i have used a Form to Update the fields. I am just stuck only for this comment how i could patch the sharepoint for the particular records? can you please help me.... I am not that much into Powerapps and just learning.

[Irfan · Accepted solution]

When you are patching it, remove the date and time reference.

In my example, I can, I can startwith Status which will remove the reference of Date and Time.

Patch(PCT_ProjectConcept, LookUp(PCT_ProjectConcept, ConceptNo = varConceptNo),
{
ConceptInitiatorComments: txt_Comments_2.Text,
Status: "200",
History: varHistoryToPatch & " Status: " & LookUp(PCT_UDC,Child1Code="200",Child1Description) & "<br>",
PCTDateSubmitted: Text(Today(),"[$-en-US]dd/mm/yyyy"),
EstimatedCapex:lbl_EstimatedCapexValue_1.Text,
EstimatedCarbonImpact:lbl_EstimatedCarbonImpactValue_1.Text

});

-----------------

with respect to your 2nd query - both submitForm and Patch command - they work in different ways. I have never used forms in my app bucause I link to take control over the patching. The above code contains the patch command to find the record in my PCT_ProjectConcept Sharepoint list where ConceptNo = the concept no on which I want to add records.

Patch(PCT_ProjectConcept, LookUp(PCT_ProjectConcept, ConceptNo = varConceptNo),

-Irfan

[Ramole]

Hi @venka91 

Do you want Append Comments Text and Add time stamps and user info? watch this video all scenario Submit Form / Patch 

Append Text - Using forms or Patch create update only fields 

[venka91]

This is great stuff. Both the solution worked perfectly. Thanks for giving the right direction at my critical time.