Create a collection that stores all selected items from a combo-box

[jharville1]

I have a combo-box ('reviewComboBox') built into a form that allows the user to select 1 (or more) items for submission.

Some of my items inside the combo-box are: "January" , "February" , "March" , "April" ... and so on

I would like to create a collection (for each form submission) depending on what is selected (added) or de-selected (removed/unchecked). Would I be making changes to the 'OnSelect' and 'OnChange" of the Advanced Properties section of the 'reviewComboBox' ? I believe that when I select the combo-box, and go to the 'advanced properties' on the right-hand panel, the OnSelect property should be to collect the item(s) when it is selected ... while the OnChange should be to remove the item(s) when it is de-selected.

What code would be used to collect the items when selected in the ComboBox (for OnSelect), and what code would be used to delete the items when de-selected from the ComboBox (for OnChange) ? Or, if there is a different place to input the code, where would it be? Thank you!

(I'm thinking to use "reviewComboBox.SelectedItems" within a ClearCollect{}, but not sure if that would satisfy my need)

[gabibalaban]

Hi @jharville1 ,

By default reviewComboBox.SelectedItems keeps your current selection from combobox (as a table), so it is not neccesary to use a collection in this case, but it is possible of course.

Hope it helps !

[v-jefferni]

Hi @jharville1 ,

Could you please share more details about your scenario? Would you like to collect a collection with items selected in the combo box after items being selected and selection changes in it?

If so, yes you could use the ClearCollect function to achieve your need, but you only need to apply it on the  OnChange property.

OnChange – How the app responds when the user changes a selection.

OnSelect – How the app responds when the user taps or clicks a control.

So whenever users select items from blank or change items selection in the combo box, the OnChange would trigger the ClearCollect function to update the collection.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Community Support Team _ Jeffer Ni
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it.

[jharville1]

Thank you very much for the response, it was very helpful.

*My scenario is essentially that I'm building an 'Approvals' application.

*I already have it built (and functional) so that an approval is made on the entire form that is submitted... but I want to tweak the app so that it creates approvals for each of the items selected in the combo-box. The application: consists of one form with a combo-box section in it (and an input text field where the user inserts their name). Each item selection within the combo-box will route the form to a specific person --> ex: January emails (routes) the form to Jane Doe for approval of that 1 item (January), while February emails the form to Bob Smith and Dan Carr for approval of that 1 item (February). If both January and February are selected, all 3 of the users stated will be sent an email for approval of those 2 items (January and February).

The reason I wanted to use a collection was because if there were 5 items selected in the combo-box, I could store those 5 items in a collection for that submission. I would then have code to count the number of items in the collection, and create an approval for each of those 5 items selected.

Would I be using a regular 'Collect' for my OnSubmit and a 'ClearCollect' for my OnChange ?

[v-jefferni · Accepted solution]

@jharville1 ,

As per your description, you could use ClearCollect on OnChange of the combo box or OnSelect of the Button or even OnSuccess of the Form.

Generally speaking, ClearCollect means clear all items in the collection and then collect items what you want, Collect means Add items into the collection no matter what it holds. While Collect function being used, you could apply Clear(collection) function on buttons/OnVisible of screens/OnStart of the App to remove all items in it.

Please refer to below doc to understand the functions:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/functions/function-clear-collect-clearc...

On your side, if you selected some items in that combo box then submit the form directly, with the ClearCollect on  OnSelect of the button you would get a collection with items what you selected, with it on OnChange of combo box you would get the collection when you selected something from blank or selections be changed, with it on OnSuccess of the Form you would get the collection when the form submit successfully. So you could choose any method from above to achieve your need, they perform basically the same.

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Community Support Team _ Jeffer Ni
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it.