Created dropdown options from seperate List, lose selections in App when editing existing Form

[kevlarcardhouse]

Hi;

We started using more of Microsoft 365 capability like Power Automate and Power Apps in our small office. At some point it was decided that we create a small form in Power Apps so that when a salesperson has a new request from a client, they have to fill out a form so that recruiting/accounting know all the details they need to proceed, rather than a back-and-forth email chain. The info gets saved on a MS List.

As part of that process, I created cascading dropdowns using a separate MS List (called “Client-Contract”), so that one the salesperson chooses a Client, they then need to select a Contract, but the dropdown options only bring up contracts related to that specific client.

I have zero programming knowledge outside of using Power Apps for the last month so I think I made a mistake somewhere and I’m too clueless to figure it out. The issue is that if you try to edit an existing entry, the dropdown menu resets instead of keeping the client and contract previously selected when it was originally made.

I’ve included some key aspects of the data cards and the Drop Down inputs below. Any help would be appreciated.

Client Data Card

Default: ThisItem.Client

Update:

{

  Value: DD_Client.Selected.Result

}

DD_Client

Default: Parent.Default

Items: Distinct('Client-Contract', Client)

Associated Contract Data Card

Default: ThisItem.Associated Contract

Update: DD_Contract.SelectedText.Value

DD_Contract

Default: Parent.Default

Items: Filter('Client-Contract', Client = DD_Client.Selected.Result)

[WarrenBelz]

Hi @kevlarcardhouse ,

Four questions: -

• Are these Drop-downs or Combo Boxes ?
• What type of fields are Client and Contact ?
• Is the only issue that you are not seeing the value after submitting the Form ?
• What is the Item of the Form ?

[kevlarcardhouse]

Hi Warren;

- They are dropdowns.

- Not entirely sure what you are asking - both Client and Contract are single lines of text on the List they are derived from. There's nothing that would stop me from making them choices.

- No, the value is perfectly saved on the form (including what is selected in the Client and Contract dropdowns) and is saved on the Microsoft List the selection is saved to. The only issue is if you edit the form in the app, the 2 dropdown options of Client and Contract reset themselves as if they haven't been selected yet and it was a new form being created.

- The Item setting on the entire form is currently: BrowseGallery1.Selected

EDIT: I just noticed that the Client column on the "Client-Contract" list that the selections are derived from is single line of text, but the List where the form answers are saved has the "Client" column as choices. They are written identically so there is no issue having the Client value saved, but could that be causing an issue?

[WarrenBelz]

Hi @kevlarcardhouse ,

My questions were really to eliminate some issues that may explain the problem. For a start, try changing the Item of the Form to

LookUp(
   'Client-Contract',
   ID = BrowseGallery1.Selected.ID
)

which is a better structure anyway as it should refresh immediately.
Also replace

• SelectedText (which is Deprecated) with Selected 
• Parent.Default in the first one with ThisItem.Client

I also assume the second Default is ThisItem.'Associated Contract' although I don't think any of this is part of the issue

Please click Accept as solution if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider giving it Thumbs Up.

MVP (Business Applications)   Visit my blog Practical Power Apps

[kevlarcardhouse]

Hi Warren;

Thanks for your assistance.

When you want me to change the item of the form, shouldn't the lookup be to the List all the information is being saved (currently called 'Recruiting Form Responses'), not 'Client-Contract' which is just to provide the options for the 2 dropdown menus?

[WarrenBelz]

@kevlarcardhouse ,

The list will be whatever list is in the gallery you are selecting from. The principle is to use the ID to be specific about the record required and "directly link" to it.

Please click Accept as solution if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider giving it Thumbs Up.

MVP (Business Applications)   Visit my blog Practical Power Apps