Distinct function for combobox is populating blanks

[Barak_S]

Hey guys, im trying to do a simple thing - I have a SP List in which the "Title" column have some duplicate values.
In my app, i would like to populate a combobox with all the UNIQUE "Title" values using the Distinct function, but when im doing it, im getting only blanks:

Any idea why and how can i fix this?

**BTW the "Title" column is text.

Thanks

[WarrenBelz]

Hi @Barak_S ,

Firstly that syntax is correct if test1 is the name of your list and Title is a Single Line of Text column containing values.

A combo box will not show a value until a selection is made. Just for a debugging exercise, put this

Sort(
   Distinct(
      test1,
      Title
   ),
   Result
)

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[Barak_S]

Works Perfect now!
Why did i need to put in in "sort" and what is "Result"?  Thanks!

[WarrenBelz · Accepted solution]

@Barak_S ,

Just a little bug I have struck before - not sure why it happens at random times. Result is the output of an Distinct Filter.

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.

[RWO]

Hi,

I'm having the same problem using Power Apps for teams.  When I use the Distinct function in combobox Items property, Sort(Distinct(tbl_employees,'BUOrg'),Result), I get a list of blank entries.  If I place this same string in a gallery I get the expected list of values.  Even stranger, if I preview the app and select one of the blank entries in the combobox, the correct selected result is displayed in a label control. If appears that all functions are correct, the combo box list just does not display the text of the list item:

Also, published the app and got the same result.  Any guidance would be greatly appreciated!

[Pstork1]

Two things to try to try.  

1) Make sure the Display Fields and Search Fields properties are set to the column you want to show in the dropdown.

2) Add a Filter around the outside of the Distinct to remove blank entries.  I've seen an issue where Distinct will return a blank entry as the first item and that seems to blank out all the rest.  This works for me.

Sort(Filter(Distinct(tbl_employees,'BUOrg'),Not(IsBlank(Result))),Result)

[RWO]

Thanks!

Your suggestions led me to the resolution.  To the Edit Fields I added Result and moved it to the top of the list.  The list now displays. 

It is a confusing control.  When you add the Combo Box it forces you to selected a datasource which populates the Edit Fields with the fields in the datasource.  When you add an Items formula it appears to orphan the edit fields, i.e. you can delete the edit fields but they do not appear if you try to add them back.  Control needs some work, but at least there is a solution!  Thanks again!

[Pstork1]

I've seen the same.  That's why I suggested #1.  #2 shows up if there are any blank entries in the list.  When you sort they become the first entry displayed and it doesn't seem to like showing any more after that.

[Pstork1]

I've seen the same.  That's why I suggested #1.  #2 shows up if there are any blank entries in the list.  When you sort they become the first entry displayed and it doesn't seem to like showing any more after that.

[RWO]

Similarly, if you use the Choices function in the Combo Box Items property, you need to add the Value field to the top of the Edit Fields list.