Dropdown Fill-in with Dynamic Values

[Brent_Arias]

I  have a SharePoint list called "Contacts" with a column called "Company".   On my PowerApps edit form, I want "Company" to show as drop down comprised of all the distinct "Company" values that the  "Contacts" list already contains.  Furthermore, I want:

• The user should be able to enter in a new company name if it is missing in the current set of drop-down choices.
• The next time someone creates a new Contact  (or edits an existing one), then the list of distinct values accordingly is now longer.

A SharePoint list can be configured as a "Choice" that will "Allow 'Fill-in' choices".  This option is almost perfect.  I simply need the list of choices to be populated by the distinct list of existing "company" values, instead of from a hard-coded list.

How  can this be done?

[Sru]

hi Brent_Arias,

1. You can use a separate lookup list for Company values .
   In edit form or new form add a dropdown field , get values from this list and apply Distinct () to get unique values.
2. Use sharepoint Company column to enter company names if they dont exist in the dropdown list,
   if it exists they can choose from dropdown field.
3. when user selects dropdown value populate the value in Company text field. 
4. When saving item ,Use Patch() function to save this Company value back to the Lookup list.Add validation before inserting this value.

Thanks,
Sru

[Brent_Arias]

---

@Sruwrote:
1. You can use a separate lookup list for Company values .
In edit form or new form add a dropdown field , get values from this list and apply Distinct () to get unique values.

In Sharepoint I made the "Company" field into a single-line text field.  In PowerApps I added the data card and then unlocked the card.  I added a dropdown which I placed next to the text input data card.  I did use the Distinct() formula.  So far, all of this works.

3. when user selects dropdown value populate the value in Company text field. 

I now have two controls: a dropdown and a text input.  The text input (DataCardValue38) is a part of a data card.  On the dropdown,  I have set the "OnChange" property as follows:

Dropdown3.OnChange  : DataCardValue38.Text = Dropdown3.Selected.Value

The dropdown is correctly populated, but when I change its value the DataCardValue38 is not updating.  The above formula is syntactically correct (no intellisense errors or warnings), but it isn't doing anything.  What am I doing wrong?

[Sru]

Hi @Brent_Arias

set the textbox default value  with dropdwon selected value. Dropdown2.Selected.Value

[Brent_Arias]

Setting the "Default" property successfully changed the DataCardValue control when the drop-down changes.  However, when I SubmitForm(), the DataCardValue isn't saving the newly updated value.  What now?

[Sru]

hi @Brent_Arias

can you explain where are you saving this datacardvalue to ? is this a custom one added by you or is it coming default from sharepoint list.

In the example Company(single line of textbox field) is a sharepoint list column.

Thanks,

Sru

[Brent_Arias]

All the datacardvalues have been auto-generated from the Sharepoint "Contacts" list.  One of the data cards was for the "Company" column.  I unlocked that column so that I could add the drop down control.  So what I expect is that whatever value is contained in the datacard...will be  (re-)saved to the original "Company" column of the SharePoint "Contacts" list.

This is why I have not  deleted the datacardvalue control...because I still want it to do its job of saving data back to the "Contacts" list.

[Sru]

i did the same and it works for me. When Dropdown values are changed company column is updated and values are getting saved to list.

Thanks,

Sru

[Brent_Arias]

I figured it out.  My drop down list "Default" property was assigned the value  "".  I changed it to be assigned the value ThisItem.Story.

Also, I had to change my submit navigation button.  It now looks like this:

SubmitForm(EditForm1);Dropdown3.Selected.Value = Blank()

Without the Blank(), it would  remember the old value before I had made changes.

[nickduxfield]

Hey there.

I understand what you mean in regards to the add choices to the list of choices in a choice field.

In regards to powerapps. I've had to completely change the way I create all my lists and records in SharePoint in order to have a completely no issue experience especially when dealing with Choice Fields. (Complex Type).

See the example I have below and adapt it for your situation. Some poiners below.

• Replace the choice field with a completely new list called Companies, you may like to add extra details on that list related to the company.
• Create an overlay combo editform datatable and guide as I have done below.
• The original Reg form has fixed info in the fields.
• The popup is the same form but limited to the targeted field, say 'Class Year' or 'Company.
• Set the default of the pop up editform to datatable gallery selected 'Company' to populate.
• Save and it will update that field only.

If you need to add new company names right there. You can add another sub edit form with one Field. 

It does not matter how long the user remains in the sub edit forms, the result will be the same. When he returns to the main Reg form, the field(s) like 'Company' will be read only. The editing will be done on the popup subforms. 

Hope this helps.

Works in any scenario for me. And i just duplicate everything.