Fetch attachments and link records

[BB91]

Hi community,

I would like to realize the following idea and I am sure you can support me.

Let's say I have a mobile camera app (AppA) with a Sharepoint list (ListA) and I have a desktop app (AppB) with a Sharepoint list (ListB).

Within AppA I can store up to 3 pictures in the default attachment column of ListA.

Now my questions:
1. How can I fetch/import the pictures from ListA with a button in AppB before submitting the form to store them in the default attachment column of ListB?

2. How can I link my record in ListA with the record I will be creating in ListB to import/fetch the pictures?

Thank you in advance for your support.

Best regards

[Hassan_SZ_365]

Hi @BB91 ,

1. Fetching/Importing Pictures:

• In AppB, you would need a way to reference the specific item in ListA.
• Once you have a reference (e.g., an item ID or unique identifier), you can use SharePoint's REST API or the Graph API to fetch the attachment files from ListA. In Power Apps, you could use the GetAttachments function.
• To download the attachments, you'll make a request to the endpoint that retrieves the attachment content.
• Before submitting the form in AppB, you would then use the API to upload these attachments to the corresponding item in ListB. In Power Apps, you could use the AddAttachment function.

2. Linking Records:

• You can create a unique identifier in ListA that can be stored in ListB as a reference. This could be as simple as a unique ID or a combination of data that guarantees uniqueness (e.g., timestamp + user ID).
• In AppB, when you create a new record in ListB, you would include this unique identifier from ListA.
• The record in ListB would then have a column (e.g., RelatedId) that stores this unique identifier, creating a link between the two records.

Power Apps Example Solution:

1. Fetch/Import Pictures:

   • On your button's OnSelect event in AppB, you might set a variable to the selected item's ID from ListA.
   • Use GetAttachments('ListA', VariableWithItemId) to get the attachment information.
   • Loop through each attachment, downloading them using the appropriate function (e.g., DownloadData) and then upload them to ListB using AddAttachment.

2. Link Records:

   • When you create a new record in ListB, make sure to include a field that references the ID from ListA.
   • When you're viewing a record in AppB, you can use this ID to fetch related records from ListA for any additional logic or display.

Here's a pseudo-code for what the process might look like in Power Apps: 

// When the user selects an item in AppB to fetch attachments from ListA
Set(SelectedItemId, ThisItem.ID);
ClearCollect(AttachmentCollection, GetAttachments('ListA', SelectedItemId));

// Loop through the attachments and add each to ListB
ForAll(AttachmentCollection As _Attachment,
    // Download the attachment content
    Set(AttachmentContent, DownloadData(_Attachment.'@odata.mediaReadLink'));
    
    // Upload the attachment to ListB's new item
    AddAttachment('ListB', NewItemID, _Attachment.DisplayName, AttachmentContent)
);

// Create a new record in ListB and link to the ListA item
Patch('ListB', Defaults('ListB'), {
    Title: DataCardValueTitle.Text,
    RelatedId: SelectedItemId,
    // Other fields...
});

In the above pseudo-code:

• SelectedItemId is a variable that stores the ID of the item you've selected from ListA.
• AttachmentCollection is a collection that stores the attachment data fetched from ListA.
• DownloadData represents the function you'd use to download the attachment content. This is not an actual Power Apps function and represents the concept; you might need to use a SharePoint API call in reality.
• NewItemID is a placeholder for the ID of the new item you're creating in ListB. You would get this ID after you've created the item.
• RelatedId is the field in ListB where you store the ID from ListA to link the records.

Note: This is a high-level solution. The actual implementation would require knowledge of the specifics of your apps, SharePoint lists, and how they are set up. You would need to adapt these instructions to the APIs or services you're using, and handle authentication, error checking, and other considerations. Also, Power Apps' specific syntax and functions may vary, so you'll need to adjust the code accordingly.

Best Regards,
Hassan Raza

[M_Ali_SZ365]

Hi @BB91 ,

Create a Link: Make sure each entry in ListA has a unique ID that you can use in ListB to create a connection between the two.

Grab the Photos:

Put a button in AppB.
Set up the button's OnSelect to find the entry in ListA with the unique ID and pull the photos. You can use a formula like this when the button is clicked:

ClearCollect(MyPhotos, LookUp(ListA, ID = YourUniqueID).Attachments)

Upload Photos to ListB:

When you're ready to submit in AppB, use a function to loop through the MyPhotos collection and attach each photo to the new entry in ListB.
Create a Link in ListB:

When you create a new record in ListB, just put the unique ID from ListA into a special column that you'll set up just for linking purposes.
Check for Errors: Ensure you have checks in place in case there's a problem finding the photos or creating the link.

Please accept this solution if it resolves the issue. ✅
Best regards,
Muhammad Ali

[BB91]

Hi Muhammad,

I know that I need a unique identifier, but I have two different Apps that I am using.

Let me describe how I will use both Apps. Maybe that makes it easier.

1. Open AppB on desktop PC and fill out the form. Do not submit.

2. Open AppA on mobile phone, make pictures and upload them to ListA

3. Press button in AppB to fetch the pictures in ListA and submit the form.

How can AppB inform AppA which unique identifier will be created by AppB so that I can than fetch all pictures of a record from ListA with that unique identifier?

Can I create a deep link with the unique identifier for AppA in AppB within a QR code to open AppA with my mobile phone and than use that unique identifier to create the record in ListA?

Kind regards

[M_Ali_SZ365]

Hi @BB91 ,

I understand you want to seamlessly transfer pictures from AppA to AppB using a unique identifier. Here's a simplified way to do it:

Generate a Unique ID in AppB: When you're filling out the form on your desktop PC, create a unique ID. This can be a simple GUID or timestamp. For example:

Set(uniqueID, Text(GUID()))

Create a QR Code in AppB: Use this unique ID to generate a QR code. When scanned, this QR code will open AppA on your phone and pass along the unique ID. Your code might look something like this:

Set(qrCodeValue, "appA://open?ID=" & uniqueID)

Use the Unique ID in AppA: When you open AppA on your phone, scan the QR code. This will pass the unique ID to AppA. Use this ID when you upload your pictures to ListA, ensuring they're tagged with this ID.

Fetch Pictures in AppB: Back in AppB, when you press the button to fetch pictures, the app should look for this unique ID in ListA and collect all associated pictures.

ClearCollect(MyPhotos, Filter(ListA, UniqueIDColumn = uniqueID).Attachments)

Attach Pictures to ListB: Finally, when you submit your form in AppB, include the fetched pictures from MyPhotos in your submission.

This method ensures that your pictures are correctly linked between the apps and SharePoint lists, making your workflow more efficient.

Please accept this solution if it resolves the issue. ✅
Best regards,
Muhammad Ali

[BB91]

Hi Muhammad,

the newly created Collection "MyPhotos" shows the following table:

When I set the attachment control's Items to MyPhotos, I do see all the attachments listed in there:

But unfortunately when I patch the form there are no attachments in List B. It is just empty.

When I compare the collection I have created for my Camera App to submit the images, than I actually have the datastream of the image for value and not like the url "appres://datasource...":

Do I need to create an Power Automate Flow to achieve my goal or is there a different solution?

Kind regards