How do I patch a table and then update a combo box with the new value from the table?

[futr_vision]

I've done this before with an app but since I don't work regularly with PowerApps I've been unable to unravel what I did. Here is what I have.

I have a combo box that has uses a Dataverse table. This is a list of companies. Occasionally, the company the user is looking for is not in the list. For this I have a text box where the user is able to type in a new company to the Dataverse table and click an 'Add' button. On the button for that text box I am using code like this to patch the table

If(
    !IsBlank(TXT_AddCompany.Text) && IsBlank(
        LookUp(
            Companies,
            'Company Name' = TXT_AddCompany.Text
        ).'Company Name'
    ),
    Patch(
        Companies,
        Defaults(Companies),
        {'Company Name' : TXT_AddCompany.Text}
    );
);

What I want to be able to do is this. When the new company is added through the text box I want the combo box to update with that new company, so it is easier for the end user. 

The existing app, that uses this strategy, appears to be setting a variable to the value of the company entered into the text box. Code looks like this:

UpdateContext({newThird: {crfeb_thirdparty: AddThirdParty_TB.Value}});

The combo box looks like it is using that variable for the DefaultSelectedItems formula like this:

If(Self.DisplayMode=DisplayMode.Edit, If(IsBlank(newThird),{crfeb_thirdparty: Parent.Default},newThird), Blank())

 I think I would be most of the way there using this code but when I implement it I get errors. Looks to be mainly around it not recognizing the variable newCompany(replaces newThird). I imagine I need to initiate this somewhere but not sure where if that is the case. How do I fix this? Is the way I am doing it the best way?

[v-jefferni · Accepted solution]

Hi @futr_vision ,

You can set the variable directly using the new company added in the Text Box:

UpdateContext({newThird: 
If(
    !IsBlank(TXT_AddCompany.Text) && IsBlank(
        LookUp(
            Companies,
            'Company Name' = TXT_AddCompany.Text
        ).'Company Name'
    ),
    Patch(
        Companies,
        Defaults(Companies),
        {'Company Name' : TXT_AddCompany.Text}
    )
)
});

Best regards,

[futr_vision]

Works great but it does break this code I put on a radio button to blank out the combo box if the radio is toggled to "No". The combo box retains the new value. I need to clear that text box otherwise the value there will be written to the table for the form submit and it shouldn't. How can this be fixed?

If(Text(Self.Selected.Value) = "No", Reset(CB_Company))

[v-jefferni · Accepted solution]

Hi @futr_vision ,

So you need to combine the Toggle value in Combo box DefaultSelectedItems:

If(
    Self.DisplayMode=DisplayMode.Edit && Radio.Selected.Value = "Yes", 
    If(
        IsBlank(newThird),
        {crfeb_thirdparty: Parent.Default},
        newThird
    ), 
    Blank()
)

this means if Display Mode is not Edit or Radio selected value is No, default selected item in Combo box is Blank. And the reset combo box function is not needed.

Best regards,

[futr_vision]

Hmm. Seems like I am still in the same position. When a new company is added that value remains in the combo box if the user sets the radio button to "No". I guess I would need to clear the newThird variable when they click "No". Is that the solution?

[futr_vision]

Yep. Updating the variable, using UpdateContect, to be Blank() works.