How to filter duplicates from the sharepoint list and generate an alert if any duplicate found

[PriyankaBhatt]

Hi All,

I have built an application which has a form with few fields with one of the fields as primary(This entry has to be unique).I have added a logic on form submission, that if on filtering the data source, system finds the value entered on the primary field, A pop up message mentioning it's a duplicate record should come up.

How I did it.

1. Created an alert , it's visibility is based on a variable. Only when the variable is set to true the alert should come up. On app load, the variable should default to false.

2. On form submit. Filter whether the entered value matches the data source, If it does not update the visibility of the variable to true.

The problem is when I try submitting form first time after entering duplicate record, it does not show the alert message. the value of the variable is not set to true. On submitting again it works fine.

Any suggestions why it does not work 1st time?

[DBO_DV]

hey @PriyankaBhatt ,

can you share the code that you've used? 

[PriyankaBhatt]

If(
!IsEmpty(
Filter(
SharepointList,
PrimaryControl.Text='ColumnNamefromSharepoint'
)
),
Notify("If was executed",NotificationType.Warning);UpdateContext({Variable: true}),
If(
(form.Mode = FormMode.New),
Set(
VarLastSubmit,
Patch(
SharepointList,
Defaults(SharepointList),
form.Updates,
'form2'.Updates
)
);
ResetForm(form);
UpdateContext(
{
editMode: false,
newMode: false
}
);Notify("Else-If was executed",NotificationType.Warning),
Patch(
SharepointList,
Gallery.Selected,
form.Updates,
'form2'.Updates
);
ResetForm(form);
UpdateContext(
{
editMode: false,
newMode: false
}
);Notify("Else-Else was executed",NotificationType.Warning)
)
);

I have added some notification for myself to understand which part of the loop is running. Will remove them when my function starts working.

[DBO_DV]

Can you try this:

If(
    CountRows(
        Filter(
            SharepointList,
            PrimaryControl.Text='ColumnNamefromSharepoint'
        ))>0
    ),
    Notify(
        "If was executed",
        NotificationType.Warning
    );
    UpdateContext({Variable: true}),
    If(
        (Form.Mode = FormMode.New),
        Set(
            VarLastSubmit,
            Patch(
                SharepointList,
                Defaults(SharepointList),
                form.Updates,
                'form2'.Updates
            )
        );
        ResetForm(form);
        UpdateContext(
            {
                editMode: false,
                newMode: false
            }
        );
        Notify("Else-If was executed",NotificationType.Warning),
        Patch(
            SharepointList,
            Gallery.Selected,
            form.Updates,
            'form2'.Updates
        );
        ResetForm(form);
        UpdateContext(
            {
                editMode: false,
                newMode: false
            }
        );
        Notify("Else-Else was executed",NotificationType.Warning)
    )
);

I don't really understand the way you are using Patch combined with Forms.

It would be easier to use SubmitForm(Form). The form will automaticlly check if it's in FormMode.New or Edit and map the changes to the record used in the form.

[PriyankaBhatt]

Still Same issue. It does not work on first click. Works fine second click onwards.

I have 2 forms on the same screen. Hence had to use patch instead on Submit. With submit, data from one form was being submitted to the datasource.

[DBO_DV]

Why don't you use SubmitForm twice? 

SubmitForm(Form1);
SubmitFrom(From2)

It seems to me, that the values are not exactly the same when the notification comes only after you save it the Second time. 

Have you checked with a label if the Values are equal? 

you could use something like this

If(CountRows(
        Filter(
            SharepointList,
            PrimaryControl.Text='ColumnNamefromSharepoint'
        ))>0,
    "Exists","Does not exist"
)

[PriyankaBhatt]

The first If statement is being Run, I am getting the warning message that's part of the if function, only thing, the variable context is not set to true first time and changing only in second attempt.

On Form Submit: If I submit both the forms it will create 2 entries in the sharepoint list.

[DBO_DV]

Okay now I get it. 

If(
    CountRows(
        Filter(
            SharepointList,
            PrimaryControl.Text='ColumnNamefromSharepoint'
        ))>0
    ),
    Notify(
        "If was executed",
        NotificationType.Warning
    );
   Set(Variable, true),
    If(
        (Form.Mode = FormMode.New),
        Set(
            VarLastSubmit,
            Patch(
                SharepointList,
                Defaults(SharepointList),
                form.Updates,
                'form2'.Updates
            )
        );
        ResetForm(form);
        Set(editMode, false);
        Set(newMode, false);
        Notify("Else-If was executed",NotificationType.Warning),
        Patch(
            SharepointList,
            Gallery.Selected,
            form.Updates,
            'form2'.Updates
        );
        ResetForm(form);
        Set(editMode, false);
        Set(newMode, false);
        Notify("Else-Else was executed",NotificationType.Warning)
    )
);

Can you try the Set function instead of the UpdateContext just to test it. 

[PriyankaBhatt]

No Luck! With Set function I don't see the Alert at all. 

I just noticed that with update context, on First click attempt-my alert message is coming up for microseconds and disappears on their own.

With Second click it remains how it supposed to be.

[DBO_DV]

So you would say it is acting like a second Button would be clicked somewhere else?
Is the new Record still saved or does the function Block that action successfully? 

Otherwhiseyou could put the updatecontext Function earlier in the controll that gets checked. You would just need to put the function in OnChange, and put delay output to true.

If(
    CountRows(
        LookUp(
            SharepointList,
            PrimaryControl.Text='ColumnNamefromSharepoint'
        ))>0,
    Notify(
        "If was executed",
        NotificationType.Warning
    );
   UpdateContext({Double: true}),
UpdateContext({Double: false}))

and in your button just like this: 

If(Double,UpdateContext({Variable:true}),UpdateContext({Variable:false});
If(
        (Form.Mode = FormMode.New),
        Set(
            VarLastSubmit,
            Patch(
                SharepointList,
                Defaults(SharepointList),
                form.Updates,
                'form2'.Updates
            )
        );
        ResetForm(form);
        Set(editMode, false);
        Set(newMode, false);
        Notify("Else-If was executed",NotificationType.Warning),
        Patch(
            SharepointList,
            Gallery.Selected,
            form.Updates,
            'form2'.Updates
        );
        ResetForm(form);
        Set(editMode, false);
        Set(newMode, false);
        Notify("Else-Else was executed",NotificationType.Warning)
    )
);

and try to create all your variables earlier before you need them. You could Create them OnVisible of the Screen all as false.