IF and/or else statement - multiple parallel conditons

[illmatic]

I'm having a bit of issue with an IF statement in my PowerApps form connected to a SharePoint list.  I feel like I'm almost there, but it needs a bit of refinement.  I am trying to ensure fill-in options in a multiselection dropdown are captured in addition to whatever the end user may have selected from the choice options.  

Here is my current IF statement:

Here is what it produces:

Basically, the logic in my IF statement will only write-in the choice if the user has already selected items.  What I need it to do is basically:

IF Field1 isn't blank, AND/OR if the data search isn't blank, capture both, ELSE set to Blank() [because it is a required field].

How do I write an and/or if statement?

[KrishnaV]

Hi @illmatic ,

Change your if as below:

If(!IsBlank(DataCardValue3.selected) || !IsBlank(DataCardValue3.SearchText),
{Value: Concatenate(DataCardValue3.SearchText,DataCardValue3.Selected),
'@odata.type':"#microsoft.Azure.Connectors.SharePoint.SPListExpandedReference"})

 
I hope this resolved your issue if you see any challenge/need further help please let me know I am always happy to do it for my community.

Regards,
Krishna
If this post helps you give a 👍 and if it solved your issue consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more.

[illmatic]

Hey @KrishnaV 

Thank you so much!  Unfortunately this does not work.  I'm still running into the same problem where it will only write the values if I've made a selection from the choice field first.  If there is no choice selected, it does not print the Search Text value.  Also, I had to change the Value to this:  Concat(DataCardValue3.SelectedItems, Value, Concatenate(" ; ", DataCardValue3.SearchText, ", " )),   Since you have to use Concat for multiple selections.   

Also, I'm a little confused by the logic.  It says if the choice isn't blank or if the search text isn't blank, connect the two and print them. But why would it concatenate from the choices if there's nothing there?

[v-yutliu-msft]

Hi @illmatic ,

Do you want to display selected items and searchtext of a combo box together?

Could you tell me:
1)this required field's data type?

2)how do you set a required field value to blank()?

Required field means that it should have value, blank() is not included. So I suggest you set the required field to one default value when there's no selected item or searchtext.

Please notice one thing, one combo box's searchtext could only have one value. It will always be the latest search text of the combo box. 

What's more, "DataCardValue3.Selected" represents a record, you need to use IsEmpty to justify whether it is a blank record. IsBlank is used to justify blank value.

I assume that the required field is text type. Then you just need to set its textinput's Default to text, no need to use formula like this:{Value: ......,'@odata.type':"#microsoft.Azure.Connectors.SharePoint.SPListExpandedReference"}), which is a record.

Try this:

If(!IsEmpty(DataCardValue3.Selected) || !IsBlank(DataCardValue3.SearchText),
Left(
      Concat(DataCardValue3.SelectedItems,Value&";"),
      Len(Concat(DataCardValue3.SelectedItems,Value&";"))-1
     )&
DataCardValue3.SearchText
  )

Best regards,

[illmatic]

Hi @v-yutliu-msft 

There aren't two fields -- it's the same field hence the field name is the same "DataValue3."  It is a multiselect dropdown that allows the user to write-in choices if they aren't available.   I am assuming I am going to have to stack multiple If statements to handle the multiple scenarios.  I need and "AND/OR" scenario..

For instance, the user may select multiple available choices, but need to add an additional custom choice. Therefore, it would be if selection isn't blank AND if the search text is filled in, concatenate both of these entries.

OR if just the selection is filled, update the field,  OR if just the search text is filled, write that..

ELSE, set the field to blank so that if the user tries to submit there is an error called since it is required.   (This may not be necessary if I've already set the field to required though... will text.).

Also I do NOT want to put a default value on a required field from a selection...... This allows the end user to submit without having made their own selection, which could yield issue...  They are selecting Charge Codes with some powerautomate flows behind it and having them not choose the correct one would defeat the whole purpose of automating something like this because then the flow will send emails and whatnot to the wrong person.....

Does this make sense?

I will review the formula you've given me and walk through its logic to see if this fits the above scenario.  Thank you so much!

[illmatic]

Hi @v-yutliu-msft 

Thanks for your reply.  I am using odata type because it IS a record, not a text value.   It's the same field...  It is a multiselect dropdown with a fill-in option enabled.   The pseudo-code goes as follows:

If the Selection isn't blank (or empty) AND if the Search text isn't blank,
Concatenate these values and update the field..

OR if the Selection isn't blank, update the field 
Else if the Search text isn't blank, update the field with the search text

Else set the field to blank

Here's the real-life scenario behind it. The user needs to select from a choice field which is required.  In scenario 1)  the choices available may suit their needs, so they'll select one or more options and hit submit. Easy peasy.  Scenario 2)  They will select from the available list, but may need to write-in an additional option.  So they'll make selections and do a write in.   Scenario 3.) They won't select anything from the list, and will just write-in an option.  Scenario 4.) They forgot to do any of the above, and go to thit submit and need to go back and fill it out.   I do not want there to be a default option here because if they forget to select, the form will submit without issue.  

Sorry if you get this twice, I thought i replied earlier but don't see it anymore...

The formula you gave did not work because the field data type requires a record.

[v-yutliu-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @illmatic ,

Do you mean that it is a choice type field? Does this field allow multiple value?

If so, then this field needs a table, not a record.

I assume that it  allows allow multiple value.

Then try this:

If(!IsEmpty(DataCardValue3.Selected) &&!IsBlank(DataCardValue3.SearchText),
RenameColumns(
Filter(Split(Concat(DataCardValue3.SelectedItems,Value&",")&DataCardValue3.SearchText,","),!IsBlank(Result)),"Result","Value"
),
Notify("please enter data",NotificationType.Warning)
)

 What's more, since the searchtext is not the existing value in the choice column, so you need to set the choice column in sharepoint like this:

Best regards,

[illmatic]

@v-yutliu-msft 

Thank you so much for getting back to me :).  I was actually able to resolve on my own.   It is a Choice field with multi-select and fill-in option active.  Here's what worked for me:

If(
!IsBlank(DataCardValue2.SelectedItems) || !IsBlank(DataCardValue2.SearchText),
{
Value: Concatenate(Concat(DataCardValue2.SelectedItems, Value, ", "),","," Other: ",DataCardValue2.SearchText),
'@odata.type': "#Microsoft.Azure.Connectors.SharePoint.SPListExpandedReference"
},
Blank()
)

[illmatic]

@v-yutliu-msft 

I wanted to come back and confirm that this solution also works for the most part.  To note, I had to change the "notify" portion to just Blank() because I get an error which states that you cannot call the Notify function in the update property.   I ran into an issue where using my formula on multiple fields somehow translated to the formula only running on 1 field for whatever until I also added this formula.   So I have 2/3 fields using my formula, and 1 using yours and somehow everything works fine now. Go figure.  

I think in the long run I will transition this to a Canvas app and patch all the information into SharePoint going forward.   I also ran into an issue where the form randomly stopped saving.  There seem to be too many kinks with PowerApps & SP Form integration if you have any kind of complexities.