PATCH a collection

[Migrated_User]

Content migrated from TechNet.  Post attribution to:  Brian Dang

Hi,

I'm developing a game on PowerApps. The game requires the player to respond to a problem, then click a "next" button to save their input, collect other data, and advance to a new problem. The "next" button uses the PATCH function to create a new row of data on a spreadsheet located on Dropbox.

My problem is that when the player clicks the next button to PATCH, there is a noticeable 3-5s delay before the app responds. I tested very basic PATCH functions on an almost blank app and it responds with the same delay. Given that my app is a game of speed, I am wondering if there is a way to minimize the instances of PATCH.

For instance, since the player must PATCH every single round, it slows things down. If they only needed to PATCH at the conclusion of their play, I think I can make my game more viable. Would it be possible to program PATCH to create all the records from a collection into a target spreadsheet in one move? Or is there an alternative that already exists for patching more than one record at a time?

[Migrated_User]

Hi Brian:

Please refer to the sample apps I sent to you days before.

1. If the Textbox or other properties used to collect data, and reside in "Card Gallery", then each TextBox can be written as {Text1: TextBox1.Text, Text2: TextBox2.Text,...} assuming Text1, Text2,.. are the title of your table. Then use Cardgallery.Update when patching. This will PATCH by Cardgallery.

and if you have more than one CardGallery, then all of them can be patched using Gallery.Updates,if all the Cardgalleries are inside the Infinite Scrolling Layout.

Take Note:

1. Cardgallery.Update (without s)

2. Gallery.Updates (with s)

This will PATCH all records with a single click.

Hope this helps.

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PK Hong

[Migrated_User]

Hi Brian

While you waiting for an answer... did you know that you will not be able to share your game with the world because powerapps doesn't allow that and never will?

Sorry for that.. I'm just trying to save you a time in case you don't know that 

[Migrated_User]

@PK, I copied some elements from your sample app that had name and qty. 

Can you explain what the Defaults function does? I think if I understand that, PATCH will make a little more sense to me.

@ Ptr.Chovan, That is a missed opportunity for PowerApps. Luckily, I mostly plan on using these apps within my own classroom, so in the short-term I will be self-sufficient with just my account.

[Migrated_User]

Hi

Defaults(TableData) = Create a New Records (Row) in this existing TableData.

Please read this Part. Very Important. I spent several hours to digest and it really worth the hours. Most of the concept of MS Samples is based on this one. I would say every sections in Help worth reading. I had read all for several time.

PK Hong

[Migrated_User]

I summarized the process in a flow map. I am unsure how Patch can write an entire collection to the ExcelDatabase though. It seems to only do one row. Can you clarify how I can write more than one row per click?

[Migrated_User · Accepted solution]

Hi

Each time when you press the PATCH button, it can only push to row of record.

So, you can set a Timer, with desired duration, say 500ms on TimerEnd, to automatically PATCH data into Excel file. You may have another Button to stop or another Timer to set the total time to patch (Timer2/Timer1 = no of times to patch as you wish).

Hope this help.

TQ

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PK Hong

[Migrated_User]

Thank you for the help, PK. I sent back feedback on patching more at a time.

[Migrated_User · Accepted solution]

I made a temporary solution. It is quite a work-around. It uses concepts from a basic calculator app.

Suppose I want to write name, date and ID to back to a database. Normally, I would use Patch one row at a time:

Patch(ExcelDatabase,Defaults(ExcelDatabase),{Name: name.text, Date: date.text, ID: id.text})

Instead, I now use 2 variables for each column that I want to patch. I use UpdateContext to create a concatenated string with Char(10) for carriage return. Then I do a single patch of those long strands.

Set a button equal to:

UpdateContext({Name2: name.text, Date2: date.text, ID2: id.text});
UpdateContext({Name1: Name1 & Char(10) & Name2 & Char(10), Date1: Date1 & Char(10) Date2 & Char(10), ID1: ID1 & Char(10) & ID2 & Char(10)})

Then I do a single patch:

Patch(ExcelDatabase,Defaults(ExcelDatabase),{Name: Name1, Date: Date1, ID: ID1})

The data is inflexible, but if it is looked at at few intervals like I will be doing, it is a fair temporary solution.

[Migrated_User]

Wow, you got an excellent idea. I shall try it, too, to PATCH 2-records or more at a time.

Thanks Brian.

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PK Hong