Save a multiples rows of items in a single fields (in SharePoint List)

[Lam01007]

I am developing a PowerApps on SharePoint Online, and the data source is a SharePoint List, named "Product".

And I have another SharePoint list named "Items" and also added it as data source for lookup purpose only.

And I have successfully do following, just added 2 combo box to filter the "Items":

1. Select Category & Region

2. Click "Find" (OnSelect: ClearCollect(Collection1, Filter('Items', Category in cboCat.SelectedItems && Region in cboRegion.SelectedItems))

3. Filter the data and showing in a DataTable(Items: Collection1)

For the next step, I would like to store the filtered items in point-3 into a "Mutliple lines of text" field, may be in json format(?), when user submit form.

Finally, when open the from, load the result for the  "Mutliple lines of text" field.

Would it be possible, or any workaround?

Thanks!

[yashag2255]

Hi @Lam01007 

To achieve this, you can use the JSON function which converts the JSON value to a string value as:

Patch(TestList1,Defaults(TestList1),{Title:"multitest",multiline:JSON(ShowColumns(Gallery1.AllItems,"Title","Seats"),JSONFormat.IgnoreBinaryData)})

Here, TestList1 is the name of DataSource you want to add value in. multiline is the name of column and Gallery1 is the name of gallery.

Note: You need to pass those columns in ShowColumns() which you want to send in the multiline text. This is necessary, because gallery1.AllItems might contain certain other columns which are not supported by JSON function, such as the navigation control value.

Hope this Helps!

If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!

[v-xida-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Lam01007 ,

Could you please share a bit more about your scenario?

Do you want to save the filtered items in point-3 into a "Mutliple lines of text" field in your SP list in a JSON format?

If you want to save the filtered items in point-3 into a "Mutliple lines of text" field in your SP list in a JSON format, I think the SubmitForm function could not achieve your needs.

As an alternative solution, please consider use Patch function to patch data into your SP list. Please set the OnSelect property of the "Submit" button to following:

Patch(
          'YourSPList',
           Defaults('YourSPList'),
           {
             MultiFiledColumn: JSON(ShowColumns(Collection1, "Title", "Category", "Region"))
           }
)

In addition, if you want to load the JSON string result from the "Mutliple lines of text" field in your SP list into the Data Table control when you open the form, I afraid that there is no direct solution to achieve your needs in PowerApps.

As an alternative solution, you could consider pass the JSON string result from your app to a flow, then within the flow, convert the JSON string result into a Table, then return the Table value back to your app.

I have made a test on my side, please take a try with the following workaround:

Flow's configuration as below:

Within the "Response" action, set the Body field to following formula:

json(outputs('Compose'))

set the "Response Body JSON Schema" field to following:

{
    "type": "array",
    "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
            "Title": {
                "type": "string"
            },
            "Category": {
                "type": "string"
            },
            "Region": {
                "type": "string"
            }
        },
        "required": [
            "Title",
            "Category",
            "Region"
        ]
    }
}

Within your app, add a "Parse Result" button, set the OnSelect proeprty to following formula:

ClearCollect(Collection1, JSONResultParse.Run('The Multiple Filed value from the opened form'))

Note: The JSONResultParse represents the name of above flow.

If you created a custom form in your SP list using PowerApps, please consider set the OnEdit proeprty of the SharePointIntegration to following:

EditForm(SharePointForm1);
ClearCollect(Collection1, JSONResultParse.Run(SharePointForm1.Selected.MultiFiledColumn))      /* <-- Add formula here */

When you edit the submitted record in your custom form, the Collection1 would be populated with result the "Mutliple lines of text" field of the current record.

More details about the firing a flow (Microsoft Flow) from a PowerApps app, please check the following article or video:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/using-logic-flows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wl9AtxWdkg

Best regards,

[Lam01007]

Hi @yashag2255,

Thanks for your help again. And I follow your solution to use JSON() funtion to parse a collection to a JSON String and the items are successfully store in a SharePoint List Item.

However, how can I retrieve these JSON and convert to a "Collection" in PowerApps, such that, display these data in a Gallery / DataTable?

Thanks,

[Lam01007]

Hi @v-xida-msft ,

Thanks for your reply.

Follow your solution, I got following result, is same as your result? But I still cannot display the data in the dataTable

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @Lam01007 ,

Could you please share a bit more about the Collection1 after you execute the 'FlowName'.Run(...) formula?

Based on the screenshot that you mentioned, I assume that the Category, Raegion are Choice type column in your SP List, is it true?

Could you please share more details about the MultiFiledColumn column value within your SP List?

Best regards,

[yashag2255 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Lam01007 

That's sounds great! To get the data back from the SP list into the powerapps, you may need to create a flow, and based on the screenshot shared by you, you are getting response in powerapps but not able to see this in powerapps. To get those records, in powerapps, please follow below steps:

1) In the response action of your flow, you need to pass the schema of the returned response. To generate this, you can copy the data from one of the previous runs and use the "Use sample payload to Generate Schema" from the Advanced Options. Once this is done, remove the flow from powerapps and add it again (This ensures that the powerapps is pointing to latest version of the flow). 

2) The expression to get the record in a collection:

ClearCollect(MyCollection, FlowName.Run(VariabletobePassed))

Once, this is triggered, it will collect the data and you can use this collection on the data table.

Hope this Helps!

If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!

[v-xida-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Lam01007 ,

If the Category and Region field are Choice type column in your SP List, or the Category and Region field value you passed from your app is Record value, please modify your flow's configuration, and set the "Response Body JSON Schema" field of the "Response" action to following:

{
    "type": "array",
    "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
            "Category": {
                "type": "object",
                "properties": {
                    "Value": {
                        "type": "string"
                    }
                }
            },
            "Region": {
                "type": "object",
                "properties": {
                    "Value": {
                        "type": "string"
                    }
                }
            },
            "Title": {
                "type": "string"
            }
        },
        "required": [
            "Category",
            "Region",
            "Title"
        ]
    }
}

Then within your app, remove the flow connection, and then re-add a new one. Set the OnEdit proeprty of the SharePointIntegration to following:

EditForm(SharePointForm1);
ClearCollect(Collection1, JSONResultParse.Run(SharePointForm1.Selected.MultiFiledColumn)) 

Please take a try with above solution, then check if the issue is solved.

Best regards,

[Lam01007]

Hi @yashag2255 , @v-xida-msft ,

Thanks for your help, I can reload the items to data table now, I found the failure root cause, which the data type of each fields in response table did not match to the original Collection, for my case, the Region & Category field should be "Object", rather than "String".

But may I know, the Fx "ClearCollect(Collection1, MyFlow.Run(ThisItem.Items))" should be put in which control & action? such that, I can show the items once user select an items from BrowseGallery

Thanks!

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @Lam01007 ,

You could add the following formula within the OnSelect proeprty of the Gallery:

ClearCollect(Collection1, MyFlow.Run(ThisItem.Items))          

When you click an item from your Gallery, the above formula would be executed.

If you have solved your problem, please go ahead to click "Accept as Solution" to identify this thread as Solved.

Best regards,