Setting a variable to blank not working

[SCooke1]

Hi

Having an issue with setting a variable to blank. 

I have an edit form whose fields are populated when I click on an item in a gallery. There is a field within a datacard whose default value was 'Parent.Default' and within that same datacard is a button which when clicked opens a new screen from which the user can make a selection. The 'OnSelect' property of the gallery on that new screen is to set a variable called 'smearT' and then take the user back to the original screen.

The intention is for the field in the datacard to be updated using the selected item using the variable. This works fine - when the record is saved the selected variable is also saved correctly.

I changed the value of the datacard field from Parent.Default to

The intention of this is so that when a user clicks on an item in the gallery and if the 'smearT' variable is blank then it will display the parent.default but if a user is creating a new record and has selected a smearT then that will display instead.

However when the user clicks the 'Add New Record' button, the form blanks all fields except the datacard field which previously displayed the smearT variable. It still shows the smearT variable. Also if the user (after making a selection and adding a new record) clicks on any of the items in the gallery, the field still displays the variable and not the value in the Parent.Default. 

However no matter where I try and set the variable to blank, it doesn't appear to be blank. I've tried on the forms 'OnSuccess' property

I've also tried on the forms 'Accept' button

Again with no luck. To my thinking when the button is clicked the form should be submitted and then the variable set to blank so that when the user clicks the 'new record' button, all fields should be empty ready to accept new input

Obviously my logic is flawed somewhere and would appreciate any guidance or an answer as to what why I'm not seeing the expected result

thanks

PLEASE SEE SOLUTION AT BOTTOM OF PAGE

[Drrickryp]

@SCooke1 

The Set() belongs in the OnSuccess property of the Form being submitted.  You don't want to execute it unless the form is submitted successfully. Make sure that your variable supports a null value in the column you wish to save.

Instead of your If() formula, try Coalesce(smearT, Parent.Default).  This formula will evaluate values in order to find the first non-blank one.  If both values are blank, it will insert a Blank() and convert an empty string to blank.

[StalinPonnusamy]

Hi @SCooke1 

Option 1 - Use OOB functionality

• Set OnSelect of the gallery 

Select(Parent);EditForm(EditForm1);Navigate(EditScreen1, ScreenTransition.None)

• On Edit Screen
• Set the Item property of the form to BrowseGallery1.Selected

New Request: OnSelect of the New Request to

NewForm(EditForm1);Navigate(EditScreen1, ScreenTransition.None)

Keep them Parent.Default for all controls

Option 2: Custom that you are working on it

Set onSelect of New request to

NewForm(EditForm1);Navigate(EditScreen1, ScreenTransition.None,{smearT:Blank()})

[SCooke1 · Accepted solution]

Hi

Unfortunately that didnt work.

On the 'OnSuccess' property of the form I have

I have change the If statement on the datacard field to

I then entered a record - I created a record and the datacard field had the value that had been passed to the 'smearT' variable. I checked the underlying table and it too had the selected value. However when I clicked the 'New Record', all the fields went blank except for the field that still displayed the 'smearT' variable.  When I clicked on an item in the gallery all the fields on the form updated and displayed their respective values except the one that still displayed the 'smearT' variable.

I can only assume that the 'smearT' variable is not being set to blank?

[SCooke1]

thanks for the reply

Option 1:

I get red squiggly line on the 'Select'

Option 2:

I left the fields as Parent.Default. I set the 'OnSelect' property to 

I entered a new record however the item I selected in the screen that opened did not populate the field in the datacard I assume because its being told to display the Parent.default rather than whats in the 'smearT' variable?

[StalinPonnusamy]

Hi @SCooke1

In Option 1, Select(parent) works only if the button/icon is within the gallery-like below

If you like the variable as the precedence then set the default value as

Coalesce(smearT, Parent.Default)

[SCooke1]

Huge kudos to StalinPonnusamy who went above and beyond via PM/Ms Teams to help resolve the problem

The issue was resolved by creating a new variable – the previous variable must be getting set to blank somewhere in the app. I’ll need to go through each screen/control to find out where.

There are two screens A and B. There is a form on screen A which has a field which needs to be populated by a gallery selection from screen B. The onselect property on screen B’s gallery  is set to

This creates a new variable called ‘smearTNew’ and fills it with the selected item from the gallery. It then navigates back to screen A

The value property of the field in screen A is set to

So if the new variable is not blank then display it otherwise it will display the Parent.Default i.e. what was selected in the screen A’s gallery

The onselect on the ‘new record’ button on screen A sets the new variable to blank before opening the form