Two Entry Points for the Same Canvas App Form - Pass multiple parameters into a form from a SharePoint site

[CindyZ]

I currently have a form that has fields auto-populated from a variable that is set when the user selects a specific record from a gallery. Works great!  Those fields are an organization name, an email address and a related abbreviation.  They are blacked out below. 

I'd like to use this very same form where the starting point is from a Sharepoint site that has a button to navigate someone into this form and have the same fields be auto-populated.  The button click would set the parameters -- I suppose.    The user would not be making their own selection from within a gallery.  

My current formula in the first field is: 

If(frmBERGInterest.Mode = FormMode.New,varGalOrgs.'Chapter Name',Parent.Default). 

In summary, the varGalOrgs is currently set and coming from when a user clicks a button from within a gallery within the app.  What I want to accomplish is the same auto-populate but I want to come from outside the app.  

Can anyone provide some guidance on how I can do that?  I am able to pull a record ID from a list that will provide the content for the form but don't understand how/if I can set two different sources of content for the same field.

I feel like in run into this often and I'm stumped by this: The ability to use a form but start from multiple locations.  

Thanks so much for your help and consideration. 

[Drrickryp]

@CindyZ 

A form requires that the DataSource and the Item property match exactly.  You can set a variable from different sources that contain the foreign key that is from the datasource of the form.  Say set the variable as follows: Set(varID, ThisItem.ID) in the different sources where that particular record is selected. Then in the form set the Item property to Lookup(datasource, ID=varID).  The form will then work no matter which source the selected record comes from. 

[CindyZ]

@Drrickryp Thanks so very much for the reply and the very clear and simple explanation.  I've been working on this since I got your answer yesterday and I'm still stumped. 

I'm trying to pass a record variable from a button on a Sharepoint site to populate only two fields on a form that has many other fields.  For some reason, I can't seem to get the variable to pass into the PowerApp.  

This is on the button which opens the app and you can see the record number I'm trying to pull in the URL. It opens the form just fine.

https://apps.powerapps.com/play/c3419515-3ec8-4ea5-bfb7-f3ca3f9101da?tenantId(removed)?varOrgID=1353

This is what is in my OnStart of the App:

Set(BRGID,Value(Param("varOrgID")));
If(BRGID <> 0, Set(varBRG,LookUp('ERG Organizations',ID = BRGID))))

This is in the Default value property of the text input box.
If(frmBERGInterest.Mode = FormMode.New,varBRG.'Chapter Name',Parent.Default)

If I put a label on the form that says varBRG.ID, it returns blank. 

As you explained my form does have the same Item and Data Source properties so we're good there.  

The fields I want to have pre-populated as I create the new form are coming from another datasource.  It works fine if I'm selecting from a gallery.  But does not seem to work when I'm creating a new record and starting from a SharePoint page (button). 

I feel like I'm missing something really obvious or it is not capable of doing what I want since I am creating a new record on entry into the app. 

I did have it set onStart as a Newform but then changed it to Editform but that did not seem to make a difference. 

Any other thoughts I want I'm missing?  

Thanks so much for your very kind consideration and attention to this!   

[Drrickryp]

@CindyZ 

To set a value on a form in New mode but to use a pre-existing value if the form is in Edit mode, I like to use the Coalesce() function in the Default property of the control in question.  So lets take a simple example of the TextBox control inside a card.  Since the Parent.Default is blank in New mode,  you can put as the default property of the textbox, Coalesce(Parent.Default,"Your father's mustache").  When the form is in Edit mode, the Parent.Default will be in the Textbox and when it is in NewMode, it will refer to facial hair on your dad. 

[CindyZ]

Thanks for the explanation on Coalesce.  I've seen it, but never explored how it can help me; this will be the trigger to do that. 

I still don't understand why it appears that my variable is not passing into the app. 

Also, in this case, there would not be a pre-existing value since I'd just be creating the new record.  The URL is providing the record ID from another source (SharePoint list) as I'm coming into the app from the button on the SharePoint page.  I'd like it to look up the other source record and insert the chapter name and number that matches the record ID that was passed in the parameter.  Then the rest of the fields would be filled out by the user and submitted when the form is completely filled out. 

The use case is that I have multiple SharePoint sites; each for a different organization.  I'm trying to pass the identifying information related to that site into the form so that the user does not have to search for or lookup up the organization they were previously visiting in SharePoint.   All of the site identifying information is is that "other" Sharepoint list to which I'm trying to Lookup which is the ID. 

I hope that helps. Sorry to keep coming back, but I've exhausted all I know to do. 

[CindyZ]

@Drrickryp Making some slow progress here...but progress, nevertheless.  So, I'm confused about something and having trouble with it.  

When I add my DataSource to my form it accepts it perfectly fine.  It is a SharePoint list. However, when I try to add that same DataSource in Item, I get this message along with the dreaded red squiggly... Expected a record value.  

This form feeds the SharePoint list of people who've expressed an interest in an organization, but I'm prefilling a number of fields with the variable you've suggested and it is working perfectly.  

If(frmBERGInterest.Mode = FormMode.New,LookUp('B-E-RG Organizations',ID = varID).'Chapter Name')

All the other fields the user will fill and when completed will Submit the form data -- to include the prefilled fields to my SharePoint list. 

Any thoughts how to get around that error and/or what I'm missing.  

Thanks again.