Update a field with a variable using Patch not working

[jms345]

I have a main gallery screen showing name and Status of Application (in this example, "New":

On clicking EDIT, I set a variable varRecord and navigate to the first processing screen: 

 Set(varRecord,ThisItem);Select(Parent);Navigate(Process); EditForm(Form1)

The Process screen shows all record details from my Sharepoint List in Form1, along with a COMMIT CHANGES button to allow edited changes to be saved:

SubmitForm(Form1)

So far so good!  However, as the process goes on, I want to use a dropdown to choose the different stages (New, Invitation, Offer, Confirmed).  On the same screen, I added the dropdown and tried writing these to a variable on CHANGE in the dropdown:

Set(varStatus,Dropdown2.Selected.Name)

and then have Form1's Status field updated by using PATCH: 

Patch(varRecord, {Status:varStatus})

but it doesn't work.

Note: The different screens from the navigation dropdown (Invitation, Offer etc.) each shows an HTMLbox with different letters to send out, so the varStatus variable should be updated on a button from each of these screens.

(Originally I had Status field in my list as a CHOICE field, but it seemed that the SUBMITFORM command would update Text fields, but not CHOICE fields, so I converted the LIST settings to make it a text field.)

Can anyone give me ideas how to get past this blocker?  Many thanks in advance.

[jms345]

Sorry - I assumed that the "on Change" would perform the update.  I have just tried using your code and clicking SUBMIT  - SubmitForm(Form1) - and the dots move as if it is updating but the dropdown and field immediately go blank.  I have nowhere reset the variable - it is as if the submit is clearing it??  Thanks for your help.

[jms345]

For extra info, I added a label to show the variables:  on first moving to the process screen:

After changing the dropdown in Form1:

After changing the dropdown in Form1:

Sharepoint update:

[WarrenBelz]

@jms345 ,

I assumed the Variable had nothing to do with the SubmitForm - you asked how to update a Record Variable. If the Item of your Form is varRecord, you are going about this the wrong way - you need to simply change the value of the control on the form containing the field and then submit the Form.

[jms345]

Thanks - the ITEM of the form is GALLERY.SELECTED.   GALLERY.SELECTED.STATUS shows the list value.

The combobox in FORM1 for STATUS is DATACARDVALUE3.

* I tried having the ON CHANGE event in the combobox set to DATACARDVALUE3.SELECTED.VALUE, also tried leaving it as FALSE.

If I change the combo choice, a text label correctly shows the new DATACARDVALUE3.SELECTED.VALUE

When I click SUBMITFORM(FORM1), in both the above cases (*) the combobox prompt changes to "Find Items" and the sharepoint list field is wiped clean.  I am sorry if I am being dense following your guidance.

[WarrenBelz]

@jms345 ,

Your original question was this

Set(varStatus,Dropdown2.Selected.Name)

and then have Form1's Status field updated by using PATCH: 

Patch(varRecord, {Status:varStatus})

but it doesn't work.

So firstly, is this now solved ? 

The SubmitForm is unrelated to this and you also seem to have a Combo Box in the mix. You can try the Form Item as 

LookUp(
   SPListName,
   ID = Gallery.Selected.ID
) 

and ensure the DataSource is the correct list name, but other than that from what you have posted, SubmitForm() simply should work.

[jms345]

The dropdown on the screen was not working: it wiped the STATUS field in the sharepoint list on PATCH.

I have since tried using the combobox that is actually in the form:

I added a button: Patch(Gallery1.Selected.Status, {Status:varStatus}) which doesn't appear to do anything and the list record doesn't change.

And then after resetting field value,  I tried using SUBMITFORM(Form1) - this wipes the STATUS field in the combobox and sharepoint list.

Thanks again for your patience - 

[WarrenBelz]

@jms345 ,

Sorry, but we are going in circles here - I provided a structure to update varStatus and tested it here successfully - the question you asked was

On the same screen, I added the dropdown and tried writing these to a variable on CHANGE in the dropdown:

Set(varStatus,Dropdown2.Selected.Name)

and then have Form1's Status field updated by using PATCH: 

Patch(varRecord, {Status:varStatus})

but it doesn't work.

Note: The different screens from the navigation dropdown (Invitation, Offer etc.) each shows an HTMLbox with different letters to send out, so the varStatus variable should be updated on a button from each of these screens.

(Originally I had Status field in my list as a CHOICE field, but it seemed that the SUBMITFORM command would update Text fields, but not CHOICE fields, so I converted the LIST settings to make it a text field.)

Can anyone give me ideas how to get past this blocker?  Many thanks in advance.

Is this now solved ?

I also gave you a couple of things to look at on the Form, but this is a separate issue and what you are experiencing should have nothing to do with this Variable

[jms345 · Accepted solution]

I have eventually got this working - thanks to all who guided, but the final penny-drop was 

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Power-Apps/Patch-with-drop-down-not-working/td-p/523617...

who explained that a Choice field in the sp list could not be updated in the way I was trying.

I removed the combobox from the form and replaced it with a text label, property Gallery1.Selected.Status.Value, and had a dropdown "FormStatus" outside the form with an ITEMS property of Choices('School Application Form'.Status).  My Update button is Patch('School Application Form',varRecord, {Status:FormStatus.Selected})  - it may not be the correct way to do this but unless anyone can help improve it I will stick with it!