Warning while using dynamic column for sorting: "The expression 'varSortColumn' may represent a column that is not part of the data source..."

[MichalBr89]

Hello,

Lately I started receiving a warning on one of variables used for sorting of Gallery items:

"The expression 'varSortColumn' may represent a column that is not part of the data source or has not been downloaded. Consider using the column name directly instead."

I am setting it as Global variable in OnSelect of my "sorting" icon:

I am using as well varSortDirection variable, that is updated according to click on sort icon (SortOrder.Ascending/SortOder.Descending

Afterwards this variables are used in SortByColumns... similiary like this:

SortByColumns(Source, 
varSortColumn,
varSortDirection)

I get the error message but I don't want to use column name directly as I want it to be dynamic. It was working fine, some times ago it has started to throw this warning, should I be worried or it needs to be fixed? App is working fine even after the deployment.

Thanks a lot!

Michal

[v-qiaqi-msft]

Hi @MichalBr89,

It is unstable.
Currently, hard code the column name is the best way to sort by columns.

Power Apps still recogizes the column name as a literal text sting by double quotes, it could not be replaced with a variable or a reference parmater.

Anotehr workaround is also hard code, write a if statement to hard code the corresponding column name based on your variable.

[MichalBr89]

Thanks @v-qiaqi-msft !

I have tried it with just simple IF, however it is again throwing me the warning:

I need to store the column name somewhere but apparently as you mentioned variables won't be working... not sure how to reference the selected column in other way.

What do you mean by unstable? It appears to be working properly for now, so in case I won't have any other option I would prefer to keep it there...

Thanks for any hint.

Michal

[MichalBr89]

Is it possible that above error is causing "Delegation" limit, meaning not all data are listed in Gallery view (App has currently the delegation limit of 500 as per default) unless they are filtered? We have noticed that not all data are there when I am sorting using Sort icons 😞

[EdViegas]

You have to hard-code the entire code inside the 'if' (or 'switch') statement.

If(
  varSortColumn = "some",
  SortByColumns(
    Source, 
    "some",
    varSortDirection
  ),
  varSortColumn = "other",
  SortByColumns(
    Source, 
    "other",
    varSortDirection
  ),
  SortByColumns(
    Source, 
    "default",
    varSortDirection
  )
)

[v-qiaqi-msft · Accepted solution]

HI @MichalBr89,

You have misundertood what I mean....

I mean the hard code is to hard code the whole SortByColumns() function.

I have mentioned that "Power Apps still recogizes the column name as a literal text sting by double quotes, it could not be replaced with a variable or a reference parmater."

You could try @EdViegas 's formula, that's what I mean.

[MichalBr89]

Thank you both, your suggested solution worked and the warning is no longer there 🙂