Add a counter to a column with a button function in PowerApps

[Daemetius]

Hello,

I'm thinking of adding some sort of "+1" button in PowerApps where users see a a list of items and they "+1" the one they like most. This is a counter I need to make, but in order to do so I"m assuming I have to make a calculated column in the Sharepoint Online list that this powerapp is reading from.

What I don't know is if this is possible to make which is the counter column basically where it adds up everytime the "+1" button in PowerApps is pressed. 

Any input on this matter is greatly appreciated, I'm pretty stuck on this part

Thank you!

[v-monli-msft]

Hi @Daemetius,

You can do this using UpdateContext:

About the button control, set its Onselect property to UpdateContext({Test:Value1.Text+1})

About the Text box control, set its Text property to Test.

Value1 is the counter column number. 

More details about PowerApps UpdateContext function, please refer to this article:
https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/tutorials/function-updatecontext/

Regards,

Mona

[Daemetius]

---

@v-monli-msft wrote:

Hi @Daemetius,

You can do this using UpdateContext:

About the button control, set its Onselect property to UpdateContext({Test:Value1.Text+1})

About the Text box control, set its Text property to Test.

Value1 is the counter column number. 

More details about PowerApps UpdateContext function, please refer to this article:
https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/tutorials/function-updatecontext/

Regards,

Mona

---

I have a column called "Likes" in my list. I suppose I would replace Value1 with Likes, correct?

I don't have a textbox as you mention. I have the Likes data card showing. Should I add a text label instead?

Update: Got it to sum up on button press. My question is, is this number counter registered in the Sharepoint list? I want this Likes counter to appear on each record when the user is on the main screen which is the list of suggestions and next to the title the amount of likes. (See screenshot)

The main screen

The amount of likes only shows in the detailed screen shown, but not the main screen above:

Is there a way to show this? 

[bean]

Add a column to the item in your sharepoint called "Likes". Then you could use UpdateIf() when a user presses the +like button. This will then update/increase the like for that item in the Sharepoint list. To display the likes value, probably use LookUp(). If the likes don't update when the button is pressed, just add put ;Refresh(datasource) after the update.

Hope that helps?

Sean

[Daemetius]

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@bean wrote:

Add a column to the item in your sharepoint called "Likes". Then you could use UpdateIf() when a user presses the +like button. This will then update/increase the like for that item in the Sharepoint list. To display the likes value, probably use LookUp(). If the likes don't update when the button is pressed, just add put ;Refresh(datasource) after the update.

Hope that helps?

Sean

---

I had the Likes column created already in my list. The default value is 0 when an item is created.

the updateif isn't working at all. Isn't there a function that can directly alter a sharepoint value in it? 

[bean · Accepted solution]

Hmm.. I'd have thought using UpdateIf would have worked.. I'll re-iterate..

To increase likes on button click:

>Make sure you have added that sharepoint as a datasource

>Create button

   >Set onSelect: UpdateIf( yoursharepoint/datasource, Subject = "TED", {Likes: Likes+1})

After doing this, in theory.. If you press the button, you will see that any entry where the Subject is "TED", then the likes should be 1 higher than before.

To see likes via label:

>Ensure that the sharepoint has been added as a datasource

>Create a label

    >Set the text to: LookUp(yoursharepoint/datasource, Subject = "TED" ,Likes)

If this doesn't help, can you send more screenshots to help show what errors you are getting? If it does work, let me know..

Sean

[bean]

Actually, on the gallery, add a text label and try add this to it's Text: LookUp(yoursharepoint/datasource, Subject = This.Subject ,Likes)

[Daemetius]

---

@bean wrote:

Hmm.. I'd have thought using UpdateIf would have worked.. I'll re-iterate..

To increase likes on button click:

>Make sure you have added that sharepoint as a datasource

>Create button

   >Set onSelect: UpdateIf( yoursharepoint/datasource, Subject = "TED", {Likes: Likes+1})

After doing this, in theory.. If you press the button, you will see that any entry where the Subject is "TED", then the likes should be 1 higher than before.

To see likes via label:

>Ensure that the sharepoint has been added as a datasource

>Create a label

    >Set the text to: LookUp(yoursharepoint/datasource, Subject = "TED" ,Likes)

If this doesn't help, can you send more screenshots to help show what errors you are getting? If it does work, let me know..

Sean

---

It works! Thank you so much! I've yet to try the labels since they show already. But will try it either way!

The only thing I'd like to know is if it's possible to have this Updateif() without the Subect= "TED" as this specified only on one item in the list. Instead is it possible to add that condition based on whatever it is written? Because in the long run when a bunch of users start adding ideas and other people start liking them, it will probably up the likes for the TED record only with this. 

I'm guessing it has to do with passing the values from the Subject textbox in the EditScreen:

 However I'm not familiar with trying to pass values from one screen to another

Is this possible?

Once again, thank you very much!

[bean]

Good to hear.

Yup. You're almost there. You can get the text from the box you type in.

So instead of saying the subject="TED", you can have it as Subject=InputBox1.Text

Passing values from one screen to another is possible. I'd reccomend looking at the Set command. This is basically a global variable - a variable which can be accessed from anywhere in your application(Not screen restricted, like UpdateContext()).

See https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/tutorials/function-set/ and check out the examples. 

Keep at it - you'll be a pro in no time at all.

Sean

[Anonymous]

Hi, 

I have an app for liking/disliking outfits. 

I have LIKES and DISLIKES columns in my excel data. 

I  have buttons for Like and Dislike. 

I want the excel data to be updated when Like button is pressed. I set the onselect property of the button as 

UpdateContext( {LIKESVAR: (LIKESVAR + 1)} ), and default property of like datacard as likesvar+ likes 

However the excel data doesnt get updated. 

Please help me 🙂 

Thanks