Attachment field isn't saving to SP list using Patch

[RMD211]

Hello! 

I'm wondering if someone can help me with an attachments issue in a Power App I've built.

I have a Form split across 9 screens.  I have a button labelled 'Save as Draft' on each one which uses the Patch formula to save all the sections as one line in the SP list.

Patch('Information',
Defaults('Information'),
Section1.Updates,
Section2.Updates,
Section3.Updates,
Section4.Updates,
Section5.Updates,
Section6.Updates,
Section7.Updates,
Section8T.Updates,
Section81.Updates,
Section82.Updates,
Section83.Updates,
Section9.Updates)

The first problem I have is the attachment field is not on Section9, so it's not saving my files. 

The second problem I have is my attachment field exists on both Section8T and Section 83 - users will only add attachments to one of them (it depends on their previous choices which they see) so I cannot make either of them the last screen to Patch as it's determined by the user.

Any ideas how to save the files?  Or is my only option to create another screen that has the one attachment field (and show/hide the appropriate title based on the user choices) and make it the last argument in Patch???

[BCBuizer]

Hi @RMD211 ,

I suggest to use logic and the form Unsaved property. With that you can exclude and forms that don't have any changes in them:

Patch('Fieldwork Safety Information',
Defaults('Fieldwork Safety Information'),
Section1.Updates,
Section2.Updates,
Section3.Updates,
Section4.Updates,
Section5.Updates,
Section6.Updates,
Section7.Updates,
If(Section8T.Unsaved, Section8T.Updates),
If(Section81.Unsaved, Section81.Updates),
If(Section82.Unsaved, Section82.Updates),
If(Section83.Unsaved, Section83.Updates),
Section9.Updates)

However, this will only work if you don't have have any fields that are automatically updating.

If you do have automatically updating fields, you may want to use a variable to capture the user selection and reference that from your Patch statement to only update the relevant sections.

[RMD211]

I'm not sure what you mean by automatically updating but it doesn't quite work for me.

I've put the formula above on my button but it doesn't save my attachments, I've tested it on each section to see if it was due to me not pressing the button on the section the attachment field is on but no luck.

[BCBuizer]

Hi @RMD211 ,

By automatically updating I mean referencing a DataCardValue in another form control for the Default property.

Can you please describe what you tested and what the expected outcome is?

I performed some tests and all works fine:

I have two identical forms, showing the same Item. When adding an attachment to one of the forms, after clicking the button, a single new item is created with the expected value and with an attachment.

The code for my button is:

Patch(Test,Defaults(Test),If(Form6.Unsaved,Form6.Updates),If(Form7.Unsaved, Form7.Updates))

[RMD211]

Ah, I do have some fields that are defaulted based on user choices - would that be the reason? I also have some radio button fields that update their choice counterpart on the SP list.  I copied my formula exactly as you suggested.

[BCBuizer]

Hi @RMD211 ,

Automatic changes will trigger the form's UnSaved property which can then not be used, so that may indeed be the cause of this not working.

In that case you will need to reference the control values that determine which forms to upload. Let's say you have a radio button (in Form0) with 3 options, depending on which either Form1, Form2 or Form3 needs to be uploaded. The OnSelect property for the button will look like this:

Patch(
	Test,
	Defaults(Test),
	Form0.Updates,
	Switch(
		Radio1.Selected.Value,
		"Option 1", Form1.Updates,
		"Option 2", Form2.Updates,
		"Option 3", Form3,Updates
	),
	Form4.Updates
)

[RMD211]

Thanks!!

I'm probably not explaining exactly what I want to happen - the radio button choices don't dictate what will patch - whenever my 'Save as Draft' button is pressed, all sections need to be patched (as the user can go back and forth between all sections before pressing it) and ideally save whatever attachments they have added.

So I tried your Switch above like this, but no joy!

Patch('Information',
Defaults('Information'),
Section1.Updates,
Section2.Updates,
Section3.Updates,
Section4.Updates,
Section5.Updates,
Section6.Updates,
Switch(TypeRadioButtons.Selected.Value,"1",Section7.Updates,"2",Section7.Updates),
Switch(YesorNoRadioButton.Selected.Value,"Yes",Section8.Updates,"No",Section8.Updates),
Switch(YesNoButton.Selected.Value,"Yes",Section81.Updates,"No",Section81.Updates),
Section82.Updates,
Section83.Updates,
Section9.Updates)

It might be that it's too complicated to do within Power Apps and Power Automate might be the way forward??

[RMD211 · Accepted solution]

Resolved by updating formula to this:

...

If(
Section8RDetails.Unsaved,
Section8RDetails.Updates
),
...