cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
ghostwhowalkz
Frequent Visitor

Azure SQL - Edited Dropdown fields via Submit Form not showing in Powerapps for 10mins

Hi all,

 

I have an issue within my Azure SQL based Powerapp. The database comprises of a variety of tables, with various relationships, eg. accounts, work sites, products, work orders, etc. The app UI is mainly through galleries and detailed views of selected items, which then allows editing via forms, uploading of photos/files, etc.

 

Out of the many SQL tables whose records are created / edited using forms, my issue lies only with one (Products table), and only when submitting a change to a dropdown field (related Site Name field via ID for the Sites table). The form is submitted in the edit view, and navigates back to the detailed view, however there is no visible change to that dropdown field. Going back to the gallery / list view, and the change is still not shown. A check on the SQL database shows that the record has indeed been successfully edited, and is showing the correct ID / value, but the change is not reflected in powerapps. I have found that despite all navigation, clicking, going back and forth etc, it won't show until some random time close to 10 mins has passed.

 

I have experimented with writing a forced refresh of that table upon SubmitForm, and also on the OnVisible property of the prior screens just in case. Still no luck.

This makes it really hard to have team members do reliable data entry. As mentioned, there is absolutely nothing different between this table / form editing method and all of my other ones, and they all display changes very quickly. I was looking at the Patch function as a replacement for SubmitForm, but why would the other tables work without any issues??

 

In the recent past I had to re-code all of my old Combo boxes into DropDowns because Powerapps just wouldn't reliably write the ID / value's to SQL or display the lists correctly while inputting. Hopefully it's a relatively simple fix, rather than another re-write.... 

 

Any ideas?

6 REPLIES 6
v-yuxima-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @ghostwhowalkz 

 

Could you please share more details of your controls and their formula expressions in your app?

Could you please share more details of your data source structure and the columns in your table?

Could you please share the scrrenshot of your issue?

Do you mean after you submit data the new data cannot show in the Gallery?

Do you try to add one Refresh Icon, and Icon.OnSelect=Refresh(datasourceName) to test?

 

Best Regards.

Yumia

Hi Yumia -  @v-yuxima-msft 

 

Thanks for the reply, I will try to address all of your points. As mentioned in the post, my datasource is comprised of numerous related tables, via an Azure SQL database. Some examples of tables are 'Accounts', 'Sites', 'InstalledProducts', 'WorkOrders', etc. The specific table that is causing me grief is 'InstalledProducts', or refered in the UI as Products.

 

Installed Products has the following structure:

 

Annotation 2019-07-24 120031.png

 

The controls that are causing issues are the dropdown boxes that are looking to a related table via ID's, displaying the values (in this case, text so that a user can make search and make a choice, ID's aren't helpful at all), and then writing the associated ID back to the table for that field. I have spent considerable time in both practice and research to finetune my formulas to this point so the dropdown lookups work great with all of the other tables in my app (thanks to some of the amazing guys on YouTube & online like Shane Young, Paul O'Flaherty). Below are the screenshots of both the data card and control formulas that are relevant:

 

Dropdown control fomulasDropdown control fomulasDatacard formulasDatacard formulas

 

I've attached a few chronological screenshots to show the issue, with explanatory notes for each:

 

The Product List view, w/gallery and form view of basic details for selected record (selection is highlighted)The Product List view, w/gallery and form view of basic details for selected record (selection is highlighted)The selected record in detailed view (Form.mode=View). In this case, I wish to edit the record and selected a Site name and region.The selected record in detailed view (Form.mode=View). In this case, I wish to edit the record and selected a Site name and region.Edit screen for the selected record. You can see that Site Name's are visible in the dropdown control (via Site ID lookup in related table, dbo.'Sites'). The Region dropdown box is the same.Edit screen for the selected record. You can see that Site Name's are visible in the dropdown control (via Site ID lookup in related table, dbo.'Sites'). The Region dropdown box is the same.Selections have been made in both dropdown boxes, and ready to SubmitForm, and send changes to SQL table.Selections have been made in both dropdown boxes, and ready to SubmitForm, and send changes to SQL table.SubmitForm completed, Refresh of dbo.'InstalledProducts' has been done as part of the save process, and navigated back to detailed view of the record. SQL Server Management Studio shows that the changes are visible in the SQL database (ID's have been correctly written to those columns, so formulas are correct) however screen does not reflect the change for the dropdown / lookup fieldsSubmitForm completed, Refresh of dbo.'InstalledProducts' has been done as part of the save process, and navigated back to detailed view of the record. SQL Server Management Studio shows that the changes are visible in the SQL database (ID's have been correctly written to those columns, so formulas are correct) however screen does not reflect the change for the dropdown / lookup fieldsNavigating back to List view, OnVisible property now forces a Refresh of dbo.'InstalledProducts' table, as well as a Refresh button is available. Still no changes displayed for those two fields. Sometimes it takes 10 - 20 mins for it to pop up, sometimes a logout is required before it appearsNavigating back to List view, OnVisible property now forces a Refresh of dbo.'InstalledProducts' table, as well as a Refresh button is available. Still no changes displayed for those two fields. Sometimes it takes 10 - 20 mins for it to pop up, sometimes a logout is required before it appears

 

 

So, in summary: Dropdown controls are correctly looking to related tables via ID's and displaying the values (names), so that users can make suitable choices. I believe that the controls are formulated correctly so that the ID's are being written to the table (InstalledProducts) upon the SubmitForm function being called, evidenced by the fact the changes are being shown for that record in the SQL database (observed in SQL Server Management Studio). Despite refreshes being coded into the screen navigation & save functions, and even a button for manual refresh, PowerApps will not show the changes to the dropdown fields for an indeterminate amount of time, sometimes requiring a reboot/logout.

 

The exact same formulas are being used in other tables, and there are NO issues, changes are reflected almost immediately. Any edits to a record in InstalledProducts that is not a dropdown box control, is displayed almost immediately post save. 

 

Thanks again for any help. This issue has been bugging me for a while, and it is really creating issues down the line for our users.

@v-yuxima-msft  - Any ideas?? I would love to know if any one else is having similar issues with certain connections to SQL, or Azure SQL specifically. Combo boxes are hopeless with writing ID's back to SQL, I hope Microsoft have some ideas on how to salvage dropdown boxes at least

I'm doing the exact same thing you are and not having any problems.  I have a lot of lookup tables (20+).  I use numerous dropdowns and comboboxs.  For the galleries and details screen I use views.  I use collections based on a view whenever possible.   For all look up tables I create collections on startup.  The lookup tables rarely  change.   I use collections based on views for comboboxes since they are dynamic.  So far I have had no problem.  I'm currently using an on-premise SQL Server for development.  I plan to use Azure SQL DB.  I used SQL Server Profiler for many days measuring performance and debugging problems.  I set multiselect to false on all comboboxes.  I use this to get id from combobox to write to table:

Last(CounterpartyPrincipalCB.SelectedItems).ContactID

Since I use views for collections I need to refresh view when I add/delete a record then I refresh collection.

 

Refresh('[dbo].[ContactVGA]');
ClearCollect(
    colContactVGA,
    '[dbo].[ContactVGA]'
);

@mogulman 

Thanks so much for the reply. I'm doing some work to implement your suggestion, and see how it goes. I'm currently using forms to save edits to the SQL tables. Are you using similar, or utilising the Patch function? If so, could you give any guidance or examples for the best way / method of using patch to add / edit a record?

 

Cheers

I would avoid using patch to add records.   SQL connector performs numerous checks on db when adding a record.  I used SQL Profiler to study this and was very surprised.  You need to define all non-null fields.  I do use Patch in one isolated case to mark a task completed that is listed in a gallery. 

Helpful resources

Announcements

Exclusive LIVE Community Event: Power Apps Copilot Coffee Chat with Copilot Studio Product Team

  It's time for the SECOND Power Apps Copilot Coffee Chat featuring the Copilot Studio product team, which will be held LIVE on April 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).     This is an incredible opportunity to connect with members of the Copilot Studio product team and ask them anything about Copilot Studio. We'll share our special guests with you shortly--but we want to encourage to mark your calendars now because you will not want to miss the conversation.   This live event will give you the unique opportunity to learn more about Copilot Studio plans, where we’ll focus, and get insight into upcoming features. We’re looking forward to hearing from the community, so bring your questions!   TO GET ACCESS TO THIS EXCLUSIVE AMA: Kudo this post to reserve your spot! Reserve your spot now by kudoing this post.  Reservations will be prioritized on when your kudo for the post comes through, so don't wait! Click that "kudo button" today.   Invitations will be sent on April 2nd.Users posting Kudos after April 2nd. at 9AM PDT may not receive an invitation but will be able to view the session online after conclusion of the event. Give your "kudo" today and mark your calendars for April 3rd, 2024 at 9:30 AM PDT and join us for an engaging and informative session!

Tuesday Tip: Unlocking Community Achievements and Earning Badges

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!     THIS WEEK'S TIP: Unlocking Achievements and Earning BadgesAcross the Communities, you'll see badges on users profile that recognize and reward their engagement and contributions. These badges each signify a different achievement--and all of those achievements are available to any Community member! If you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, you too can earn badges for the great work you do. Check out some details on Community badges below--and find out more in the detailed link at the end of the article!       A Diverse Range of Badges to Collect The badges you can earn in the Community cover a wide array of activities, including: Kudos Received: Acknowledges the number of times a user’s post has been appreciated with a “Kudo.”Kudos Given: Highlights the user’s generosity in recognizing others’ contributions.Topics Created: Tracks the number of discussions initiated by a user.Solutions Provided: Celebrates the instances where a user’s response is marked as the correct solution.Reply: Counts the number of times a user has engaged with community discussions.Blog Contributor: Honors those who contribute valuable content and are invited to write for the community blog.       A Community Evolving Together Badges are not only a great way to recognize outstanding contributions of our amazing Community members--they are also a way to continue fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. As you continue to share your knowledge and assist each other these badges serve as a visual representation of your valuable contributions.   Find out more about badges in these Community Support pages in each Community: All About Community Badges - Power Apps CommunityAll About Community Badges - Power Automate CommunityAll About Community Badges - Copilot Studio CommunityAll About Community Badges - Power Pages Community

Tuesday Tips: Powering Up Your Community Profile

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!   This Week's Tip: Power Up Your Profile!  🚀 It's where every Community member gets their start, and it's essential that you keep it updated! Your Community User Profile is how you're able to get messages, post solutions, ask questions--and as you rank up, it's where your badges will appear and how you'll be known when you start blogging in the Community Blog. Your Community User Profile is how the Community knows you--so it's essential that it works the way you need it to! From changing your username to updating contact information, this Knowledge Base Article is your best resource for powering up your profile.     Password Puzzles? No Problem! Find out how to sync your Azure AD password with your community account, ensuring a seamless sign-in. No separate passwords to remember! Job Jumps & Email Swaps Changed jobs? Got a new email? Fear not! You'll find out how to link your shiny new email to your existing community account, keeping your contributions and connections intact. Username Uncertainties Unraveled Picking the perfect username is crucial--and sometimes the original choice you signed up with doesn't fit as well as you may have thought. There's a quick way to request an update here--but remember, your username is your community identity, so choose wisely. "Need Admin Approval" Warning Window? If you see this error message while using the community, don't worry. A simple process will help you get where you need to go. If you still need assistance, find out how to contact your Community Support team. Whatever you're looking for, when it comes to your profile, the Community Account Support Knowledge Base article is your treasure trove of tips as you navigate the nuances of your Community Profile. It’s the ultimate resource for keeping your digital identity in tip-top shape while engaging with the Power Platform Community. So, dive in and power up your profile today!  💪🚀   Community Account Support | Power Apps Community Account Support | Power AutomateCommunity Account Support | Copilot Studio  Community Account Support | Power Pages

Super User of the Month | Chris Piasecki

In our 2nd installment of this new ongoing feature in the Community, we're thrilled to announce that Chris Piasecki is our Super User of the Month for March 2024. If you've been in the Community for a while, we're sure you've seen a comment or marked one of Chris' helpful tips as a solution--he's been a Super User for SEVEN consecutive seasons!       Since authoring his first reply in April 2020 to his most recent achievement organizing the Canadian Power Platform Summit this month, Chris has helped countless Community members with his insights and expertise. In addition to being a Super User, Chris is also a User Group leader, Microsoft MVP, and a featured speaker at the Microsoft Power Platform Conference. His contributions to the new SUIT program, along with his joyous personality and willingness to jump in and help so many members has made Chris a fixture in the Power Platform Community.   When Chris isn't authoring solutions or organizing events, he's actively leading Piasecki Consulting, specializing in solution architecture, integration, DevOps, and more--helping clients discover how to strategize and implement Microsoft's technology platforms. We are grateful for Chris' insightful help in the Community and look forward to even more amazing milestones as he continues to assist so many with his great tips, solutions--always with a smile and a great sense of humor.You can find Chris in the Community and on LinkedIn. Thanks for being such a SUPER user, Chris! 💪🌠

Tuesday Tips: Community Ranks and YOU

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!This Week: Community Ranks--Moving from "Member" to "Community Champion"   Have you ever wondered how your fellow community members ascend the ranks within our community? What sets apart an Advocate from a Helper, or a Solution Sage from a Community Champion? In today’s #TuesdayTip, we’re unveiling the secrets and sharing tips to help YOU elevate your ranking—and why it matters to our vibrant communities. Community ranks serve as a window into a member’s role and activity. They celebrate your accomplishments and reveal whether someone has been actively contributing and assisting others. For instance, a Super User is someone who has been exceptionally helpful and engaged. Some ranks even come with special permissions, especially those related to community management. As you actively participate—whether by creating new topics, providing solutions, or earning kudos—your rank can climb. Each time you achieve a new rank, you’ll receive an email notification. Look out for the icon and rank name displayed next to your username—it’s a badge of honor! Fun fact: Your Community Engagement Team keeps an eye on these ranks, recognizing the most passionate and active community members. So shine brightly with valuable content, and you might just earn well-deserved recognition! Where can you see someone’s rank? When viewing a post, you’ll find a member’s rank to the left of their name.Click on a username to explore their profile, where their rank is prominently displayed. What about the ranks themselves? New members start as New Members, progressing to Regular Visitors, and then Frequent Visitors.Beyond that, we have a categorized system: Kudo Ranks: Earned through kudos (teal icons).Post Ranks: Based on your posts (purple icons).Solution Ranks: Reflecting your solutions (green icons).Combo Ranks: These orange icons combine kudos, solutions, and posts. The top ranks have unique names, making your journey even more exciting! So dive in, collect those kudos, share solutions, and let’s see how high you can rank! 🌟 🚀   Check out the Using the Community boards in each of the communities for more helpful information!  Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio & Power Pages

Find Out What Makes Super Users So Super

We know many of you visit the Power Platform Communities to ask questions and receive answers. But do you know that many of our best answers and solutions come from Community members who are super active, helping anyone who needs a little help getting unstuck with Business Applications products? We call these dedicated Community members Super Users because they are the real heroes in the Community, willing to jump in whenever they can to help! Maybe you've encountered them yourself and they've solved some of your biggest questions. Have you ever wondered, "Why?"We interviewed several of our Super Users to understand what drives them to help in the Community--and discover the difference it has made in their lives as well! Take a look in our gallery today: What Motivates a Super User? - Power Platform Community (microsoft.com)

Top Solution Authors
Top Kudoed Authors
Users online (6,581)