Can't Create Submit Button for Form

[sarahpoulin]

In my app, I add a form, I connect it to my Sharepoint library with the metadata (columns) that I want, and then add each field that I want to be fill-able. I add a clear button with ResetForm(Form1);NewForm(Form1) in OnSelect. For my Submit button, in OnSelect, I add Submit(Form1);NewForm(Form1). But for the Submit button, I get the error Invocation of unknown or unsupported function. I don't understand what this means, or how to fix it. I want to create a fill-able form app where it will fill in a word doc template and trigger Power Automate to make a pdf and other things. But I'm having a hard time finding step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

[sarahpoulin]

I deleted everything (my site, Sharepoint library, the app, etc), and started from scratch again, and took screenshots of each step.

Here are my columns/metadata in my Sharepoint library (not list):

After I add my data source, I have to edit the Item and write Defaults(MyForm), because if I don't...

Then I get "No item to display" even if I have fields already in the form. It's just blank. No fields to write anything into.

I also fill in the Data Source:

I add the fields:

I add my Clear button:

I add my Submit button:

I run a test by clicking on the little preview play button, filling in text in the field, and clicking submit:

Here is another screenshot of the error:

I've watched numerous videos and tried following tutorials and stuff, but nobody really explains what exactly I'm submitting TO. Like, where is the data in the text field supposed to go? What I really want is for it to insert content control in a doc template as shown in this tutorial: https://masteroffice365.com/booking-form-leveraging-powerapps-microsoft-word/ but the tutorial does not show how to make the app or the Sharepoint library. I am having a hard time finding info on this.

[RandyHayes]

@sarahpoulin 

Ah ha...I see right away that you are working with a Document Library (as you stated) that has Content Types associated with it.

PowerApps does not do well with Content Types.

Do you need to use them? It works fine with a regular document library (no content types specified).  

On review of the solution you are trying to duplicate, realize that they are not using content types.  They are using a straight list in SharePoint to create their metadata records.  When a record is created in that list, it triggers a Flow to copy the Template into the Doc library and then add the Metadata to the item to automatically populate the Word document.  Then they convert to PDF.

So, if you can skip the Content Types, you should get a better start on this.

EDIT: Just to be clear though, you can use content types on Lists in general.  I believe the issue comes with Document Libraries with them.  It's been a little while since I tried to do that same thing you are trying.  I recall the struggle and eventually just went with the PlumSail connector in PowerApps to generate documents. 

[sarahpoulin]

Thank you. I deleted my Document Library and created a List instead, and followed the exact same steps I outlined in my previous comment. When I clicked submit, I could see my submission under the columns in my Sharepoint List. But now the question is, how do I find the metadata in my document template? Previously, when I created a Document Library (not list), and I'd open the XML pane in Word (under Developer tab), I could choose http:/schemas.microsoft.com/office/2006/metadata/properties from the dropdown and see my metadata (columns) I created. I assumed that it was because I uploaded my document template to my Document Library and opened it there. But I can't upload my template to a List. I tried just uploading my template to my Documents folder in Sharepoint, but when I open the XML pane and http:/schemas.microsoft.com/office/2006/metadata/properties I don't see my metadata. How do I get my metadata in my template? I'm just having a hard time visualizing how this will work.

[RandyHayes]

@sarahpoulin 

If you're trying to follow the steps in the link you sent me, those are not the steps.  They created a plain list, then had flow handle the rest.

However, you can use a Document Library, you just can't enable Content Types in it.  You can specify a template for it if needed.

But I believe you are going in a different direction than the instructions in your link.  You might want to stick to them for the moment until you get a handle on what is happening with it.

[sarahpoulin · Accepted solution]

I'm not set on trying to do it a certain way. I am trying to follow the steps, but getting confused. I see here that I do, indeed, have to create a Sharepoint List (not library):

The demo saves new bookings to a List in SharePoint which is in essence no more than a temporary “staging” container for the booking information that is easy to save to from Power Apps. As soon as a new bookings is saved to this list, a Flow triggers to generate the actual document which is saved to a document library, following which the list item created in PowerApps is then deleted in the Flow.

---

But then, under How to build the Word document template, it says "Once you have created the SharePoint Document Library (including the metadata fields)"... so then that means I DO have to create a Sharepoint Library. It appears that I must create both, I guess with matching metadata (column) names. I have to upload a document in the Sharepoint Library (my template), and yes, I do need content controls, as the tutorial specifies (under XML mapping): "Replace form fields with Content Controls".

So anyways, I created a Document Library as well and added Entry 1, Entry2, and Entry 3, and was able to find that metadata for content control in my template. And then I adjusted my flow, and was able to successfully trigger it with my PowerApp where it sends what I add in each field to my Sharepoint List. Beyond that, I'm getting errors in Copy File as it doesn't want the destination folder to be the same as the source, but whatever, I'll just fiddle around with it and hopefully get it working.

But I think things are generally clearer now than before, and that the answer is that I need to create both a List AND a Document Library, but call on the List (not Library) in my PowerApp.

[sarahpoulin]

I replied, but it looks like my reply was deleted? Weird...

It turns out that I appear to need to create both a Sharepoint List AND a Sharepoint Document Library. The List is what I use to add the data and fields in PowerApps, and when I submit something from those fields, then the data gets added under the column headings in my Sharepoint List. And then this triggers a flow, which then uses the Document (template?) I upload to the Sharepoint Document Library, and the document template must have the Content Controls.

I was able to successfully submit the data in the fields, and the data showed up in my Sharepoints List. And that triggered a flow. There are some errors in my flow, but I suppose that this thread is resolved (so long as I am correct in that I need a List and a Document Library simultaneously, but the List is what is used in PowerApps). Also, apparently I needed to activate the SharePoint Document ID feature in the site collection features.

Can you clarify, "However, you can use a Document Library, you just can't enable Content Types in it.  You can specify a template for it if needed." What do you mean I can specify a template?

[RandyHayes]

@sarahpoulin 

Yes, I believe you are on the right track now if you are following those directions in your link.

In my statement about the Document libraries - it was directed at using Document Libraries in PowerApps.  Yes, you can use those libraries and interact with them just fine.  The trouble comes when you enable content types in them.  And, in general, you can still add a Document Template to a document library, but it's pretty much worthless from a PowerApps standpoint.

[Michael_Shen_JT]

@sarahpoulin @RandyHayes 

I understand the purpose of this blog is to create a pdf/word file with the data collected from powerapps.

https://masteroffice365.com/booking-form-leveraging-powerapps-microsoft-word/

The magic is fill the word with sharepoint document library field value? I can't understand how it was achieved, but I can share another way to do that.

In flow, we have a built-in action called "populate-a-microsoft-word-template", it will create a new word file with the input data & template.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/wordonlinebusiness

The logic will be similar, save data into sharepoint list from powerapps.

Then the flow triggers, fill the template and create a word.

In that way, we don't need create meta fields in sharepoint document libary.

[sarahpoulin]

The method that you described is exactly what I was going to do originally... until I saw that it was a premium connector and that I have to pay to get it. So, nope. I searched for another method and came across the blog I shared.