Combine 2 fields and insert the result into another field when the record is saved

[AHCSWildFrog]

Hello

I am an Microsoft Access developer who is trying to wrap my head around some power app functionality, or lack there of, and need to be able to take 2 user entry data fields and concatenate them together and then insert that data into another field when the user hits the save button and causes the onsave action. Coming from Access I know that this should work the way I need but I am having issues with understanding a few things about how to get this to work in power apps.

First, is there a particular library that I need to connect to the form for the events? I was expecting a huge list similar to the one that Access has for all its objects but all I see are onsave and onload for the form, onchange for the fields and ontabstatechange for the tabs. Is there a way to get more of the event handlers?

So the next problem is on the onsave event I want my 2 fields, FirstName and LastName, to be concatenated and then be "inserted" into the FullName field. How is this done?

[a33ik]

If the Full Name is the Primary Column - calculated and formula tricks won't work. In this case, as an alternate option, you have "Real Time Workflow". Create a workflow that will handle "Create" of the record and "Update" of one of fields and perform the update of the record. Something like the following:

[AHCSWildFrog]

This just isn't working. I can easily make a new field and get it to be formula filled like you pointed out but trying to fill in the data in the full name primary column with a "real time workflow" is not working. Are those flows created in Power Automate? I have now found 2 different ways to get to the same "Business Rule". 

First I should clarify something. I am using a non profit M365 account to develop this app with a Microsoft Power Apps for Developer, Microsoft Power Automate Free, Office 365 E1 and Power Pages vTrial for Makers licenses. The tenant also has Power Apps per app (10 free) and Power Apps trial for the other users that will be using the app I am working on. Is the reason I am having so many issues or trouble following your suggestions due to different features that may be behind pay walls?

Second, I have no idea where to find that picture on the left. I found something close to it in the dynamics area but it was missing more than half of the stuff in that picture. I am beginning to think I should have built this application in Access. I am really starting to not like power apps. If I was building this in Access, not only would it be done by now but also be in full use, instead of still being in "beta" stage, with the users still using paper to gather the data to "test" the app out.

Is this where I should be building the "Real Time Workflow"?

If so how do I fill the "Set Full Name to" part with the proper syntax for the value of the FirstName and LastName fields from the current record of the form to inserted into the Full Name primary field?

Building forms in power apps is ugly, the results are childish looking and the ability to program them to do anything meaningful, seems to be non existent. I know that this is probably more due to my lack of knowledge and experience with the system but I can't believe how frustrating this all is. And I haven't even got to the point where I want to be able to "Query" my data yet. 

Lastly, thanks for your help, your willingness to throw me a bone is about the only thing keeping me going at this.

[a33ik]

Here is how you can create a workflow from the Maker interface:

[AHCSWildFrog]

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@a33ik wrote:

Here is how you can create a workflow from the Maker interface:

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Wow. Sure helps when you know where to look. This was a big help. Thanks to everyone putting up with me.

So, here is a new question, can I basically consider that the "VBA" of PowerApps?

[a33ik]

I would say it's not VBA. JavaScript is VBA in this case. But if you want to perform some kind of automation that's your goto for sure.