Create multiple collections for each project/subproject

[Maronjo]

Hi all,

I am building a power app where I want to create a new collection for each project to store the data which the user creates inside the app. E.g. the user selects from a dropdown or enters in a text field the name of the project and the subproject. Afterwards the user will be forwarded to the app I created but the data will be stored in a different collection as it is a different project and has to be separated.

Any idea how I can approach this?

So far, I create the basic app which works and I can export the data added to the collection into a csv.-file with a power automate flow. But now if I want to use this application for a different project, it has to store it in a new file and I can only load the latest file from the collection which was cached on my device. But I might need to get back to my first collection and work on it, while I am already in a second one. So I kinda need to switch between the collections… is this possible? Or do you know a different approach how to handle this?

Best

[StalinPonnusamy]

Hi @Maronjo 

You can use PowerApps and store the data with different statuses. No need to store it on the CSV file. Based on the status, we can manipulate the screen and users.

I'm not getting why you need to store the collection to CSV.

Thanks,
Stalin - Learn To Illuminate

[Maronjo]

Hi @StalinPonnusamy,

thank you for your answer.

So, you suggest I add a field which e.g. creates for each project and subproject a unique status number or combination and then switch to each status number inside my collection via button depended on the user selection? Do you have by change an example or source how to achieve that?

Regarding the .csv-file.

The end-user needs to receive the entered data, e.g. by click a button to export/download/mail.

It doesn´t have to be a .csv file, .xlsx would be preferable but somehow the data should be exported to excel.

[StalinPonnusamy]

Hi @Maronjo 

The collection is stored in the cache. so once you closed the application then the collection will be empty. I'm proposing to store that data in the data source with different statuses.

We can create CSV files using PowerApps or Power Automate and send them to the user. When the user clicks the button to export the data as well.

 All data should be stored in a data source like Sharepoint, Dataverse, or SQL. And we can download or send it to users whenever we need it.

Thanks,
Stalin - Learn To Illuminate

[Maronjo]

Hi @StalinPonnusamy,

thanks again.

So you would suggest to not use collections at all and instead e.g. use SharePoint for the data storage.

Or would you combine both? So you load data from the sharepoint, store it in your collection and edit the data and then in the end save it again to the sharepoint?

I guess the benefit for collections are to work offline on the topic?

[StalinPonnusamy · Accepted solution]

Hi @Maronjo 

My suggestion is to both. Definitely, the collection can be used offline and online too. But need to make sure you store the collection in a data source like SharePoint, Dataverse, Or SQL. 

The best practice is to load data from the Datasource to the collection and edit the data and then, in the end, save it again to the DataSource Again.

Thanks,
Stalin - Learn To Illuminate

[StalinPonnusamy]

Hi @Maronjo 

Please let us know if anything needs on your post. We can help with this.

Please mark the post as Solved If I have answered your question.
Please give it a Thumbs Up if you find the suggestion helpful

Thanks,
Stalin - Learn To Illuminate