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Responsive Resident
Responsive Resident

Create unique references for items in collection

This may be something that's better done in Automate after submission, but I'd like to see if it's possible before submission first.

 

I have an app where users can paste a bunch of lines from an excel template, and then push that through to a centralised SharePoint list. The textinput OnChange creates the collection which is then submitted using the following formula:

 

 

ClearCollect(clltWasteTable, Filter(AddColumns(Split(txtWasteInput.Text,Char(10)),
"Site",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),1)).Result,
"Building",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),2)).Result,
"Floor", Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),3)).Result,
"TypeofItem",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),4)).Result,
"NameofItem",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),5)).Result,
"Quantity",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),6)).Result,
"ContainerType",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),7)).Result,
"Concentration",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),8)).Result,
"ContactName",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),9)).Result,
"ContactNumber",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),10)).Result,
"CollectionLocation(IfDifferent)",Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),11)).Result,
"ReferenceNumber", If(Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),2)).Result = "BUILDING1", "AM",
Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),2)).Result = "BUILDING2", "BARC",
 Last(FirstN(Split(Result,Char(09)),2)).Result = "BUILDING3", "ESP") & Value(CountRows(Waste)) & "/" & Text(Today(), "mm")), !IsBlank(Result)))

 

Essentially, the Reference Number is created by using a code for the Building, the number of the item in the list, and the month eg. 

 

AM43/02

 

My problem is on the 'ReferenceNumber' section, this then provides the same Reference Number for every item uploaded in that collection - but I need these to instead be unique.

 

I have tried adding Value(CountRows(clltWasteTable)) into the formula, added to the CountRows(DataSource), but this just broke the counting entirely (and I'm not sure would do what I want anyway).

tldr; is there any way to create a unique reference for each item in a collection as the record is collected? If not, can I add a unique reference to each item in the collection before submission?

6 REPLIES 6
RandyHayes
Super User
Super User

@misc 

To reduce your typing and the amount of times that functions in your formula need to be evaluated, you might want to consider the following formula to tighten it up more:

ClearCollect(clltWasteTable, 

    ForAll(
        Filter(Split(txtWasteInput.Text,Char(10)), !IsBlank(Result)),
        With({_row: Split(Result,Char(09))},
        {
            Site: Last(FirstN(_row, 1)).Result,
            Building: Last(FirstN(_row, 2)).Result,
            Floor: Last(FirstN(_row, 3)).Result,
            TypeofItem: Last(FirstN(_row, 4)).Result,
            NameofItem: Last(FirstN(_row, 5)).Result,
            Quantity: Last(FirstN(_row, 6)).Result,
            ContainerType: Last(FirstN(_row, 7)).Result,
            Concentration: Last(FirstN(_row, 8)).Result,
            ContactName: Last(FirstN(_row, 9)).Result,
            ContactNumber: Last(FirstN(_row, 10)).Result,
            'CollectionLocation(IfDifferent)': Last(FirstN(_row, 11)).Result,
            ReferenceNumber: Switch(Last(FirstN(_row, 2)).Result,
                                 "BUILDING1", "AM",
                                 "BUILDING2", "BARC",
                                 "BUILDING3", "ESP"
                             ) & Text(CountRows(Waste)) & "/" & Text(Today(), "mm")
        }
    )
)

 

Now...that said, what is it that you are trying to be unique?  Based on what?  Where would you base your unique number from?  I'm not really following that part.

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misc
Responsive Resident
Responsive Resident

Thanks for the quick response!

The 'unique' part is the # record it is in the sharepoint list (this is pulled off and reset each month, so we can keep a track of how many records are going through each month) so you can get:

Record 1 = AM01/02

Record 2 = BARC02/02

Record 3 = AM03/02 and so on.

 

In the first iteration of this system, this reference was created via Automate (New item > count records > make reference). As I am moving the entire system into PowerApps I'd like for the reference to be created in app, if possible.

 

This is why I currently have the 'CountRows(DataSource)' in there, because this works for another page in my app which is an EditForm for uploading individual records. The problem I'm encountering is when multiple records are added via the 'bulk input'. 

 

I essentially need to be able to count all rows in the data source and then n+1 for each subsequent record in the collection

RandyHayes
Super User
Super User

@misc 

So are you stating that, for each type (AM, BARC, ESP) you need to find the largest number for that type and for the month and then add to it in your app?

Also, what is the purpose of the collection?  Is this being manipulated in some other way in the app? And finally, what is your formula for writing to your datasource?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Digging it? - Click on the Thumbs Up below. Solved your problem? - Click on Accept as Solution below. Others seeking the same answers will be happy you did.
NOTE: My normal response times will be Mon to Fri from 1 PM to 10 PM UTC (and lots of other times too!)
Check out my PowerApps Videos too! And, follow me on Twitter @RandyHayes

Really want to show your appreciation? Buy Me A Cup Of Coffee!
misc
Responsive Resident
Responsive Resident

Not for each type but overall. The list is 'emptied' and archived each month so each month it starts again from 01, each subsequent record in the list gets a new reference 02, 03, 04 etc. etc. doesn't matter which building it's from. Here's a screenshot from this month to show what I mean (there's more building codes used in reality than the three I gave in my example above hence why they're different codes)

misc_0-1645551064731.png

The collection is being written to the data source using a submit button with the following

ForAll(
   clltWasteTable,
   Patch(
      Waste,
      Defaults(Waste),
      {
         Site:Site,
         Building:Building,
         Floor:Floor,
         TypeofItem: TypeofItem,
         Name_x0020_of_x0020_Item: NameofItem,
         Quantity: Quantity,
         Container_x0020_Type: ContainerType,
         Concentration: Concentration,
         ContactName: ContactName,
         ContactNumber: ContactNumber,
         Locationforcollection:'CollectionLocation(IfDifferent)',
         ReferenceNumber: ReferenceNumber
      }
   )
); Reset(txtWasteInput); Navigate(Home, Fade)

 

If it helps, this is what the page itself looks like:

example.png

 

RandyHayes
Super User
Super User

@misc 

So in general, it would be good to actually have a sequence number column in your datasource.  This would make it much easier to retrieve the next sequence number rather than what is going to have to happen...pulling the text apart.  Before we embark on that journey - is there a possibility that you can have a month number and sequence number in your datasource?

 

As for the writing of the records - your ForAll is backward.  You are using it like a For Loop in some development platform - which PowerApps is not!  The way you are using it, you will suffer a lot of performance issues.

 

If your collection has the same column names as your datasource, then the only thing you really need to do is:

Patch(Waste, colWasteTable)

 

Otherwise, your formula would be:

Patch(
    Waste,
    ForAll(clltWasteTable,
      {
         Site:Site,
         Building:Building,
         Floor:Floor,
         TypeofItem: TypeofItem,
         Name_x0020_of_x0020_Item: NameofItem,
         Quantity: Quantity,
         Container_x0020_Type: ContainerType,
         Concentration: Concentration,
         ContactName: ContactName,
         ContactNumber: ContactNumber,
         Locationforcollection:'CollectionLocation(IfDifferent)',
         ReferenceNumber: ReferenceNumber
      }
   )
); 
Reset(txtWasteInput); Navigate(Home, Fade)

The above is using the ForAll properly - as a Table generating function that it was designed to be.  The ForAll will create a table of records and then pass that to Patch.  Patch is smart enough to know what to do with it and will do so as a table, rather than instantiating a new Patch instance on every iteration (very low performance that way).

 

But still, in regard to writing, if the collection has the same column names, then the simpler formula above the above is preferred. 

 

And now...back to the sequence.  Let me know if you have the potential to just add a column for the month and the sequence number in your datasource.

_____________________________________________________________________________________
Digging it? - Click on the Thumbs Up below. Solved your problem? - Click on Accept as Solution below. Others seeking the same answers will be happy you did.
NOTE: My normal response times will be Mon to Fri from 1 PM to 10 PM UTC (and lots of other times too!)
Check out my PowerApps Videos too! And, follow me on Twitter @RandyHayes

Really want to show your appreciation? Buy Me A Cup Of Coffee!
misc
Responsive Resident
Responsive Resident

Thank you - I'll tidy that up this morning. First time using ForAll :') 

 

I can certainly add extra columns to the data source - I have figured out how to do this with the Month using a calculated column, but can't seem to work out how to do the sequential numbers. Everything I've looked up seems to suggest I need access to the Developer tools which unfortunately I don't have. I can't use the ID because it doesn't reset to 0 when the list is archived.

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