Differentiate between Columns and Tables with same name

[ingovals]

I'm having issues with Column names and Table names. My formulas are assuming I'm using one when I want to use the other.

Is there a quick fix for this.

This is mostly relevant for Lookup tables, since on the parent side the dot notation allows for a "reverse lookup" property that has the same name as the table.

To give and example of this issue. I'm trying to Create a new item of Parent, and then some children.

Patch('Parent Table', Defaults('Parent Table');
Patch('Child Table', Defaults('Child Table);

Here I get the error A one to many ... is being reference in this functions record scope. I'm assuming this is because the functions assumes I'm meaning 'Child Table' the property of 'Parent Table' not the table itself.

[iAm_ManCat · Accepted solution]

You can use the disambiguation operator to clarify which you are referring to:

Operators and Identifiers in Power Apps - Power Apps | Microsoft Docs

Like this:

Patch([@Parent Table], Defaults([@Parent Table], { RECORDS_GO_HERE });
Patch([@Child Table],  Defaults([@Child Table],  { RECORDS_GO_HERE });

And lets say you have a column in your child table called parent table, you would refer to it like this:

'Child Table'[@'Parent Table']