Explicit Column Selection Breaks All My Apps

[Anonymous]

We use a SQL table with attributes and values to provide similar functionallity as a CSS file. This way we can change one value for instance in our SQL database and all of our apps will have a new color scheme. The "Explicit Column Selection" option breaks this completely causing all controls to turn black.

In apps where we use charts that are driven by collections holding SQL data, "Explicit Column Selection" results in tons of errors and the graphs fail to load.

The  verbiage under the "Preview features" section says that "these features will be turned on for all apps soon". Making this "feature" mandatory will literally break ALL of our PowerApps. 

I have attached an example of what a form looks like when this feature is turned on

Please leave it optional!

[v-micsh-msft]

Hi @Anonymous,

Thanks for the feedback.

The "Explicit Column Selection" is turned on by default, so do you mean when this option is turned off, all the configuration would then not working?

Could you please share some exmaple about the SQL Table and the mapping for the color schema?

I will make some tests and see if this could be reproduced.

Besides, if I have any misunderstandings, please feel free to let me know.

Regards,

Michael

[Anonymous]

I mean I have to turn it off or my apps don't work. It does not work with the setting on.   It appears that others are having the same issue since I found the answer by googling and several others were looking for the same fix.  The fact that I had to turn it off is the reason that I was concerned it was in a list of features that will soon be on for all apps.

Reproducing the issue.

Create a SQL table, mine is called "Themes", where one of the columns is called "Value"

This value column holds different values for different attributes, but for this example let's use a hex color value. "#FFFFFF".

Now in powerapps, create a connector to the database, create a variable that pulls this value in the OnStart event. My code in OnStart looks like this:
Set(title_background_color,ColorValue(First(Filter(colThemes,attribute = "title_background_color" && name = "ccsd")).value));

Now, go to a control on your form and set the Fill color to "title_background_color".

This works fine in editing with the Explicit Column Selection setting on, but publish the app and now try to use it outside the editor. It displays black boxes anywhere I have used this variable as the fill color. This occurs on phones, tablets, and computers. When I turn off the Explicit Column Selection setting everything works as expected.

Please let me know if anything is unclear.

Thanks for taking the time to look into this.

[Anonymous]

I am having the same issue where the Explicit column selection is turned on, my power app will not work with conecting to an Azure database.  The only way my power app works, is that feature is turned off.

Does Microsoft have a solution to that issue with Azure databases?  If the workaround is taken away, what is the solution to resolve that issue?

[Anonymous]

adding in @EvanChakiMSFT to review and assist. 

@Anonymous

[EvanChakiMSFT]

Can you provide a session id (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/get-sessionid) and we will take a look at this for you.

[Reza · Accepted solution]

Hi All,

Thank you for your feedbacks. This is very valuable for us to make this feature better.

I just want to say that we don't have any plan at this time to take away the option to disable "Explicit Column Selection". You can always disable it if it doesn't work for your app. Also, we are not going to enable it automatically for your existing app without your knowldge. We might make it enable by default for new apps, but you can always disable it. I hope this addresses your concerns. 

[abendele]

What is the status on this issue?

[john_dawson]

I'm finding the reverse i.e. my App doesn't work when published unless "Explicit column selection" is On; my failure point is an UpdateIf statement, that silently fails if "Explicit column selection" is Off - but only for the published App; I'm wrapping the UpdateIf in IfError(), which fails to detect this problem

[Anonymous]

Stupid question! Where is "Explicit Column Selection" option to disable to be found?