cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
StuCundy
Post Patron
Post Patron

General Use of Collection question

I have just moved my access data base to Sharepoint and in the process of setting up my app and custom forms so learning a lot and quickly.

 

I have a list of hotels that I need to make in to a different groups for each project I have. Hotels can belong to many groups and groups can have many hotels.  So I need a Many To Many relationship there. So lets say I create MyProject1 as one group

 

I have a list of guests who are also attached to the group (Myproject) One group can have many guests.  I want each guest to a hotel, each guest has one hotel, Hotelst can have many guests.  One to Many.

 

In Access I used to use queries.  In Powerapps is Collections they best way to do this?  

Do I have my group and bring in the selected hotels by making a collection? (Collection1)  I assume I will use  Collection1 as the list of hotels to assign the guests to.   

After the guests are assigned to hotels does that become a new collection? I.e. I have a collection of hotels to use for project1 (Collection1) and then a collection of guests assigned to hotels in MyProject called Collection2.

 

Can I create a MyProject2 easily without erasing My Project1.  Do I just keep creating more collections?

 

Once the Project is done with hotels group and guests assigned I want to output hotel guest lists.  Can this be done by connecting the project collection to an access table?

 

Am I on the right track?  Looking forward to some advice, Thanks.

 

17 REPLIES 17

Hi @

I have played with the screen set up you described but it just doesn't work for me.  My list of hotels cannot belong to just one project so I do not have a column called ProjectID within the hotel list.  So then I cannot action the below Filter right?  

Filter(Hotels, ProjectID=Dropdown1.Selected.ID)

I understand that the ID's are all linked up in the Junction list but how to bring it together?  I feel I have missed an important step.

 

 

Hi @StuCundy 

Junction tables work like One to Many but from both sides.  For example, if you put a dropdown control at the top of the screen and its Items property is Projects.  If you have a gallery where the Items property is Filter(JunctionTable, ProjectID = Dropdown1.Selected.ID), the gallery will show all of the HotelID's in that Project.  You can show the Hotel name by using the Lookup() function on the HotelID to find the hotel name from the HotelID as follows, Lookup(Hotel, ID=ThisItem.HotelID,HotelName).  The beauty of the junction table is that it can be filtered from either side to show the data you want. Annotation 2020-04-18 184446.png

 

Likewise on another screen you put a Dropdown control on the top and make the items property Hotels.  A gallery below it with the items property Filter(Project_Hotel,HotelID = Dropdown1.Selected.ID) will fill the gallery with all of the ProjectID's that are using that Hotel.  Likewise, a label in the gallery would use Lookup(Projects, ID=ThisItem.ProjectID, ProjectName)  to show the name of the project using that Hotel. 

Junction tables are can be filtered from either side by using a Dropdown control to specify the ID to filter the table and using a Lookup() to convert the foreign keys (ProjectID and HotelID) to get the name.  The screenshot below illustrates how to filter a junction table, in this case Order_details from each side.  On the left the junction table is filtered by Orders.  On the right the same junction table is filtered by Product. On the left, the labels inside the galleries are Lookups ie Lookup(Products, ID=ThisItem.ProductID, ProductCode)  Lookup(Products, ID=ThisItem.ProductID, Picture), Lookup(Products, ID = ThisItem.ProductID,, ProductName) based on ProductID.  On the right, the Lookups are based on the OrderID, Lookup(Orders, ID= ThisItem.OrderID, PaymentType), Lookup(Orders, ID= ThisItem.OrderID, CustomerAddress), and Lookup(Orders, ID= ThisItem.OrderID, CustomerState). 

Many to Many relationships with a junction table are a difficult concept to grasp until you realize that they are two One to Many relationships between three tables and they can be depicted in Powerapps by using Dropdown controls to filter the junction table shown in a gallery and Lookup() functions do show the columns in the outer joins inside of the gallery. Annotation 2020-04-18 191353.png

Hi @Drrickryp 

 

I do understand what you are saying.  The junction table ID brings the HotelID, ProjectID and GuestID to mthe one link.

 

When I make the dropdown control property to Projects my three sample projects are Listed.    In the Gallery;s Items property when I use : Filter(JunctionTable,HotelID=Dropdown1.Selected.ID)  I do understand that I am asking the gallery to list hotels with the ID that are connected to the Project ID because of its relation in the Junction list.  Nothing appears.  The only connection I have made is in the Junction list and so I do not see where I have made my hotel list yet for myproject1. 

 

In the Junction table I have; ID, Title, HotelID, ProjectID, GuestID.  These are all numbers and no unique numbers enforced.

In Projects I have 4 entries; ID, Title, ProjectName,

In Hotels I have 12; ID, Title, HotelName, 

In Guests I have 21 entries; ID, Title, Name

 

Keeping it all very simple. 

 

In the app I have made edit and browse screens for the Junction List and have made lookup dropdowns to both the Hotel and Project Title fields.  I have entered data into the junction form a couple of times but no ID is being picked up for hotel and project in the respective fields in the junction list.  I wonder if this is my problem as I am selecting the Titles and not ID?

 

From your explanation it seems like it should all work without any data in the junction table.  I would assume each hotel I want in the Junction list would need to be entered with the project name also selected in the entry?

Hi @StuCundy 

I think we are almost there.  At this point in your app there should be a pair of screens for each table (list), a Gallery and an Edit screen for modifying existing data and adding new data to the Project, Hotel and Guest tables respectively.  However, at this point, there should not be any data in the junction table.  This table should consist only of numbers representing the projectid, hotelid and guestid.  (Additional fields/controls could be added that would be appropriate for the junction table such as check in date, check out date, notes, etc. ).   These would have to be added as fields in the SharePoint list that holds the junction data.

The final step is to populate the Junction table.  To do this you will need a screen for adding new data to the Junction table.  At the very least it should consist of three Dropdown controls and a button for submitting the data.Annotation 2020-04-19 075653.png  If you decide to add additional data fields that are appropriate, they would also be needed to be added to the Patch().   

FYI the additional fields in the junction table hold data that does not belong in any of the other three tables since it is specific only to the project, hotel and guest event.  The other tables would have fields that pertain only to the Project, Hotel or Guest. 

The Patch() function has three elements, the table being patched, the record being patched (Defaults(tablename) means that a new record is being created), and the columns in the record being patched in curly braces.  

The only other thing I could think of that you would need would be a way to delete the record from the junction table.  This could be done by putting a Gallery on a screen and have the junction table as its Items property.  The labels in the gallery would all be lookups for the name of the project, hotel and guest.  Inside the gallery put a trashcan icon and make its OnSelect property: Remove( 'Project_Hotel', ThisItem )

Hi @Drrickryp Thank you for your in depth  instructions.  I have found where I went wrong.  I took your "No Data" in the Junction table as literal and I had no records in there at all which was confusing me as I knew that I needed some to populate what we were trying to do.   Anyway after adding some with HotelID's etc I can now see the list of relevant hotels in the lookup screen.  So Happy.

 

The issue I have now is that when I organise my dropbox1 to show the Project Title and not ID, I get an error as I believe the gallery is trying to match the ID.  Is there any way to look up the Project Title but still have the ID in there for the gallery to reference?  I want to see the Project name in the dropdown box list and not just an ID number.

 

Works with

Dropdown1 Items : SortByColumns(Group.ID, "ID")

Gallery1 Items : Filter(Junction, ProjectID = Dropdown1.Selected.ID)

 

Get an error

Dropdown1 Items : SortByColumns(Project.Title, "Title")

Gallery1 Items : Filter(Junction, ProjectID = Dropdown1.Selected.ID)

 

I have though of populating a second column based on the drop down selection using LookUp(Project,Title = GroupDropdown.Selected.Title,ID) and having the gallery reference against that but is there a better workaround in the dropdown box function?

@StuCundy 

Dropdown controls (and combobox controls) contain one entire record but only show one column in the window.  However, the entire record and all of its columns can be referenced by referring to the controls selected column, for example Dropdown1.Selected.columname  placed in a label will display the value in that record.  To prove this to yourself, select the dropdown and open the Value property on the right side of the screen.  All of the columns in the list are shown and you select the one you want in the window.  However, the filter function in the gallery will find the ID column in the selected record and match it to the foreign key in the junction table. 

Hi @Drrickryp 

If I select the dropdown with Items SortByColumns(Project.Title, "Title") In properties where it says value I only see Title available.

If I put Dropdown1.Selected.Title in a label I get the same Project name but if I use another column say Dropdown1.Selected.NoOfNights (which is one of the columns in the Project Table, it says the identifier isn't recognized.  

 

So I still have something fishy going on...  Good to know that by pulling the ID I can still show a different column value and will try this elsewhere too.

 

OK I got IT!!  By have this function "SortByColumns(Project.Title, "Title")"  I was limiting the column references to "Title" only.  I have removed Title now and can now see the entire column list just like you say. 

 

Is there a way to view the ID column in the sharepoint List as the title and can i use a custom form with the same setting in conjunction with the powerapp just for input purposes?

Hi @Drrickryp 

I have got to the bottom of the gallery filters etc and things are looking good however I am having an issue with the Junction edit form in the app.  My dropdown boxes to allow me to add new items into the junction list keeps returning the top item in each list.

The dropdown box card has just the data source i.e. Hotel in the Items function and in default ThisItem.Hotel.ID.  I have selected Title in the property Value option.  Hope you can help

Helpful resources

Announcements

Tuesday Tip: Getting Started with Private Messages & Macros

Welcome to TUESDAY TIPS, your weekly connection with the most insightful tips and tricks that empower both newcomers and veterans in the Power Platform Community! Every Tuesday, we bring you a curated selection of the finest advice, distilled from the resources and tools in the Community. Whether you’re a seasoned member or just getting started, Tuesday Tips are the perfect compass guiding you across the dynamic landscape of the Power Platform Community.   As our community family expands each week, we revisit our essential tools, tips, and tricks to ensure you’re well-versed in the community’s pulse. Keep an eye on the News & Announcements for your weekly Tuesday Tips—you never know what you may learn!   This Week's Tip: Private Messaging & Macros in Power Apps Community   Do you want to enhance your communication in the Community and streamline your interactions? One of the best ways to do this is to ensure you are using Private Messaging--and the ever-handy macros that are available to you as a Community member!   Our Knowledge Base article about private messaging and macros is the best place to find out more. Check it out today and discover some key tips and tricks when it comes to messages and macros:   Private Messaging: Learn how to enable private messages in your community profile and ensure you’re connected with other community membersMacros Explained: Discover the convenience of macros—prewritten text snippets that save time when posting in forums or sending private messagesCreating Macros: Follow simple steps to create your own macros for efficient communication within the Power Apps CommunityUsage Guide: Understand how to apply macros in posts and private messages, enhancing your interaction with the Community For detailed instructions and more information, visit the full page in your community today:Power Apps: Enabling Private Messaging & How to Use Macros (Power Apps)Power Automate: Enabling Private Messaging & How to Use Macros (Power Automate)  Copilot Studio: Enabling Private Messaging &How to Use Macros (Copilot Studio) Power Pages: Enabling Private Messaging & How to Use Macros (Power Pages)

April 4th Copilot Studio Coffee Chat | Recording Now Available

Did you miss the Copilot Studio Coffee Chat on April 4th? This exciting and informative session with Dewain Robinson and Gary Pretty is now available to watch in our Community Galleries!   This AMA discussed how Copilot Studio is using the conversational AI-powered technology to aid and assist in the building of chatbots. Dewain is a Principal Program Manager with Copilot Studio. Gary is a Principal Program Manager with Copilot Studio and Conversational AI. Both of them had great insights to share with the community and answered some very interesting questions!     As part of our ongoing Coffee Chat AMA series, this engaging session gives the Community the unique opportunity to learn more about the latest Power Platform Copilot plans, where we’ll focus, and gain insight into upcoming features. We’re looking forward to hearing from the community at the next AMA, so hang on to your questions!   Watch the recording in the Gallery today: April 4th Copilot Studio Coffee Chat AMA

Tuesday Tip: Subscriptions & Notifications

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!   This Week: All About Subscriptions & Notifications We don't want you to a miss a thing in the Community! The best way to make sure you know what's going on in the News & Announcements, to blogs you follow, or forums and galleries you're interested in is to subscribe! These subscriptions ensure you receive automated messages about the most recent posts and replies. Even better, there are multiple ways you can subscribe to content and boards in the community! (Please note: if you have created an AAD (Azure Active Directory) account you won't be able to receive e-mail notifications.)   Subscribing to a Category  When you're looking at the entire category, select from the Options drop down and choose Subscribe.     You can then choose to Subscribe to all of the boards or select only the boards you want to receive notifications. When you're satisfied with your choices, click Save.   Subscribing to a Topic You can also subscribe to a single topic by clicking Subscribe from the Options drop down menu, while you are viewing the topic or in the General board overview, respectively.     Subscribing to a Label Find the labels at the bottom left of a post.From a particular post with a label, click on the label to filter by that label. This opens a window containing a list of posts with the label you have selected. Click Subscribe.           Note: You can only subscribe to a label at the board level. If you subscribe to a label named 'Copilot' at board #1, it will not automatically subscribe you to an identically named label at board #2. You will have to subscribe twice, once at each board.   Bookmarks Just like you can subscribe to topics and categories, you can also bookmark topics and boards from the same menus! Simply go to the Topic Options drop down menu to bookmark a topic or the Options drop down to bookmark a board. The difference between subscribing and bookmarking is that subscriptions provide you with notifications, whereas bookmarks provide you a static way of easily accessing your favorite boards from the My subscriptions area.   Managing & Viewing Your Subscriptions & Bookmarks To manage your subscriptions, click on your avatar and select My subscriptions from the drop-down menu.     From the Subscriptions & Notifications tab, you can manage your subscriptions, including your e-mail subscription options, your bookmarks, your notification settings, and your email notification format.     You can see a list of all your subscriptions and bookmarks and choose which ones to delete, either individually or in bulk, by checking multiple boxes.     A Note on Following Friends on Mobile Adding someone as a friend or selecting Follow in the mobile view does not allow you to subscribe to their activity feed. You will merely be able to see your friends’ biography, other personal information, or online status, and send messages more quickly by choosing who to send the message to from a list, as opposed to having to search by username.

Monthly Community User Group Update | April 2024

The monthly Community User Group Update is your resource for discovering User Group meetings and events happening around the world (and virtually), welcoming new User Groups to our Community, and more! Our amazing Community User Groups are an important part of the Power Platform Community, with more than 700 Community User Groups worldwide, we know they're a great way to engage personally, while giving our members a place to learn and grow together.   This month, we welcome 3 new User Groups in India, Wales, and Germany, and feature 8 User Group Events across Power Platform and Dynamics 365. Find out more below. New Power Platform User Groups   Power Platform Innovators (India) About: Our aim is to foster a collaborative environment where we can share upcoming Power Platform events, best practices, and valuable content related to Power Platform. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or a newcomer looking to learn, this group is for you. Let’s empower each other to achieve more with Power Platform. Join us in shaping the future of digital transformation!   Power Platform User Group (Wales) About: A Power Platform User Group in Wales (predominantly based in Cardiff but will look to hold sessions around Wales) to establish a community to share learnings and experience in all parts of the platform.   Power Platform User Group (Hannover) About: This group is for anyone who works with the services of Microsoft Power Platform or wants to learn more about it and no-code/low-code. And, of course, Microsoft Copilot application in the Power Platform.   New Dynamics365 User Groups   Ellucian CRM Recruit UK (United Kingdom) About: A group for United Kingdom universities using Ellucian CRM Recruit to manage their admissions process, to share good practice and resolve issues.    Business Central Mexico (Mexico City) About:  A place to find documentation, learning resources, and events focused on user needs in Mexico. We meet to discuss and answer questions about the current features in the standard localization that Microsoft provides, and what you only find in third-party locations. In addition, we focus on what's planned for new standard versions, recent legislation requirements, and more. Let's work together to drive request votes for Microsoft for features that aren't currently found—but are indispensable.   Dynamics 365 F&O User Group (Dublin) About: The Dynamics 365 F&O User Group - Ireland Chapter meets up in person at least twice yearly in One Microsoft Place Dublin for users to have the opportunity to have conversations on mutual topics, find out what’s new and on the Dynamics 365 FinOps Product Roadmap, get insights from customer and partner experiences, and access to Microsoft subject matter expertise.  Upcoming Power Platform Events    PAK Time (Power Apps Kwentuhan) 2024 #6 (Phillipines, Online) This is a continuation session of Custom API. Sir Jun Miano will be sharing firsthand experience on setting up custom API and best practices. (April 6, 2024)       Power Apps: Creating business applications rapidly (Sydney) At this event, learn how to choose the right app on Power Platform, creating a business application in an hour, and tips for using Copilot AI. While we recommend attending all 6 events in the series, each session is independent of one another, and you can join the topics of your interest. Think of it as a “Hop On, Hop Off” bus! Participation is free, but you need a personal computer (laptop) and we provide the rest. We look forward to seeing you there! (April 11, 2024)     April 2024 Cleveland Power Platform User Group (Independence, Ohio) Kickoff the meeting with networking, and then our speaker will share how to create responsive and intuitive Canvas Apps using features like Variables, Search and Filtering. And how PowerFx rich functions and expressions makes configuring those functionalities easier. Bring ideas to discuss and engage with other community members! (April 16, 2024)     Dynamics 365 and Power Platform 2024 Wave 1 Release (NYC, Online) This session features Aric Levin, Microsoft Business Applications MVP and Technical Architect at Avanade and Mihir Shah, Global CoC Leader of Microsoft Managed Services at IBM. We will cover some of the new features and enhancements related to the Power Platform, Dataverse, Maker Portal, Unified Interface and the Microsoft First Party Apps (Microsoft Dynamics 365) that were announced in the Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform 2024 Release Wave 1 Plan. (April 17, 2024)     Let’s Explore Copilot Studio Series: Bot Skills to Extend Your Copilots (Makati National Capital Reg... Join us for the second installment of our Let's Explore Copilot Studio Series, focusing on Bot Skills. Learn how to enhance your copilot's abilities to automate tasks within specific topics, from booking appointments to sending emails and managing tasks. Discover the power of Skills in expanding conversational capabilities. (April 30, 2024)   Upcoming Dynamics365 Events    Leveraging Customer Managed Keys (CMK) in Dynamics 365 (Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Online) This month's featured topic: Leveraging Customer Managed Keys (CMK) in Dynamics 365, with special guest Nitin Jain from Microsoft. We are excited and thankful to him for doing this session. Join us for this online session, which should be helpful to all Dynamics 365 developers, Technical Architects and Enterprise architects who are implementing Dynamics 365 and want to have more control on the security of their data over Microsoft Managed Keys. (April 11, 2024)     Stockholm D365 User Group April Meeting (Stockholm) This is a Swedish user group for D365 Finance and Operations, AX2012, CRM, CE, Project Operations, and Power BI.  (April 17, 2024)         Transportation Management in D365 F&SCM Q&A Session (Toronto, Online) Calling all Toronto UG members and beyond! Join us for an engaging and informative one-hour Q&A session, exclusively focused on Transportation Management System (TMS) within Dynamics 365 F&SCM. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just curious about TMS, this event is for you. Bring your questions! (April 26, 2024)   Leaders, Create Your Events!    Leaders of existing User Groups, don’t forget to create your events within the Community platform. By doing so, you’ll enable us to share them in future posts and newsletters. Let’s spread the word and make these gatherings even more impactful! Stay tuned for more updates, inspiring stories, and collaborative opportunities from and for our Community User Groups.   P.S. Have an event or success story to share? Reach out to us – we’d love to feature you. Just leave a comment or send a PM here in the Community!

Exclusive LIVE Community Event: Power Apps Copilot Coffee Chat with Copilot Studio Product Team

We have closed kudos on this post at this time. Thank you to everyone who kudo'ed their RSVP--your invitations are coming soon!  Miss the window to RSVP? Don't worry--you can catch the recording of the meeting this week in the Community.  Details coming soon!   *****   It's time for the SECOND Power Apps Copilot Coffee Chat featuring the Copilot Studio product team, which will be held LIVE on April 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).     This is an incredible opportunity to connect with members of the Copilot Studio product team and ask them anything about Copilot Studio. We'll share our special guests with you shortly--but we want to encourage to mark your calendars now because you will not want to miss the conversation.   This live event will give you the unique opportunity to learn more about Copilot Studio plans, where we’ll focus, and get insight into upcoming features. We’re looking forward to hearing from the community, so bring your questions!   TO GET ACCESS TO THIS EXCLUSIVE AMA: Kudo this post to reserve your spot! Reserve your spot now by kudoing this post.  Reservations will be prioritized on when your kudo for the post comes through, so don't wait! Click that "kudo button" today.   Invitations will be sent on April 2nd.Users posting Kudos after April 2nd. at 9AM PDT may not receive an invitation but will be able to view the session online after conclusion of the event. Give your "kudo" today and mark your calendars for April 3rd, 2024 at 9:30 AM PDT and join us for an engaging and informative session!

Tuesday Tip: Blogging in the Community is a Great Way to Start

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!   This Week's Topic: Blogging in the Community Are you new to our Communities and feel like you may know a few things to share, but you're not quite ready to start answering questions in the forums? A great place to start is the Community blog! Whether you've been using Power Platform for awhile, or you're new to the low-code revolution, the Community blog is a place for anyone who can write, has some great insight to share, and is willing to commit to posting regularly! In other words, we want YOU to join the Community blog.    Why should you consider becoming a blog author? Here are just a few great reasons. 🎉   Learn from Each Other: Our community is like a bustling marketplace of ideas. By sharing your experiences and insights, you contribute to a dynamic ecosystem where makers learn from one another. Your unique perspective matters! Collaborate and Innovate: Imagine a virtual brainstorming session where minds collide, ideas spark, and solutions emerge. That’s what our community blog offers—a platform for collaboration and innovation. Together, we can build something extraordinary. Showcase the Power of Low-Code: You know that feeling when you discover a hidden gem? By writing about your experience with your favorite Power Platform tool, you’re shining a spotlight on its capabilities and real-world applications. It’s like saying, “Hey world, check out this amazing tool!” Earn Trust and Credibility: When you share valuable information, you become a trusted resource. Your fellow community members rely on your tips, tricks, and know-how. It’s like being the go-to friend who always has the best recommendations. Empower Others: By contributing to our community blog, you empower others to level up their skills. Whether it’s a nifty workaround, a time-saving hack, or an aha moment, your words have impact. So grab your keyboard, brew your favorite beverage, and start writing! Your insights matter and your voice counts! With every blog shared in the Community, we all do a better job of tackling complex challenges with gusto. 🚀   Welcome aboard, future blog author! ✍️✏️🌠 Get started blogging across the Power Platform Communities today! Just follow one of the links below to begin your blogging adventure.   Power Apps: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Apps-Community-Blog/bg-p/PowerAppsBlog Power Automate: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Automate-Community-Blog/bg-p/MPABlog Copilot Studio: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Copilot-Studio-Community-Blog/bg-p/PVACommunityBlog Power Pages: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Pages-Community-Blog/bg-p/mpp_blog   When you follow the link, look for the Message Admins button like this on the page's right rail, and let us know you're interested. We can't wait to connect with you and help you get started. Thanks for being part of our incredible community--and thanks for becoming part of the community blog!

Top Solution Authors
Top Kudoed Authors
Users online (7,348)