I have a PowerApp which lets users, who do partial WFH, book a specific desk at our office for a specific day. Records are stored in a Sharepoint List. The App displays all desks on a map, with a color indicating the status of each desk (booked, available for booking). If a desk is already booked, users cannot select the App's booking button. No issues here.
When a user books a desk, the Sharepoint data source is immediately refreshed to reflect the new desk status (available for booking > booked). However, in some cases this can take 20-30 seconds. In this situation, a user will book their desk, not see the change reflected on their screen right away, and believing there is an error will repeatedly attempt to book the desk.
So I need some way to disable the App's booking status, while data is still being refreshed. There already are a couple of other things I'm doing to discourage users (e.g. the button can be selected max. once every 10 seconds and there's UI feedback if the booking was successful). However, some users still continue to repeatedly use the button.
I could not find any information however on how to check if a data source is in the process of refreshing.
Solved! Go to Solution.
With that additional info about your app, using an internal collection makes more and more sense. Use your datepicker's OnChange to ClearCollect a filtered table using the selected date. Then, switch your desk color and "booked" lookups to refer to the internal collection. That will turn 80 external queries into one external query and 80 internal ones. With the way you are passing off parameters to variables and then on to a flow, there should be no other wrinkles from using the collection.
That said, the validation you are doing with the flow can be done internally with the app. If you're still experiencing delays, consider changing that functionality.
There are a few things that could help in your situation, but 20-30 seconds for what sounds like a simple data source update seems unusually long.
First, open a Monitor session while your app is running to see all clicks and data operations with timestamps. This may show you where the delay is really happening.
Next, if you are using the form control, use some code to disable your submit button at OnSelect, and then enable it using the OnSuccess or OnFailure property. That will effectively lock the button until the app receives some sort of expected result. If you are using Patch() to make the changes, use the return from that function to similarly control the displaymode of the button.
Hope that helps,
Bryan
The 20-30 seconds delay only happens in about 20% of cases; usually, the data refreshes pretty much instantly.
However, each gallery item (desk) features two queries (one to display the desk availability status, one to display the booked user's name) and so the Monitor shows about 400 events per data refresh. Usually each event is executed in 150-200ms, but in some cases across the board they will all take 10+ seconds.
I suppose I should re-design my App so that it runs the queries only once, store the result in a collection and have the gallery items refer to that instead?
Adding a collection into the mix may only add complexity and slow your app down further. Instead, walk us through the user experience and underlying logic for the app to see if we can make some suggestions for performance. It'll go something like this:
Your UX is probably different, so can you describe yours?
This is my PowerApp. Currently the user uses the App as follow:
(1) User loads the PowerApp
(2) User selects a date using the DatePicker in the top left (default set to current date)
(3) The desk map will update accordingly (green = bookable, red = already booked, grey = not bookable)
(4) User selects any desk from the map. This will update the 3 fields on the bottom left (Desk name, User who booked it, Department of user who booked it)
(5) If the desk is bookable, the button will read "Confirm Desk Booking", which triggers a PA Flow. The PA Flow will validate a few things, and insert a record into the List
(6) The data source (Sharepoint List) will refresh after a user has booked, to reflect their booking in the PowerApp
(7) User will receive an email after booking, showing whether or not their booking was successful
Each desk on the map (40 desks in total) has a query for the color and name of person who booked it (displayed on the map if person is in the user's Department, hidden otherwise). This ends up totaling almost 400 entries in the Monitor each time date is refreshed, as the queries feature multiple (delegatable) functions.
First of all - love the map view for booking desks! That must make it very easy for users to choose the desk they want.
Two things that I'd look at closer for performance:
I think you bring up a good point on the number of queries being performed - Microsoft governs the Power Apps service levels so that performance is predictable for ALL users, so they limit how many API calls can be performed within a certain unit of time. This prevents a few users from "hogging" the service at the expense of others. In the case of Sharepoint, Microsoft throttles the connector to 600 API calls per 60 seconds. Want to bet some of your problem lies there? You figure already you are hitting 400 calls per refresh.
The desks are simply icons part of a Gallery, which set variables (deskNo, deskName) when selected. When using the Confirm button, "deskNo" will be submitted along with User().Email and datepicker.SelectedDate to the PA Flow. The PA Flow will then confirm no booking yet exists for the selected date + desk, or selected date + user (users cannot book more than 1 desk per day).
What would be the best way to reduce number of queries? I can probably optimize some parts, but at minimum each desk would still require 1 query for the color, and one query to display person who booked it. 40 desks x 2 queries = 80 queries per refresh. Users may submit bookings for multiple days at the time, so will use the date picker repeatedly, which re-queries data and leads to a high query count. Both the desk color + booked person's name are key functionalities that must be present in the App.
With that additional info about your app, using an internal collection makes more and more sense. Use your datepicker's OnChange to ClearCollect a filtered table using the selected date. Then, switch your desk color and "booked" lookups to refer to the internal collection. That will turn 80 external queries into one external query and 80 internal ones. With the way you are passing off parameters to variables and then on to a flow, there should be no other wrinkles from using the collection.
That said, the validation you are doing with the flow can be done internally with the app. If you're still experiencing delays, consider changing that functionality.
Thanks, I'll give your suggestions a go this week 🙂
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 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 TIP: Unlocking Achievements and Earning BadgesAcross the Communities, you'll see badges on users profile that recognize and reward their engagement and contributions. These badges each signify a different achievement--and all of those achievements are available to any Community member! If you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, you too can earn badges for the great work you do. Check out some details on Community badges below--and find out more in the detailed link at the end of the article! A Diverse Range of Badges to Collect The badges you can earn in the Community cover a wide array of activities, including: Kudos Received: Acknowledges the number of times a user’s post has been appreciated with a “Kudo.”Kudos Given: Highlights the user’s generosity in recognizing others’ contributions.Topics Created: Tracks the number of discussions initiated by a user.Solutions Provided: Celebrates the instances where a user’s response is marked as the correct solution.Reply: Counts the number of times a user has engaged with community discussions.Blog Contributor: Honors those who contribute valuable content and are invited to write for the community blog. A Community Evolving Together Badges are not only a great way to recognize outstanding contributions of our amazing Community members--they are also a way to continue fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. As you continue to share your knowledge and assist each other these badges serve as a visual representation of your valuable contributions. Find out more about badges in these Community Support pages in each Community: All About Community Badges - Power Apps CommunityAll About Community Badges - Power Automate CommunityAll About Community Badges - Copilot Studio CommunityAll About Community Badges - Power Pages Community
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 Tip: Power Up Your Profile! 🚀 It's where every Community member gets their start, and it's essential that you keep it updated! Your Community User Profile is how you're able to get messages, post solutions, ask questions--and as you rank up, it's where your badges will appear and how you'll be known when you start blogging in the Community Blog. Your Community User Profile is how the Community knows you--so it's essential that it works the way you need it to! From changing your username to updating contact information, this Knowledge Base Article is your best resource for powering up your profile. Password Puzzles? No Problem! Find out how to sync your Azure AD password with your community account, ensuring a seamless sign-in. No separate passwords to remember! Job Jumps & Email Swaps Changed jobs? Got a new email? Fear not! You'll find out how to link your shiny new email to your existing community account, keeping your contributions and connections intact. Username Uncertainties Unraveled Picking the perfect username is crucial--and sometimes the original choice you signed up with doesn't fit as well as you may have thought. There's a quick way to request an update here--but remember, your username is your community identity, so choose wisely. "Need Admin Approval" Warning Window? If you see this error message while using the community, don't worry. A simple process will help you get where you need to go. If you still need assistance, find out how to contact your Community Support team. Whatever you're looking for, when it comes to your profile, the Community Account Support Knowledge Base article is your treasure trove of tips as you navigate the nuances of your Community Profile. It’s the ultimate resource for keeping your digital identity in tip-top shape while engaging with the Power Platform Community. So, dive in and power up your profile today! 💪🚀 Community Account Support | Power Apps Community Account Support | Power AutomateCommunity Account Support | Copilot Studio Community Account Support | Power Pages
In our 2nd installment of this new ongoing feature in the Community, we're thrilled to announce that Chris Piasecki is our Super User of the Month for March 2024. If you've been in the Community for a while, we're sure you've seen a comment or marked one of Chris' helpful tips as a solution--he's been a Super User for SEVEN consecutive seasons! Since authoring his first reply in April 2020 to his most recent achievement organizing the Canadian Power Platform Summit this month, Chris has helped countless Community members with his insights and expertise. In addition to being a Super User, Chris is also a User Group leader, Microsoft MVP, and a featured speaker at the Microsoft Power Platform Conference. His contributions to the new SUIT program, along with his joyous personality and willingness to jump in and help so many members has made Chris a fixture in the Power Platform Community. When Chris isn't authoring solutions or organizing events, he's actively leading Piasecki Consulting, specializing in solution architecture, integration, DevOps, and more--helping clients discover how to strategize and implement Microsoft's technology platforms. We are grateful for Chris' insightful help in the Community and look forward to even more amazing milestones as he continues to assist so many with his great tips, solutions--always with a smile and a great sense of humor.You can find Chris in the Community and on LinkedIn. Thanks for being such a SUPER user, Chris! 💪🌠
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: Community Ranks--Moving from "Member" to "Community Champion" Have you ever wondered how your fellow community members ascend the ranks within our community? What sets apart an Advocate from a Helper, or a Solution Sage from a Community Champion? In today’s #TuesdayTip, we’re unveiling the secrets and sharing tips to help YOU elevate your ranking—and why it matters to our vibrant communities. Community ranks serve as a window into a member’s role and activity. They celebrate your accomplishments and reveal whether someone has been actively contributing and assisting others. For instance, a Super User is someone who has been exceptionally helpful and engaged. Some ranks even come with special permissions, especially those related to community management. As you actively participate—whether by creating new topics, providing solutions, or earning kudos—your rank can climb. Each time you achieve a new rank, you’ll receive an email notification. Look out for the icon and rank name displayed next to your username—it’s a badge of honor! Fun fact: Your Community Engagement Team keeps an eye on these ranks, recognizing the most passionate and active community members. So shine brightly with valuable content, and you might just earn well-deserved recognition! Where can you see someone’s rank? When viewing a post, you’ll find a member’s rank to the left of their name.Click on a username to explore their profile, where their rank is prominently displayed. What about the ranks themselves? New members start as New Members, progressing to Regular Visitors, and then Frequent Visitors.Beyond that, we have a categorized system: Kudo Ranks: Earned through kudos (teal icons).Post Ranks: Based on your posts (purple icons).Solution Ranks: Reflecting your solutions (green icons).Combo Ranks: These orange icons combine kudos, solutions, and posts. The top ranks have unique names, making your journey even more exciting! So dive in, collect those kudos, share solutions, and let’s see how high you can rank! 🌟 🚀 Check out the Using the Community boards in each of the communities for more helpful information! Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio & Power Pages
We know many of you visit the Power Platform Communities to ask questions and receive answers. But do you know that many of our best answers and solutions come from Community members who are super active, helping anyone who needs a little help getting unstuck with Business Applications products? We call these dedicated Community members Super Users because they are the real heroes in the Community, willing to jump in whenever they can to help! Maybe you've encountered them yourself and they've solved some of your biggest questions. Have you ever wondered, "Why?"We interviewed several of our Super Users to understand what drives them to help in the Community--and discover the difference it has made in their lives as well! Take a look in our gallery today: What Motivates a Super User? - Power Platform Community (microsoft.com)
User | Count |
---|---|
183 | |
77 | |
53 | |
48 | |
39 |