Power App Components not working with Global variables used with Input properties

[paulbeck1]

Problem:  Creating a new component with Input parameters.  When using the component and setting the custom input parameter with a variable, the value passes thru, as the variable is reset, the control does not update with the variable.  Replication Steps are recorded  in the 2 min 20 sec recording showing the issue.
https://www.pbeck.co.uk/2020/02/power-apps-component-potential-bug.html

Initial Hypothesis: I have a large Power App project that uses this technique a lot.  The global variable were working until Fri 14 Feb 2020.  I believe the Power Apps version has been updated and is causing the issue.  I have tried the work on multiple environments and tenants.  It is happening across them all.

[EricLott]

This is a known issue in the new release that should be fixed soon. As a quick fix, local variables - UpdateContext() - seem to be working correctly.

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[JroderickMP]

I have been fighting this bug all morning! I am glad someone reported it and it will be fixed. I have a large project I am working on that I am due to preview tomorrow. This is a huge deal that doesn't take long to resolve (like today!).

[paulbeck1]

Thanks Eric.  Good to know MS are on the case.  I can live with the work around.

[JroderickMP]

Hi Paul - I am curious how are you implementing the workaround? Are you setting up context variables on each screen?

[EricLott]

I have not tested it, but I saw on Twitter that collections are working too. You could add your global variable to a collection like this:

Collect(varCollection,{Name:varName,Value:varValue}

Then reference it like this

Lookup(varCollection,varName=MyVariableName).Value

[Anonymous]

Eric,

I would have liked to be informed about bugs like this instead of spending all morning trying to find out why suddenly all my components no longer correctly update..

[JroderickMP]

Eric, Thanks for the tip, but this would take me too many hours to implement and test.

[EricLott]

@Anonymous
I suggest keeping an eye on the #PowerApps feed on Twitter for immediate awareness and then check the service health center to see if Microsoft is aware of the situation.
https://portal.office.com/adminportal/home#/servicehealth
The main takeaway here is to be very cautious about using experimental features in production apps.

[jwillems]

@EricLott 

The key takeaway for Microsoft and the Powerapps team here, is that if you discover a bug in the online tool, you roll back to the latest stable release immediately.

Containers are not really considered experimental, more like a key need for reusability. Just like functions (globally and locally defined), they are drastically needed to reduce code and avoid the Powerapps creator to become slow.