Prevent duplicate values in a collection (data validation)

[RodRollTech]

I'm experimenting with collections to associate two pieces of data with each other and I'm looking for a way to prevent duplicates. I want to put a coil with a unique ID number onto one of 75 hooks, and I want to ensure that when the coil ID is being associated with a hook number, that I can't associate two coil IDs with one hook, or put the same coil ID on two hook numbers. I had thought of using an 'IF' function (e.g. IF [new hook number] = [hook number already in collection] THEN [show error message]) but I'm not sure if 'IF' functions will work with collections. Any suggestions on how I could do this?

[Meneghino · Accepted solution]

Hi @RodRollTech

The 'in' operator is what you need, and yes you can use the if function to control programme flow when collecting an item into a collection.

If you provide more details, I can provide a more detailed answer.

[RodRollTech]

Hi Meneghino,

Thanks for that, I was able to create another data table and set its Items property to 'Filter(Collection, hook.text exactin hooks)' and it displayed what was in the 'Hook' text input control. Now what I'm trying to do is to marry this with the If function so that when I press a button with OnSelect = Collect(Collection, {Bundles:BundleID.Text, Hooks:Hook.Text}), a check is performed to see if the hook number or bundle ID already exists in the collection, in which case the new record isn't added to the collection. I'm also amenable to changing the colour or text of the input boxes/button if the hook/bundle already exists in the collection.

[Meneghino · Accepted solution]

Hi @RodRollTech

You want to simply disable the button if the data is already present in the collection.

So you want to set the DisplayMode property of the button to something like this:

If(hook.text exactin YourCollectionName.hooks, Disabled, Enabled)

Hope this helps, please let me know

[RodRollTech]

Thanks Meneghino, implemented and working well!