Problems with initialized variables not being populated OnStart

[Imke]

Hi there,
I am having a problem with my variables that I have defined in the OnStart property of the App: Suddenly, they are not populated/shown when I run the published app.

While the first variable shows at least in edit mode, the second doesn't show at all in edit-mode. (After I have hit "Run on start"):

But what is totally strange is, that after publishing, even the first variable doesn't show any more:

I am using a (manual) timestamp to check that I am seeing the currently published version to rule out any caching issues or so.
I am also running the app in the default-modus, so without any parameters. Until half an hour or so, the variables showed up alright and although I (believe) didn't change anything, they started to return empty suddenly.
Has anyone seen such a thing before or has any clue what might have caused it / how to overcome?

Thanks heaps!!

[iAm_ManCat]

Do you have 'non-blocking OnStart' turned on for the App? It may be that your other formulae are finishing/running before the OnStart has completed.

[iAm_ManCat]

I would advise doing most of your code on the first screen's OnVisible instead.

[Imke]

Thanks @iAm_ManCat !
Yes, that feature is set.
The entry point for this app can be different screens (using deep links sent via Outlook from Flow) and I don't want to duplicate logic. So App-level seemed the best option for me.

But I am a beginner, so thankful for any advise.

[iAm_ManCat · Accepted solution]

My advice is to have a loading screen - make that your first screen, then on its OnvVsible, perform the functions you are currently using OnStart for - then at the end of that OnVisible you navigate to the screen based on your params as you are currently doing - this way you can always be sure it will complete before you reach the required screen 🙂

[Imke]

That sounds like a great advise!
Thanks a lot @iAm_ManCat , will try that out.

[Imke]

Hi @iAm_ManCat ,
after adding the last command "Navigate('MyStartScreen') to the "OnVisible"-property of the loading screen, I am getting this error:

Any idea what I might do wrong here?

[iAm_ManCat · Accepted solution]

Yes I remember they changed that so you can't do the navigate from OnVisible - make a button, make it invisible

then on the OnVisible where you had the Navigate('MyStartScreen') instead put Select(ButtonName) and make the OnSelect of the button Navigate('MyStartScreen') 🙂

[Imke]

Thanks, did as advised but got myself into trouble:
Now I cannot select/edit the loading screen any more, because there is some auto-play going on here:
Once I try to select the screen or any of its elements, the automatic forwarding to my start screen is happening here in edit mode as well. I cannot click fast enough to delete the button for example.
Do you have any idea where I can turn that off, so that I can edit or at least check my code on that page?

[iAm_ManCat · Accepted solution]

Yes, I can help with that

To break the formula and prevent it from autonavigating so that you can get back to the page, you can use the search-and-replace and then replace one character in your Navigate('MyStartScreen') - this will break it and allow you to get back to the page

To stop it happening in future, you can create an auto-load variable during OnStart:

Set(gblAutoLoad, true)

This way you can set it to false using the App OnStart editor without having to navigate to the loading screen.

Then on your button instead of just Navigate('MyStartScreen') you have :

If(gblAutoLoad, Navigate('MyStartScreen'))