Unable to Patch Empty Fields in Collection created from a SharePoint List

[bpark1409]

Hi,

I have identified an issue with the Patch function - I wasn't sure if this is the correct forum to raise it with Microsoft, but I would be interested to know if anyone else has experienced the same problem and if there is somewhere else where I should be posting this to?

Summary

The issue is with using the Patch function to update an empty field in a Collection that was created from a SharePoint Online Custom list - The patch function is only able to update fields that were populated in the SharePoint list when the collection was created.

A workaround is to use the UpdateIf function.

Steps to reproduce the issues:

Create a SharePoint Custom List 'PatchTest' with the default 'Title' column and and additional single line of Text Column called 'TestCol'

List Definition

Create 2 items in the SharePoint list - One with the text column ('TestCol') populated and one with it left empty

List Items

Create a blank PowerApp and Connect the SharePoint List as a Datasource

Create a Collection in PowerApps using the SharePoint List

Put the following in the OnSelect Property of a button and use it to create the collection:

ClearCollect(colPatchTest,PatchTest)

Confirm the collection has been created:

Update the record with the Text Column ('TestCol') populated using Patch

Put the following in the OnSelect Property of a button and use it to update the first record:

Patch(colPatchTest,LookUp(colPatchTest,ID=1),{TestCol: "X"})

Confirm that the record has been updated:

Try to Update the record with the Text Column ('TestCol') empty using Patch

Put the following in the OnSelect Property of a button and use it to try to update the second record:

Patch(colPatchTest,LookUp(colPatchTest,ID=2),{TestCol: "X"})

Confirm that the record was NOT updated:

Workaround - Update the record with the Text Column ('TestCol') empty using UpdateIf

Put the following in the OnSelect Property of a button and use it to try to update the second record:

UpdateIf(colPatchTest,ID=2,{TestCol: "X"})

Confirm that the Record has been updated:

Thanks.

[RandyHayes]

@bpark1409 

This is an issue using the Patch function.  Use the UpdateIf function instead.

Take a look at this posting for some more information.

I hope that is helpful for you.

[v-xida-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @bpark1409 ,

It is an known issue with Patch function in PowerApps. The user @ChadVKealey has faced same issue with you, please check the response within the following thread:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Expressions-and-Formulas/Patch-Problem-Existing-data-updated-new...

As an alternative solution, please consider take a try to update your record using UpdateIf function instead of Patch function. Please modify your formula as below:

UpdateIf(
         colPatchTest,
         ID = 2,
         {
           TestCol: "X"
         }
)

Please take a try with above solution, then check if the issue is solved.

Best regards,

[BrianPark]

Hi @v-xida-msft,

Thanks for confirming that this is a known issue.

FYI - I included the use of UpdateIf as a workaround within my  original post.

Regards.

[nzblue_fish]

I've just spent a few hours diagnosing this problem and finally concluding it must be a bug in the Patch function.  A quick search confirmed my hunch. So thanks to all for posting both the issue and solution.

Hmmm ... Some 4 months on since this was raised and this is still a production bug! 😞

[GregLi]

We believe we have fixed this issue with version 3.20051.16, available with the Frequent cadence in some regions such as Canada.  It will be rolling out to everyone soon.  Please give it a try and let us know if you still see an issue.