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! 😞