Update existing SP list items offline

[sanderson82]

Hi, I'm currently working on an offline app where the data from a SharePoint list will eventually produce a 2 page PDF document.

Currently I have the following OnStart

If(
    Connection.Connected,
    ClearCollect(DropdownContracts, Filter('Contract Manager', Status = "In Progress", Include = "Y")),
    LoadData(DropdownContracts, "DDContracts",true)
);
SaveData(DropdownContracts, "DDContracts");
If(
    Connection.Connected,
    ClearCollect(DropdownUnits, 'Unit Register'),
    LoadData(DropdownUnits, "DDUnits")
);
SaveData(DropdownUnits, "DDUnits")

This gives me 2 offline sources linked to 2 drop downs to allow the user to select a contract (project) and the relating unit (item) that the document is for.

Part 1 of the document (PrePour) creates the initial record on SP, however this is not fully working yet offline.  Currently it adds to a collection, (count of coll items are on the same screen beside a save/upload button).

Collect(
    PreCheckSheet,
    {
        ContractName: I_Contract.Selected.Contract,
        UnitType: I_Unit.SelectedText.UnitID,
        Drawing: I_Drawing.Text,
        MLength: Value(I_MLength.Text),
        MWidth: Value(I_MWidth.Text),
        MHeight: Value(I_MHeight.Text),
        LCheck: If(I_LCheck.Value=true,I_LCheck.TrueText,I_LCheck.FalseText),
        WCheck: If(I_WCheck.Value=true,I_WCheck.TrueText,I_WCheck.FalseText),
        HCheck: If(I_HCheck.Value=true,I_HCheck.TrueText,I_HCheck.FalseText),
        Cleaned: If(I_Cleaned.Value=true,I_Cleaned.TrueText,I_Cleaned.FalseText),
        Oiled: If(I_Oiled.Value=true,I_Oiled.TrueText,I_Oiled.FalseText),
        Required: Value(I_Required.Text),
        Actual: If(I_Actual.Value=true,I_Actual.TrueText,I_Actual.FalseText),
        MLiftTotal: Value(I_MLiftTotal.Text),
        MLiftSize: Value(I_MLiftSize.Text),
        MLiftLength: Value(I_MLiftLength.Text),
        DLiftTotal: Value(I_DLiftTotal.Text),
        DLiftSize: Value(I_DLiftSize.Text),
        DliftLength: Value(I_DLiftLength.Text),
        Position: If(I_Position.Value=true,I_Position.TrueText,I_Position.FalseText),
        Sample: If(I_Sample.Value=true,I_Sample.TrueText,I_Sample.FalseText),
        PVConcrete: If(I_PVConcrete.Value=true,I_PVConcrete.TrueText,I_PVConcrete.FalseText),
        CheckTop: If(I_CheckTop.Value=true,I_CheckTop.TrueText,I_CheckTop.FalseText),
        Cover: If(I_Cover.Value=true,I_Cover.TrueText,I_Cover.FalseText),
        Name1: I_Name1.Text,
        SigDate1: I_SigDate1.SelectedDate
        
    }
)

Upload button:

Collect(CheckSheetData,PreCheckSheet);Clear(PreCheckSheet)

The second part of the document (PostPour) uses a lookup of the contract and unit type to identify the ID of the above created records when selected (I need to make this offline in a collection)

LookUp(
   CheckSheetData,
   StartsWith(ContractName, I_Contract_1.Selected.Contract) &&
   StartsWith(UnitType, I_Unit_1.Selected.UnitID),ID)

On submit of the PostPour section I want the details to be added to a collection, as multiple will be done at a time (all offline).

My questions...
1) For the first part (PrePour) I'm currently adding records to a collection to then upload when I'm online again.  How can I ensure this collection is stored offline and not lost e.g. if the app is closed until the app is online again ready to upload

2) For the second part (PostPour) how to I make a collection reference an existing SP item ID so that when all the items in the collection are uploaded they patch additional values to the correct records created in the first (PrePour) stage.

Many thanks

[Anonymous]

Using SaveData() is the only way I know of the save data offline. I believe the only way SaveDate() data can be erased is if the PowerApps app is uninstalled from a device. It's stored in the device's memory.

You can use ForAll() to loop through your collection a perform a Patch() function for each record in your collection.

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[eka24]

This video from Daniel Christian would address question 1 using SaveData and LoadData :
https://youtu.be/aIwbcCag9B4

On question 2:
In the textbox You can use the GUID functions or Random functions with some concatenation with Now(). I prefer the random function because the GUID is too long. But the option is yours.

[eka24]

@sanderson82
If your questions are answered kindly Mark as a Solution since other users can find it

[sanderson82]

Hi @eka24 

Apologies however I'm not sure when you reference GUID?  Below is my current code to collect all the values for Part 2 (PostPour) which will (when online) patch and update the record created during PrePour.  As you can see I'm capturing the ID in the collection as a reference for patching, this perhaps is not the correct way to do it?

Collect(
    PostCheckSheet,
    {
        ID: I_ID.Text,
        DateCast: I_DateCast.SelectedDate,
        DStrength: Value(I_DStrength.Text),
        Permission: If(I_Permission.Value=true,I_Permission.TrueText,I_Permission.FalseText),
        Integrity: If(I_Integrity.Value=true,I_Integrity.TrueText,I_Integrity.FalseText),
        Grout: If(I_Grout.Value=true,I_Grout.TrueText,I_Grout.FalseText),
        Cracking: If(I_Cracking.Value=true,I_Cracking.TrueText,I_Cracking.FalseText),
        SFRequired: I_SFRequired.Text,
        SFAchieved: If(I_SFAchieved.Value=true,I_SFAchieved.TrueText,I_SFAchieved.FalseText),
        MarkUnit: If(I_MarkUnit.Value=true,I_MarkUnit.TrueText,I_MarkUnit.FalseText),
        DTLength: Value(I_DTLength.Text),
        DTWidth: Value(I_DTWidth.Text),
        DTHeight: Value(I_DTHeight.Text),
        CSTop: Value(I_CSTop.Text),
        CSBottom: Value(I_CSBottom.Text),
        CSSides: Value(I_CSSides.Text),
        SFixings: If(I_SFixings.Value=true,I_SFixings.TrueText,I_SFixings.FalseText),
        RepairsA: If(I_RepairsA.Value=true,I_RepairsA.TrueText,I_RepairsA.FalseText)   
    }
);

If I have a collection (PostCheckSheet) with say 5 values in it, how do I patch each of these records to the correct ID once the app is online again?

In addition, I've understood LoadData() and SaveData() enough to load data into the app OnStart so my dropdown's work.  Sounds silly but what I can't seem to get my head around is how I save records while offline.  i.e. I'm collecting individual records into a collection one by one, but I want to make sure that if something happens and the app is closed (and the collection is possibly lost), that these records are still stored one by one as they are created.

Is it as simple as OnSubmit

Collect(
PostCheckSheet
{All my fields});

SaveData(PostCheckSheet, "PostSaved").

Then when online somehow load that data?

[WarrenBelz]

Hi @sanderson82 ,

I will try to answer your two initial questions and add to what @Anonymous @has correctly pointed out.

My questions...
1) For the first part (PrePour) I'm currently adding records to a collection to then upload when I'm online again.  How can I ensure this collection is stored offline and not lost e.g. if the app is closed until the app is online again ready to upload

I use this facility for offline photos and have never had a user tell me any went missing. As @Anonymous @pointed out, uninstalling PowerApps from the device will clear the cache, but other than that, the data should remain. I had a look at your first bit of code and it should perform its intended purpose. If this assists, I posted this article a little while ago on the offline photos.

2) For the second part (PostPour) how to I make a collection reference an existing SP item ID so that when all the items in the collection are uploaded they patch additional values to the correct records created in the first (PrePour) stage.

This could be part of your OnStart code and as per @Anonymous ‘s suggestion, simply use a ForAll loop to Patch matching IDs with the required data. One caution I would make which depends on the number of users you have with this is version control. So a user returning from a month of leave may not patch back the most recent data. 

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