Updating Excel spreadsheet from app

[jenfoxbot]

I am building an inventory tracking app starting from an Excel spreadsheet. Updates made in the app (e.g. changes in quantity or unit price) are successfully auto-updated in the Excel spreadsheet except for the calculated "total value" (unit price multiplied by quantity).

I've attempted using a flow to force update but it's unclear how to input Key Value so that it takes the Total Value from PowerApps:

Implemented the above flow with no errors, but it's not working and I can't find any related resources so now I'm stuck. Any suggestions or resources are much appreciated. Thank you!

If helpful, here's a screenshot of a part of the app that shows the "Total Value" quantity:

[alaabitar]

Hello,

If this column is a calculated column in your Excel sheet why are you trying to force the update on it ?

Best regards,

Alaa

[jenfoxbot]

AFAIK Power Apps doesn't support formulas in Excel tables, so it can't be calculated in the Excel sheet.

[v-jefferni]

Hi @jenfoxbot ,

Could you please share more details about your scenario? Since you have already using the table as data source, why not do mathematics in Power Apps but using a calculated field?

Best regards,

Community Support Team _ Jeffer Ni
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it.

[alaabitar]

Hello,

Allright now I got it. Well the update row components works a bit in a different way.

The key column and value should be set to the line you want to update then you will pass the value you want to update in the total value field. Check this video it explains it well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FprcZWGJ1F4

Best regards,

Alaa

[jenfoxbot]

Thank you for the video! Helped me learn more about Power Automate. Unfortunately, that's not quite what I need to do. The desired flow is: user input --> Power Apps --> Update Excel column (a single value that has been changed by user)
In the Power Automate 'Update Row' option, the 'Key Value' that determines the row depends on which row the user changed in Power Apps, i.e. it's a dynamic entry. The column value that needs to get changed is also dynamic. Both of these have labels in Power Apps, but I do not see them listed in Power Automate and their value in Power Apps doesn't work properly in Power App. 

I do see that there's an Update() function in Power Apps..... I was having issues implementing that formula but I may try again if all else fails.

Thanks for your suggestions!

[jenfoxbot]

Thank you for the response. Here's a screenshot of how I'm calculating the value in Power Apps:

The issue is that putting a (needed) formula here stopped pushing updates to Excel (for this value only). Is there a way to use the Update() function to update when the user changes the value while keeping the calculation?

[v-jefferni]

Hi @jenfoxbot ,

Please refer to below doc:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/connections/cloud-storage-blob-connecti...

• If your Excel data includes a calculated column, you can't use it to build an app, and you can’t add that data to an existing app.

Best regards,

Community Support Team _ Jeffer Ni
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it.

[jenfoxbot]

Thank you for the response. Yes, I know that the Excel connector does not support calculated columns, which is why I had to implement the calculation in Power Apps studio. Where I'm stuck is getting the calculated value to update in Excel from Power Apps: User input --> Power Apps --> update Excel table.

[v-jefferni]

Hi @jenfoxbot ,

I see you have appended formula on the Label in Detail Form which is only used to display an item from the data source. If you would like to update the value to Excel, please move the formula to the Edit form in Edit screen. Text of the Label within Detail form should be the same as other controls from any other data cards, Parent.Default

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Community Support Team _ Jeffer Ni
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it.