Using a form with a Rest API

[Ruud]

I got my custom connector working with our Rest API and if I use the local collections (as an offline mode cache), I can work perfectly fine with the Rest API.

But what I can get to work is a form with data straight from the API. I have Gallery with users, you can select one user to edit the details of the user. So I want to show a form and the form needs to get the data from the Rest API.

For the DataSource I have the following :

CustomAPI.GetEmployee({id: ProjectEmployeeGallery.Selected.id})

But then it still requires something in the Item field.

So how do I use the data from the API straight in the form? Because I don't see any fields when I look at the properties of the form?

[yashag2255]

Hi @Ruud 

To return the result from a Custom connector, you need to trigger this by a button or some action. If you wish to directly load the results in a form, there is no direct way but with the use of collection, this can be achieved.

Configurations:

Gallery -> OnSelect -> ClearCollect(MyResponseCollection, CustomAPI.GetEmployee({id: ProjectEmployeeGallery.Selected.id}))

This will store the response in a collection and you can refer this collection into your edit forms.

Hope this Helps!

If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!

[Ruud]

Ok, so it's the same way as I use it now with the Galleries. Only there was the goal to use the collection as an offline buffer, but this will work.

One other question, how do you update the structure of a collection? I added a field to the results from the API, but the structure of the collection in PowerApps doesn't seem to get updated.

The field is returned when I check the result from the API with Postman.

[yashag2255 · Accepted solution]

Hey @Ruud 

You need to update the Response Sample JSON payload added in the Action definition of the custom connector. Once this is done, remove the custom connector connection from the app and add it again.

Hope this Helps!

If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!

[Ruud]

Ah yes, if forget that step indeed! Thanks!

[yashag2255]

Hey @Ruud 

Were you able to resolve? If so, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @Ruud ,

Have you solved your problem?

Firstly, if you want to connect a Edit form to a Collection, I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs. Currently, the Edit form/Display form in PowerApps could only allowed to connected to a Table data source, e.g. Excel table, SQL Table, SP List, etc. It is not supported to connect to collection or action data source (e.g. Office 365 Users, Outlook, etc).

More details about data source types in PowerApps, please check the following article:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/connections-list

Even though, you set the collection as data source in your Edit form, the columns in your collection would not be rendered as Data cards automatically in your Edit form.

As an alternative solution, you could consider create a Edit table using Gallery to display records retrieved from your RES API, then you could edit your records within the Gallery. Please check the following blog or video for more details:

https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/editable-tables/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2WqhRTUhyw

If you added a field to the results from your REST API, you shoud re-configure your custom connector within your PowerApps. Please edit your customer connector action, then edit the Response part, then click "Import from sample", within the Response Body, you should include the new added filed, then click "Import" button and save your custom connnector. After that, try your custom connector action in your app, check if the issue is solved.

Best regards,