how to make data table connection to an MS Form

[jshining]

I have a Form with results that I would like to access from a PowerApp through a Data Table.

I have successfully done this before using a OneDrive Excel sheet or a SharePoint List, and for these items the add data source is intuitive and asks for a direct link to the file. However when I try to add a Form or MS Team it doesn't prompt for any further information, it just adds the application MS Form and MS Teams, etc. How do I make the link to the specific .xlsx that sits on the Teams site?

Thanks, 

-J

[Jeff_Thorpe]

You need to export the data from Forms into Excel and then connect to the Excel file. You can't connect directly to the data in Forms.

[jshining]

Thank you @Jeff_Thorpe but how do I automate the export to an excel sheet that can be connected to a data table for read/write? I need to be able to clear the Forms results from the PowerApp so that it can be conveniently be repurposed, and I need to read the results from the same app without having to perform a manual export.

The only solution I see at this point is to somehow use Flow to reference the .xlsx file sitting on the backend of the Form. But I can't figure out how to pass the excel data back to PowerApp. I couldn't figure out how to use the Send data to back to PowerApp connector either, and I believe it's still in preview.

Thanks for the help.

-J

[jshining]

Correct me, but I think what I am after here and perhaps what @Jeff_Thorpe was getting at is to add the data source and then use the 'ExcelOnline(Business)' library to access the data from the PowerApp.

As a beginner it wasn't clear to me that the addition of a data source was similar to adding a library of commands (when not adding a singular file). Perhaps the MicrosoftForms command library can be used to extract all the responses, though get response by ID is currently the only available command.

[Jeff_Thorpe]

If you were using Forms as a survey and there is no more responses coming in the you would go to Forms and save the results as an excel file and load that in OneDrive. If the form is on going then you can use Flow to write all new requests to Excel, SharePoint list or SQL DB and then use the appropriate connector in PowerApps to view the data in PowerApps.

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @jshining ,

Based on the issue that you mentioned, I think you have some misunderstanding on the data source type supported in PowerApps.

There are two types of data source in PowerApps -- Table data source (e.g. Excel, SP List, SQL Table, ...) and Action data source (Office 365 Outlook, Office 365 Users, Azure AD, ...). The DataSource property of the Data Table could only connected to Table data source.

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

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

If you want to display results from MS Forms connector or MS Teams connector within Data Table, you should execute corresponding action formula within the Items property of the Data Table as below:

Set the Items property of the Data Table to following:

MicrosoftTeams.GetAllTeams().value

The supported action under the MS Teams connector as below:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/teams/#actions

The supported action under the MS Forms connectoe as below:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/microsoftforms/#actions

If you want to display the .xlsx file data sits on the Teams Site within your Data Table control or display all results of a MS Form within the Data Table, I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in PowerApps currently.

If you would like this feature to be added in PowerApps, please submit an idea to PowerApps Ideas Forum:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/PowerApps-Ideas/idb-p/PowerAppsIdeas

Best regards,

[jshining]

Thanks @v-xida-msft  I am getting there. I realized the best way to accomplish this is to export MS Forms to an excel file sitting on OneDrive per @Jeff_Thorpe suggestion, and then write a Flow that updates the excel file for every new response that arrives. I can then analyze the response data using a OneDrive DataTable connector in the PowerApp. While ExcelOnline(Business) is not implemented for PowerApps, it has enough functionality to get me what I need within Flow. 

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @jshining ,

Yeah, I agree with you.

Based on the needs that you mentioned, I think Microsoft Flow could achieve your needs. Please take a try with it, then check if the issue is solved.

If you have any questions about MS Flow, you could also consider reply here.

Best regards,