cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
AccuFloDev
Advocate II
Advocate II

Help with LookUp Columns - CDS Entities returning null data for lookups in PowerApps

Hello,

 

I've posted about this twice before over the past month with no answer from anyone from Microsoft, and now my project is way behind.

I have a PowerApp Canvas App I'm developing with the new CDS for Apps.
One of my custom entities has six lookup columns which I'm trying to load into a form from a Gallery.

When I open an item from the Gallery in a Form, most of the time it WILL NOT load LookUp data.
When I try to display the lookup information in the "DefaultSelectedItems" function, it is blank because the lookup data is blank.

When I compare the data of the Entity Row to what's in the database, it shows values for the lookups.
However, in the app it is 'blank'.  

This issue comes and goes (sometimes it works, usually it does not) and I can't make heads or tails of it.

How can I query for a specific entity row and ensure that ALL the columns, including the lookup columns, have data in them?  Is this an issue that is Microsoft is aware of, or is it possibly something I'm doing wrong?

27 REPLIES 27

Hi @AccuFloDev 

I'm new with powerapps, thats why i need to reanimate this thread..

 


@AccuFloDev wrote:

 


In regards to my issue, I'm trying to improve performance of an app by making it work mostly offline until the user initiates a sync on demand. 


Could you please share me the formula for this part please?

Thanks,

 

BR.

pytbyt

 

 


@PytByt wrote:

Hi @AccuFloDev 

I'm new with powerapps, thats why i need to reanimate this thread..

 


@AccuFloDev wrote:

 


In regards to my issue, I'm trying to improve performance of an app by making it work mostly offline until the user initiates a sync on demand. 


Could you please share me the formula for this part please?

Thanks,

 

BR.

pytbyt

 

 


Hey @PytByt ,

The functionality I was describing isn't all in a single formula - could you be more specific as to the information you're looking for?  I'll try to provide what I can.

Hey @KelvinBox ,


I was unable to get the lookups to show using labels on a page prior to the call to Collect().
I was however able to get the lookups working using a slightly different method;
I may also have found an alternative to using First() that may have less of a hit on the device storage:

 

Here's a basic outline of the steps I used:

  1. On app launch, navigate to a 'splash' screen which will grab online data (if connected) through a series of buttons which iterate through all the entities I need to grab.

  2. On this same page, I have added forms for every entity with lookup values I need to pull in: 1-form-per-entity.
    Each form has DataCards for the following:

    1. A DataCard for each required lookup column.
      • Ensure that the Combo Box for the lookup field shows a value that is guaranteed to have data, such as the Id column of the lookup entity.

    2. A DataCard for the Entity's Id (The Entity with the lookup column, not the lookup's Id)
      This will reassure you that you are indeed getting entity data.

  3. Set the DataSource property of each form to a CDS Entity you need lookup columns for.

  4. On the Items property of each form, use code similar to the example below to pull in a single row.
    According to Microsoft the code is delegable , so hopefully this avoids the caching issue when using First()
    LookUp(
        'My Entity', //CDS Entity
        Not(IsBlank('My Entity Id')) //Get an item where the ID column isn't blank (This guarantees you get a result, if one exists - ID can't be blank)
    )
  5. (Optional) Set the Visibility of these forms to false unless some debug flag is active

  6. After data has been cached on the splash page, navigate to your app's first screen (where your galleries and forms should be).

This has worked to get the lookups showing consistently.  I am running into another issue now with having to Refresh() data sources twice before data comes in, but at least it's bringing in the Lookup values now.
(I will be creating a separate thread on the Refresh issue)

 

Anyway, if you have any questions on my methodology above please let me know.

Hi @AccuFloDev 

I need to know what formula is use to make the offline features. 

I mean, i already use the collection, and i also know about the SaveData and LoadData function. But i haven't really know how to use it and where to put it.

 

That's is why i'm interest in your solution which make the app work mostly offline until the user initiates a sync on demand.

 

I also need to know to automatically sync when Connection is connected.

 

Hope you could help.

 

Thank,

BR.

pytbyt


@PytByt wrote:

Hi @AccuFloDev 

I need to know what formula is use to make the offline features. 

I mean, i already use the collection, and i also know about the SaveData and LoadData function. But i haven't really know how to use it and where to put it.

 

That's is why i'm interest in your solution which make the app work mostly offline until the user initiates a sync on demand.

 

I also need to know to automatically sync when Connection is connected.

 

Hope you could help.

 

Thank,

BR.

pytbyt




Hey @PytByt ,

That's a bit of a loaded question, I'm not sure if I can provide you enough info here in the forums to cover that broad topic, but I can point you in the right direction to some blog articles on the subject take a look at these and let me know if you have any specific questions that aren't covered in the articles:

 

  1. Implementing Offline Capabilities for Relational Data
  2. Implementing Offline Capabilities in your App
  3. Develop offline-capable canvas apps

 

In regards to:

I also need to know to automatically sync when Connection is connected.


There are probably a lot of ways to do this, but my preferred method is to have a button on the apps 'main' screen which runs the 'sync' code.  You could trigger this in a couple of ways:

 

  1. Use the Screens OnVisible property to detect if connected and if so, click the sync button.
    This will have the behaviour of syncing when the screen first loads when the device is connected:
    //Screens OnVisible Property
    If(
      Connection.Connected,
      Select('Sync Button');
    );
  2. To have a screen automatically detect a change in the connection state then run the sync, you could use a Toggle control on the page you wish to do that on, set up something like this:

    *Disclaimer - I haven't tested this code to see if it works, please let me know if you have issues*
    //Toggle Control 'Default' Property
    Connection.Connected
    //Toggle Control 'OnCheck' Property
    //This code will run only when the connection state changes from false to true
    Select('Sync Button');
    You can then set the Visible property of the toggle to false to the users can't manually change the toggle.
alexis
Frequent Visitor

I'm facing the same issue here.

It's the first time I use the CDS and I just spent the day trying to figure out why it does not work.

I tried the First(Filter()) solution but it does not work better.

 

I can't use the Gallery control solution so I don't really know what to do from here.

 

Any updates from Microsoft on when the issue would be resolved ?

 

Thanks

I think the response from @AccuFloDev to me above is still relevant and hasn’t changed unfortunately. 

if you provide specific examples of what you’re doing we can probably help 🙂

Hi,

Yes here's a bit more context:
My tables are: Employees and JobType and the relationship between the 2 tables is:
alexis_0-1605714534995.jpeg

 

 
The issue is when I request a row from the Employee table using the LookUp() or First(Filter()) functions, the Lookup Columns retrieved are always Blank() although there is data in it. I tried getting the result from OnStart, OnVisible, OnSelect, into a global or a local variable and the result is the same every time. All LookUp Columns are always Blank(), No Exceptions.

I'll try the solution from @AccuFloDev  using the Spash Screen. 
By the way, how are the refreshed handled using this solution ?

Thanks

Helpful resources

Announcements

Power Platform Connections Ep 15 | L. Baybutt | Thursday, 1 June 2023

Episode Fifteen of Power Platform Connections sees David Warner and Hugo Bernier talk to Microsoft MVP Lewis Baybutt aka Low Code Lewis, alongside the latest news and community blogs.   Use the hashtag #PowerPlatformConnects on social media for a chance to have your work featured on the show.      Action requested: Feel free to provide feedback on how we can make our community more inclusive and diverse.  This episode premiers live on our YouTube at 12pm PST on Thursday 1st June 2023.  Video series available at Power Platform Community YouTube channel.    Upcoming events:  European Power Platform conference – Jun. 20-22nd - Dublin Microsoft Power Platform Conference – Oct. 3-5th - Las Vegas  Join our Communities:  Power Apps Community Power Automate Community Power Virtual Agents Community Power Pages Community  If you’d like to hear from a specific community member in an upcoming recording and/or have specific questions for the Power Platform Connections team, please let us know. We will do our best to address all your requests or questions.   

May 2023 Community Newsletter and Upcoming Events

Welcome to our May 2023 Community Newsletter, where we'll be highlighting the latest news, releases, upcoming events, and the great work of our members inside the Biz Apps communities. If you're new to this LinkedIn group, be sure to subscribe here in the News & Announcements to stay up to date with the latest news from our ever-growing membership network who "changed the way they thought about code".       LATEST NEWS "Mondays at Microsoft" LIVE on LinkedIn - 8am PST - Monday 15th May  - Grab your Monday morning coffee and come join Principal Program Managers Heather Cook and Karuana Gatimu for the premiere episode of "Mondays at Microsoft"! This show will kick off the launch of the new Microsoft Community LinkedIn channel and cover a whole host of hot topics from across the #PowerPlatform, #ModernWork, #Dynamics365, #AI, and everything in-between. Just click the image below to register and come join the team LIVE on Monday 15th May 2023 at 8am PST. Hope to see you there!     Executive Keynote | Microsoft Customer Success Day CVP for Business Applications & Platform, Charles Lamanna, shares the latest #BusinessApplications product enhancements and updates to help customers achieve their business outcomes.     S01E13 Power Platform Connections - 12pm PST - Thursday 11th May Episode Thirteen of Power Platform Connections sees Hugo Bernier take a deep dive into the mind of co-host David Warner II, alongside the reviewing the great work of Dennis Goedegebuure, Keith Atherton, Michael Megel, Cat Schneider, and more. Click below to subscribe and get notified, with David and Hugo LIVE in the YouTube chat from 12pm PST. And use the hashtag #PowerPlatformConnects on social media for a chance to have your work featured on the show.     UPCOMING EVENTS   European Power Platform Conference - early bird ticket sale ends! The European Power Platform Conference early bird ticket sale ends on Friday 12th May 2023! #EPPC23 brings together the Microsoft Power Platform Communities for three days of unrivaled days in-person learning, connections and inspiration, featuring three inspirational keynotes, six expert full-day tutorials, and over eighty-five specialist sessions, with guest speakers including April Dunnam, Dona Sarkar, Ilya Fainberg, Janet Robb, Daniel Laskewitz, Rui Santos, Jens Christian Schrøder, Marco Rocca, and many more. Deep dive into the latest product advancements as you hear from some of the brightest minds in the #PowerApps space. Click here to book your ticket today and save!      DynamicMinds Conference - Slovenia - 22-24th May 2023 It's not long now until the DynamicsMinds Conference, which takes place in Slovenia on 22nd - 24th May, 2023 - where brilliant minds meet, mingle & share! This great Power Platform and Dynamics 365 Conference features a whole host of amazing speakers, including the likes of Georg Glantschnig, Dona Sarkar, Tommy Skaue, Monique Hayward, Aleksandar Totovic, Rachel Profitt, Aurélien CLERE, Ana Inés Urrutia de Souza, Luca Pellegrini, Bostjan Golob, Shannon Mullins, Elena Baeva, Ivan Ficko, Guro Faller, Vivian Voss, Andrew Bibby, Tricia Sinclair, Roger Gilchrist, Sara Lagerquist, Steve Mordue, and many more. Click here: DynamicsMinds Conference for more info on what is sure an amazing community conference covering all aspects of Power Platform and beyond.    Days of Knowledge Conference in Denmark - 1-2nd June 2023 Check out 'Days of Knowledge', a Directions 4 Partners conference on 1st-2nd June in Odense, Denmark, which focuses on educating employees, sharing knowledge and upgrading Business Central professionals. This fantastic two-day conference offers a combination of training sessions and workshops - all with Business Central and related products as the main topic. There's a great list of industry experts sharing their knowledge, including Iona V., Bert Verbeek, Liza Juhlin, Douglas Romão, Carolina Edvinsson, Kim Dalsgaard Christensen, Inga Sartauskaite, Peik Bech-Andersen, Shannon Mullins, James Crowter, Mona Borksted Nielsen, Renato Fajdiga, Vivian Voss, Sven Noomen, Paulien Buskens, Andri Már Helgason, Kayleen Hannigan, Freddy Kristiansen, Signe Agerbo, Luc van Vugt, and many more. If you want to meet industry experts, gain an advantage in the SMB-market, and acquire new knowledge about Microsoft Dynamics Business Central, click here Days of Knowledge Conference in Denmark to buy your ticket today!   COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS Check out our top Super and Community Users reaching new levels! These hardworking members are posting, answering questions, kudos, and providing top solutions in their communities.   Power Apps:  Super Users: @WarrenBelz, @LaurensM  @BCBuizer  Community Users:  @Amik@ @mmollet, @Cr1t    Power Automate:  Super Users: @Expiscornovus , @grantjenkins, @abm  Community Users: @Nived_Nambiar, @ManishSolanki    Power Virtual Agents:  Super Users: @Pstork1, @Expiscornovus  Community Users: @JoseA, @fernandosilva, @angerfire1213    Power Pages: Super Users: @ragavanrajan  Community Users: @Fubar, @Madhankumar_L,@gospa  LATEST COMMUNITY BLOG ARTICLES  Power Apps Community Blog  Power Automate Community Blog  Power Virtual Agents Community Blog  Power Pages Community Blog  Check out 'Using the Community' for more helpful tips and information:  Power Apps , Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents, Power Pages 

Microsoft Power Platform Conference | Registration Open | Oct. 3-5 2023

We are so excited to see you for the Microsoft Power Platform Conference in Las Vegas October 3-5 2023! But first, let's take a look back at some fun moments and the best community in tech from MPPC 2022 in Orlando, Florida.   Featuring guest speakers such as Charles Lamanna, Heather Cook, Julie Strauss, Nirav Shah, Ryan Cunningham, Sangya Singh, Stephen Siciliano, Hugo Bernier and many more.   Register today: https://www.powerplatformconf.com/   

Check out the new Power Platform Communities Front Door Experience!

We are excited to share the ‘Power Platform Communities Front Door’ experience with you!   Front Door brings together content from all the Power Platform communities into a single place for our community members, customers and low-code, no-code enthusiasts to learn, share and engage with peers, advocates, community program managers and our product team members. There are a host of features and new capabilities now available on Power Platform Communities Front Door to make content more discoverable for all power product community users which includes ForumsUser GroupsEventsCommunity highlightsCommunity by numbersLinks to all communities Users can see top discussions from across all the Power Platform communities and easily navigate to the latest or trending posts for further interaction. Additionally, they can filter to individual products as well.       Users can filter and browse the user group events from all power platform products with feature parity to existing community user group experience and added filtering capabilities.     Users can now explore user groups on the Power Platform Front Door landing page with capability to view all products in Power Platform.    Explore Power Platform Communities Front Door today. Visit Power Platform Community Front door to easily navigate to the different product communities, view a roll up of user groups, events and forums.

Welcome to the Power Apps Community

Welcome! Congratulations on joining the Microsoft Power Apps community! You are now a part of a vibrant group of peers and industry experts who are here to network, share knowledge, and even have a little fun! Now that you are a member, you can enjoy the following resources:   The Microsoft Power Apps Community Forums If you are looking for support with any part of Microsoft Power Apps, our forums are the place to go. They are titled "Get Help with Microsoft Power Apps " and there you will find thousands of technical professionals with years of experience who are ready and eager to answer your questions. You now have the ability to post, reply and give "kudos" on the Power Apps community forums! Make sure you conduct a quick search before creating a new post because your question may have already been asked and answered!   Microsoft Power Apps IdeasDo you have an idea to improve the Microsoft Power Apps experience, or a feature request for future product updates? Then the "Power Apps Ideas" section is where you can contribute your suggestions and vote for ideas posted by other community members. We constantly look to the most voted Ideas when planning updates, so your suggestions and votes will always make a difference.   Community Blog & NewsOver the years, more than 600 Power Apps Community Blog Articles have been written and published by our thriving community. Our community members have learned some excellent tips and have keen insights on building Power Apps. On the Power Apps Community Blog, read the latest Power Apps related posts from our community blog authors around the world. Let us know if you would like to become an author and contribute your own writing — everything Power Apps related is welcome!   Power Apps Samples, Learning and Videos GalleriesOur galleries have a little bit of everything to do with Power Apps. Our galleries are great for finding inspiration for your next app or component. You can view, comment and kudo the apps and component gallery to see what others have created! Or share Power Apps that you have created with other Power Apps enthusiasts. Along with all of that awesome content, there is the Power Apps Community Video & MBAS gallery where you can watch tutorials and demos by Microsoft staff, partners, and community gurus in our community video gallery.   Again, we are excited to welcome you to the Microsoft Power Apps community family! Whether you are brand new to the world of process automation or you are a seasoned Power Apps veteran. Our goal is to shape the community to be your ‘go to’ for support, networking, education, inspiration and encouragement as we enjoy this adventure together!   Let us know in the Community Feedback if you have any questions or comments about your community experience.To learn more about the community and your account be sure to visit our Community Support Area boards to learn more! We look forward to seeing you in the Power Apps Community!The Power Apps Team

Users online (4,007)