How to work with Polymorphic lookup in CDS

[krishnags]

Recently, I come across a scenario, where I need to create a CASE record with Customer lookup. Since Customer lookup is a polymorphic type, couldn't be able to get it through directly. But found a way to complete this using Patch and Form control options. It is working as expected - let me know your thoughts in case of any simpler approach

1. Since it is a combination of Contact and Account, we cannot directly use it in Forms or Patch operations
2. This can be achieved in two ways (both require two different combo box controls on the form)
3. Using Patch
4. Using Form

Using Patch:

1. Create a canvas app
2. Add Cases, Accounts and Contacts entities from Data Sources
3. Add a From Control and map it to Case entity
4. Add required Data Cards to it (Do not include Customer field)
5. Add a Radio Button
6. Add Two Combo Boxes and name them cmbAccounts and cmbContacts. Select cmbAccounts control and update its “ITEM” property with Accounts entity and for cmbContacts use “Contacts” against its Item property.
7. Place the combo boxes on top of another (basically first cmbAccounts and on top of it cmbContacts)
8. Select Radio button and go to “On Select” event and add below expression

If(Radio2.Selected.Value="Accounts",Set(varCMBAccounts, true);Set(varCMBContacts,false),If(Radio2.Selected.Value="Contacts",Set(varCMBAccounts, false);Set(varCMBContacts, true)))

1. Select Accounts Combo box-> Visible -> varCMBAccounts
2. Select Contacts Combo box -> Visible -> varCMBContacts
3. Now, on select of “Create Case” button – use the following expression to create a new Case Record

Patch (Cases, Defaults (Cases),{'Case Title':DataCardValue1.Text},{Subject:DataCardValue2.Selected},{Customer:If(Radio2.Selected.Value = "Accounts",
cmbAccounts.Selected, If(Radio2.Selected.Value = "Contacts",cmbContacts.Selected))});
ResetForm(Form1)

Using Form Control (Submit Form ()):

1. Create a canvas app
2. Add Cases, Accounts and Contacts entities from Data Sources
3. Add a From Control and map it to Case entity
4. Add required Data Cards to it and include Customer Data Card too
5. Hide the Customer Data Card (Visible -> false)

Please follow the same steps above from 6 to 10.

Now, select the “Customer” Data Card on the Form and go to “Update” property and add

If(Radio2.Selected.Value = "Accounts",cmbAccounts.Selected, If(Radio2.Selected.Value = "Contacts",cmbContacts.Selected))

On “Create Case” button:

SubmitForm(Form1); ResetForm(Form1)

[jlindstrom]

Case customer is a tricky one--not too long ago it wasn't working when updating via Patch. Glad to see that it is now working.

[timl]

Hi @krishnags 

I think your solution looks great, and with the radio button, it provides a user friendly way for the user to switch between selecting contacts or accounts. Thanks for sharing your code!

[krishnags]

@timl glad to hear it helps.