Special Characters in attachments file name

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Posted on 20 Oct 2023 14:06:35 by LindseyT

Hello!

I have a canvas app with a form that allows users to upload attachments. The issue is that users upload attachments that have special characters in the file name, and then they are not successfully saved to the SharePoint. Is there a way to show an error message when the file name of a chosen attachment includes a special character before it can be submitted in the app?

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LindseyT 20 on 20 Oct 2023 at 15:25:05

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Re: Special Characters in attachments file name

That worked! Thank you SO MUCH!

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BCBuizer 22,280 Super User 2025 Season 2 on 20 Oct 2023 at 15:21:50

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Re: Special Characters in attachments file name

Hi @LindseyT ,

Assuming tha AttachmentsComponent is a regular Attachments control, the below should work:

If( "Error" in ForAll( AttachmentsComponent.Attachments, If( IsMatch( ThisRecord.Name, ".*[\\\""<>!@#$%^&*].*" ), "Error" ) ), Notify("No special characters in filename please", NotificationType.Error), <Upload file> )

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LindseyT 20 on 20 Oct 2023 at 15:05:46

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Re: Special Characters in attachments file name

Thank you for the response! I am having an issue with the "FileName" you mention above. The datacard is called "AttachmentsComponent" and the only thing I can get to come up is "AttachmentsComponent.Attachments" but this doesn't seem to be looking at the text in the filename from what I can see. Is there a different AttachmentsComponent.XXX that I should be looking for?

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ANB 7,189 Super User 2025 Season 2 on 20 Oct 2023 at 14:19:45

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Re: Special Characters in attachments file name

Hi @LindseyT You can use IsMatch function.

ForAll( NameOfTheAttchmentControl.Attachments As var, If( IsMatch( var.Name, "([_^+&\-\/()])", MatchOptions.Contains ) && !IsEmpty(NameOfTheAttchmentControl.Attachments), ClearCollect( col_IssueInFileName, {Name: var.Name} ) )); If(CountRows(col_IssueInFileName)>0, Notify("Invalid Name", NotificationType.Error), UploadCode)

So, basically, I am considering that you have are allowing multiple attachments. And I am using these "([_^+&\-\/()])" characters as invalid. You can add your own characters. So, if any file name contains these character, then that file name is added into collection and if the CountRows of that collection is more than 0 then you can thrown the error.

You can have modify this code as per your requirement.
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I hope this helps.

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Thanks,
ANB

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BCBuizer 22,280 Super User 2025 Season 2 on 20 Oct 2023 at 14:13:55

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Re: Special Characters in attachments file name

Hi @LindseyT ,

In this topic you can find how to detect special characters: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Power-Apps/Special-Characters-IsMatch-Formula-no-longer-working/m-p/2197893

By using this in the OnSelect property of Upload button (or anything similar), you can show an error:

If( IsMatch(FileName,".*[\\\""<>!@#$%^&*].*"), Notify("No special characters in filename please", NotificationType.Error), <Upload file> )

FileName should be replaced with a reference to the control/object that has the filename and <upload file> should be replaced with the formula you currently have to upload files.

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