web
You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
close
Skip to main content

Announcements

News and Announcements icon
Community site session details

Community site session details

Session Id :
Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Apps / Referencing pointers
Power Apps
Answered

Referencing pointers

(0) ShareShare
ReportReport
Posted on by 1,330

Hello,

This quote is from Updatecontext documentation:

 

As the examples later in this topic show, context variables can hold several kinds of information, including these:

  • a single value
  • a record
  • a collection
  • an object reference
  • any result from a formula

 

Context variables can also contain an object reference, it says here. Would that work as a kind of ByRef instead of ByVal in .Net lingo? If not, is there another way to reference a collection so the value of the variable will change when the collection changes? So, a pointer instead of a replicated value?

 

Thank you

Categories:
I have the same question (0)
  • Verified answer
    Meneghino Profile Picture
    6,949 on at

    Hi @Mike8

     

    I believe that in the documentation 'an object reference' means something like an image.  For example: UpdateContext({MyPicture: SampleImage})

     

    If you need to "refrence a collection so the value of the variable will change when the collection changes", then you simply directly reference the collection.  For example if you need the sum of a column in a collection, then you use:

    Sum(MyCollection, MyNumberColumn)

    The value of this expression will change when the collection changes.

     

    I hope this helps.

     

  • Verified answer
    Mike8 Profile Picture
    1,330 on at

    Hello @Meneghino,

     

    If Collection1 is part of Collection2 and an item in Collection1 changes I would like Collection2 to be updated automatically.

    Thank you for your reply.

Under review

Thank you for your reply! To ensure a great experience for everyone, your content is awaiting approval by our Community Managers. Please check back later.

Helpful resources

Quick Links

Season of Sharing Community Challenge Winners!

Congratulations to our community stars!

Kudos to our 2025 Community Spotlight Honorees

Expanding mentorship, skilling, and AI innovation

Congratulations to the July Top 10 Community Leaders!

These are the community rock stars!

Leaderboard > Power Apps

#1
WarrenBelz Profile Picture

WarrenBelz 377 Most Valuable Professional

#2
11manish Profile Picture

11manish 165 Super User 2026 Season 2

#3
MS.Ragavendar Profile Picture

MS.Ragavendar 110 Super User 2026 Season 2

Last 30 days Overall leaderboard