I have a SharePoint list with user related information on it. I have created a Power Apps Custom form connected to the list.
I want to make some calculations of user name length and create some warnings based on a persons proper names, preferred names, and whether they want to use preferred names in eMail etc.
The form works fine to create and edit records and save these changes.
I am trying to add some on-screen calculations of user name based on the users Proper Given Name, Proper Family Name, Preferred Given Name, Preferred Family Name, and a check box "Use Preferred Names in Email" These are all SharePoint list fields.
I have tried two main approaches: Helper Fields on the Form (not connected to the SharePoint list), and Context Variables. Neither seem to work.
Helper fields with formulae calculating the values of parts of the user name dont update when the user edits the values of the SharePoint fields on the form that the formula uses. The helper fields are set accurately when the form opens, but do not responde to any changes on the form. Is this because these fields are not bound to a List Column? If I use helper fields that are actually in the list will this work? I then have to hide these from the end users, so this seems like extra work that should not be necessary.
In the Context Variables approach I created OnChange forumulae in each of the contributing SharePoint fields updating the values (using the same forumule as for the Helper fields) of the Context variables. I can not find where to set the values of these variable correctly when the form first opens. But most problematic is that the values of the Context Variables only update once, and only when the 'Use Preferred in Email' check box is checked. I have tried putting the same formule in the OnSelected attributes of the data cards as well with no change in behaviour. Is the OnChange event only going to fire once for any field on the form? This does not seem right? Surely any change to the value in a field on the form should fire the OnChange event, and the formulae below shoud update the value of the context variables, and these values should refresh in the fields that reference them?
Here are some details for the Context Forumulae approach. Similar Formulae were used for the Helper Fields approach.
OnChange: ('Preferred Given Name' SP Field DataCardValue)
UpdateContext({cvunGiven: Substitute(Substitute(Trim(If(ThisItem.'Use Preferred in Email' && Len(ThisItem.'Preferred Given Name') > 0,ThisItem.'Preferred Given Name',ThisItem.'Given Name'))," ",""),"'","")})
OnChange: ('Preferred Family Name' SP Field DataCardValue)
UpdateContext({cvunFamily:Substitute(Substitute(Trim(If(ThisItem.'Use Preferred in Email' && Len(ThisItem.'Preferred Family Name')>0,ThisItem.'Preferred Family Name',ThisItem.'Family Name'))," ",""),"'","")})
OnChange: ('Use Preferred in Email' SP Field DataCardValue)
UpdateContext({cvunFamily:Substitute(Substitute(Trim(If(ThisItem.'Use Preferred in Email' && Len(ThisItem.'Preferred Family Name')>0,ThisItem.'Preferred Family Name',ThisItem.'Family Name'))," ",""),"'",""),cvunGiven: Substitute(Substitute(Trim(If(ThisItem.'Use Preferred in Email' && Len(ThisItem.'Preferred Given Name') > 0,ThisItem.'Preferred Given Name',ThisItem.'Given Name'))," ",""),"'","")})
Helper Field: unGiven
Text: cvunGiven
Helper Field: unFamily
Text: cvunFamily
