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 / Using lookups with cal...
Power Apps
Answered

Using lookups with calculated fields

(0) ShareShare
ReportReport
Posted on by 31

I have a custom table that I'd like to add a field to that concatenates the values from a related row in another table. For example, in a table that contains line items for an order, I want to add a field that displays the name and description of an item. The name and description exist on the Items table.  The 'Line Item' table has a relationship connection to the Items table and the Orders table.

 

My first instinct is to create a calculated field that concatenates the item name and item description, but I'd like to avoid adding those columns to the 'Line Items' table if possible.

 

What's the best way to accomplish this? 

I have the same question (0)
  • Verified answer
    steeevid Profile Picture
    333 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

    Not sure how the relationship in your system works, it sounds like you have 3 or 2 tables?

     

    Anyway, use power fx formula column in the target table:

     

    formula example:

     

    concatenate('Item'.name, 'Item'.description)

     

    feel free to add any fixed seperator in the concatenate function to divide the text

     

    Never use calculated field, they are **bleep**

     

  • SescoDev Profile Picture
    31 on at

    Thank you, that worked like a charm. Some things I learned in the process:

     

    1) The related table needs to be a lookup column.

     

    2) Use the name of the lookup column, not the name of the lookup table. Example:

    If I have Table "Line Items," a table named "Products" with the columns "name" and "description," and a lookup column in "Line Items" called "item", then for a column in "Line Items" that returns the composite name and description, I'd use this formula:

    concatenate('item'.name & " " & 'item'.description)

     

    Thanks for pointing me in the right direction, I hadn't even realized that I could use PowerFX as a column type! This opens up a lot of exciting possibilities.

  • steeevid Profile Picture
    333 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

    Yes when you created a lookup column you created a relationship, then power fx is able to explore the relationship like an object.

  • Gprior Profile Picture
    188 on at

    OH MY! I've been searching for this specific help for weeks! Thanks a lot!!!! I confirm it worked perfectly... the idea that the relation between table is an object and it is flexible is mind blowing!! Thank you again!

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

Introducing the 2026 Season 1 community Super Users

Congratulations to our 2026 Super Users!

Kudos to our 2025 Community Spotlight Honorees

Congratulations to our 2025 community superstars!

Leaderboard > Power Apps

#1
WarrenBelz Profile Picture

WarrenBelz 519 Most Valuable Professional

#2
11manish Profile Picture

11manish 489

#3
Haque Profile Picture

Haque 327

Last 30 days Overall leaderboard