Unanswered

Setting a simple Global variable Not working

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by jv123

226

According to this documentation, developers should be able to set global variables anywhere. The documentation is either inaccurate or flawed (omitting an important detail). From the attached screenshot I am trying to do a simple global variable set. Set(VarN,2). When I test VarN, it's empty.

MS Documentation:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-apps/maker/canvas-apps/working-with-variables

Categories:

Building Power Apps

I have the same question (0)

All responses (5)

Answers (0)

Sort by

cha_cha 4,932 Moderator on at

Like (2)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hello @jv123

Where and how are you initializing the variable? Variable values are initialized/updated when a specific event is simulated (examples: OnSelect, OnStart, OnSuccess)

If you want the value to be set when the app is loaded, you should put it in App.Onstart property, like this:

But if you are in developing mode (not play mode), that will not take effect immediately as you need to simulate the Actual App.OnStart to assign a value. It can be done here:

If you did not trigger the property that initializes your value, it will remain null. An example of this would be you set the value on an OnVisible or on an OnClick property, but there was no action yet made to simulate that event, then the value will be null.

Also if you think that the explanation is misleading, scroll down to the bottom of the page so you can give feedback. This will get the attention of Microsoft and update it to something more appropriate.

✔️
Just in case you my answer helped you solve your problem, please mark/accept this as a SOLUTION. This helps community members if they experience a similar issue in the future.

🔗
🕸bistek.space 🐦 @cha_bistek 📺 @BisTekSpace

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
jv123 226 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

It's initialized from an "OnSuccess" button action. I find this part of PowerApps to be inconsistent. All other variables evaluate when testing but a direct assignment doesn't test out at all. Makes very little sense. From the additional screenshots I included, I am testing another variable in the same code block that doesn't use a direct "Set" function and it tests out just fine.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
cha_cha 4,932 Moderator on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hello @jv123 ,

Maybe you are right. Though still consider giving feedback to that Learn page so that it can be rectified by Microsoft.

Also, here's a video of Shane Young about variables. It might be your quickest way to familiarise variable types with actual demonstration.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
jv123 226 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

I've watched Shane's videos he's got outstanding tips and I posed a few questions for him in the past. I'm familiar with variables but rarely had to do direct assignment with "Set".

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Pstork1 69,197 Most Valuable Professional on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

[@InputItem].Text isn't a variable. Its a property of a control. That's why they evaluate differently. The vaue of an actual global variable has to be established using the Set() command. And the function needs to be executed before the value will be set.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No