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Setting a simple Global variable Not working

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Posted on by jv123

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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

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cha_cha 4,932 Moderator on at

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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.

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jv123 224 on at

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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.

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cha_cha 4,932 Moderator on at

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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.

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jv123 224 on at

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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".

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Pstork1 68,717 Most Valuable Professional on at

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[@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.

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