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Patching null to SQL, any updates?

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Posted on by vladimir84

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As a fundamental feature, it should have been there on day 1, but I have to deliver the project so I don't have time to explain how serious this is.

Please tell me when will the feature of saving a NULL value to SQL be available, as a final and integral part of PowerApps.

I realize that there is an experimental feature, but there are two issues:

- production apps must not contain anything called "experimental" (would you trust your bank to use an experimental feature?)

- once enabled, the Patch function fails on some random columns.

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Building Power Apps

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RandyHayes 76,297 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@vladimir84

My only suggestion to you is this:

1) The feature has been experimental for a couple years now...I would say it is pretty well vetted at this point. Since it is the only way to null a list column, it is what you have. I would say that if the team decided to just remove that because it is called experimental - there would be a mass exodus of PowerApps makers.

2) The feature provides more information about problems in your formulas...if you are getting Patch failures, I would be highly concerned over that. Turning off a feature that uncovers potential errors in your app for the sake of ignoring those errors it probably not something you would want in a production app.

I will only add that when we start an app...that's the first feature that gets turned on, usually before even one control is added to the app.

I hope this is helpful for you.

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PaulD1 2,914 on at

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@vladimir84 - I wouldn't hold my breath. Sadly it feels like SQL is being 'de-emphasized' in favour of (the far inferior in my opinion) Dataverse. Certainly client requests to us for new SQL + Power Apps solutions have dried up since the license changes/increases at the end of 2019, so I would guess that will be reflected in telemetry and likely put any improvements relating to SQL near the bottom of the to-do list.

As for trusting Preview/Experimental features, I know for a fact that there are still known bugs in 'Explicit Column Selection' for example which has been in Experimental and then Preview for about 2.5 years if memory serves. While I very much respect @RandyHayes view, I wouldn't want it to be my neck on the line if an important App failed and the issue was traced back to my decision to use a preview/experimental feature.

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RandyHayes 76,297 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@PaulD1

In context! My point exactly (although not directly) was that the experimental features are just about as reliable as the preview features. There are a lot of places where there are known issues. My main statement was that if that particular feature was removed (which seemed to be the fear), there would be a lot of people that would jump ship. So, I can put a pretty good bet on it being around from here on - or at least the functionality incorporated into something else.

I do tend to find that things that have a workaround are pretty low on the priority list. Since writing the null to the source has a solution, I wouldn't see that as a priority. Probably more so that they need to elevate the feature from Experimental to Preview.

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PaulD1 2,914 on at

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@RandyHayes - apologies if my post misrepresented you/your point in any way, not my intent.

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RandyHayes 76,297 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@PaulD1

Oh goodness...no, no. Not at all. It was one of those things that when I originally responded I consider going into more detail about, but thought what I had mentioned was enough. The points I made where in line with what you were saying. The only point I left out was that, the experimental feature has been around long enough that it should be consider "preview". And...since the preview features have enough issues - it would fit right in.

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