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Question about Context Variables and Clearing an Object Data Type

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Posted on by tly

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This is one of those weird questions where it may have already been discussed, but hidden behind unexpected subject terms. If this is the case, can you please supply a link? Thanks.

So I've been playing around with the idea of assigning objects to context variables (as well as collection fields). For example:

UpdateContext(myContextVariable, First(Filter(myCustomerSPList, ID=100)))

Once I've assigned myContextVariable to this item, I can refer to my customer as myContextVariable.FirstName. This is my intention. Now, I run some subsequent filters based on this data, so at some point, I'd like to clear out this data.

If I type in Clear(myContextVariable), I get an error because it's not a "collection" data type. If I type UpdateContext(myContextVariable, ""), I also get an error because it's not a "text" data type. It's an "object" data type. How do you clear that? Thanks.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/functions/function-updatecontext

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Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi tommyly

Interesting that your function below worked as well.
UpdateContext(myContextVariable, First(Filter(myCustomerSPList, ID=100)))
I usually work with the following syntax as indicated in the documentation site you referred to:
UpdateContext( { ContextVariable: Value})

This would suggest that updating your context variable may be possible using:
UpdateContext ( { myContextVariable: "" } )

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Scobie 122 on at

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Hi @tommyly,

This was interesting as I hadn't thought much about a context variable being a object or record type.

To Clear this value for the vaiable you can make use of the Blank() function . As shown here:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/functions/function-isblank-isempty

using the syntax:
UpdateContext({myContextVariable: Blank()})

Scobie

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tly 400 on at

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That seems to do the job. Thanks!

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salvadorplj 9 on at

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The safest way to clear a variable is by being explit about the data type you hold in it, that way you wont have any issues if processes' steps intermix.

Instead of:
UpdateContext({SunShine: Blank()});
Do:
UpdateContext({SunShine: DateTimeValue(Blank())});

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Golly 127 on at

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Be careful with setting variables to Blank()! If you are storing a formula or strings with string interpolation in the variable, Blank() will store in the variable instead of clearing it, resulting in the variable clearing the value where you're using it.

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