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Create collection with variable columns based on User input data

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I am building an app for filling out a form. The form contains 50+ fields with most not required (data privacy reasons). I'm storing any fields actually filled out by User into a Collection to send up as JSON to a flow. I don't want to send out all 50+ fields, only the ones that actually get populated based on controls such as radio button selection or textbox entries.

How can I achieve the end result? Thanks!

Example:
User A -- Fills out first three questions so collection would be:
Collect(colMyForm,{col1: "Some Text", col2: "Some text", col3: "some text"})

User B -- Fills out questions 1, 2, and 5 (skipping over 3 and 4)
Collect(colMyForm,{col1: "Some Text", col2: "Some text", col5: "some text"})

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WarrenBelz 153,026 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @MAV_CB ,
Try this
ClearCollect( colMyForm, If( !IsBlank(col1ControlName), {col1:col1ControlName.Text} ), If( !IsBlank(col2ControlName), {col2:col1ControlName.Text} ), If( !IsBlank(col3ControlName), {col3:col1ControlName.Text} ) )

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Thanks @WarrenBelz . Unfortunately that formula creates three rows of data, instead of just 1 row of data with three columns. I need to have the collection only create a single row of data but have varying number of columns based on user input.

Ideally this would work where one row of data's columns vary on the IF statements. Unfortunately it looks like PowerApps doesn't support this so trying other means to iterate through the input controls to identify which to bring in.

ClearCollect( colMyForm, If({ !IsBlank(col1ControlName), col1:col1ControlName.Text ), If( !IsBlank(col2ControlName), col2:col1ControlName.Text ), If( !IsBlank(col3ControlName), col3:col1ControlName.Text )} )

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Thanks @WarrenBelz . Unfortunately that just creates three rows within the collection. I need to create one row of data, but with those three specific columns that are dynamic based on user input.

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WarrenBelz 153,026 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @MAV_CB ,
I have been around in circles with the below, either dropping all columns or dropping none, but strangely the If logic is valid and works with other things. This may give you the direction I think you need to take. I have tried four collections with the same result.
ClearCollect( colTestFill, { col1: Test1.Text, col2: Test2.Text, col3: Test3.Text } ); If( IsBlank(First(colTestFill).col1), ClearCollect( colTestFill, DropColumns( colTestFill, "col1" ) ) ); If( IsBlank(First(colTestFill).col2), ClearCollect( colTestFill, DropColumns( colTestFill, "col2" ) ) ); If( IsBlank(First(colTestFill).col3), ClearCollect( colTestFill, DropColumns( colTestFill, "col3" ) ) )

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Thanks @WarrenBelz . Unfortunately that logic did not work either as I have 50 attributes. I just ended up collecting all the data and setting NULL where I didn't have values.

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WarrenBelz 153,026 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Glad you got it working @MAV_CB ,
A long way around, but that makes sense.

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