In this short post on Power Apps Variables, I’ll summarise how values and single records are assigned and updated. I’ll also cover what can’t be done with variables, so time isn’t wasted trying – something that has caught me out a couple of times in the past!
The can’s and can’ts of Context and Global variables are fairly similar but there is a little more flexibility with Context Variables. I’ll cover each in turn with code examples
Power Apps Variables
I’ll use the simple example of assigning information on students to variables
Context Variables
| Action | Example |
|---|---|
|
Assign a value to a variable |
UpdateContext({locStudent1:"James"}) |
|
Assign values to multiple variables with a single command |
UpdateContext({locStudent1:"James",locStudent2:"Sarah"}) |
|
Assign a record to a variable |
UpdateContext({locStudent1:{name:"James",age:21,gender:"Male"}}) |
|
Assign records to multiple variables using a single command |
UpdateContext({locStudent1:{name:"James",age:21,gender:"Male"},locStudent2:{name:"Sarah",age:23,gender:"Female"}}) |
|
Use LookUp to assign a record to a variable |
UpdateContext({locStudent1:LookUp(colRecords,name="James")}) |
|
Use LookUp to assign a field to a variable |
UpdateContext({locStudent1:LookUp(colRecords,name="James").age}) |
|
Use Patch to change one or more fields in a record |
UpdateContext({locStudent1:Patch(locStudent1,{age:22})}) |
|
Assign multiple records to a single variable |
Cannot be done. Use a Collection or embed a Table (see below) |
|
Embed a Table into a variable |
UpdateContext({locStudents:Table({name:"James",age:21,gender:"Male"},{name:"Sarah",age:23,gender:"Female"})}) |
Global Variables
| Action | Example |
|---|---|
|
Assign a value to a variable |
Set(gblStudent,"James") |
|
Assign values to multiple variables with a single command |
Cannot be done. Variable values must be assigned individually |
|
Assign a record to a variable |
Set(gblStudent,{name:"James",age:21,gender:"Male"}) |
|
Assign records to multiple variables using a single command |
Cannot be done. Records must be assigned individually |
|
Use LookUp to assign a record to a variable |
Set(gblStudent,LookUp(colRecords,name="James")) |
|
Use LookUp to assign a field to a variable |
Set(gblStudent,LookUp(colRecords,name="James").age) |
|
Use Patch to change one or more fields in a record |
Set(gblStudent,Patch(gblStudent,{age:22})) |
|
Assign multiple records to a single variable |
Cannot be done. Use a Collection or embed a Table (see below) |
|
Embed a Table into a variable |
Set(gblStudent2,Table({name:"James",age:21,gender:"Male"},{name:"Sarah",age:23,gender:"Female"})) |
I have no doubt I’ll be using this post in future to refresh my memory! I hope you find it useful too