The Algebra Teacher Powers to B.I.

 In last week's blog/video, I showcased how you can use the patch function to create a record without using the preset forms in Power Apps.   In this week's blog/video, I go a little further with it. One problem that arises with the Patch function is that the old values will still be populated in your input controls.  So I want to show you how to wipe those out and set them back to the default blank values.  We will use variables and the UpdateContext command attached to the OnVisible property of the screen where the input controls are. To go even further this week, I also want to show you how to enable/disable a button.  I've come across scenarios where we don't want the user to hit the submit button on a form or a patch command unless there is data in the input controls.  So I will walk you throw how to set up that action as well this week using the If and IsBlank functions.

  We have made it to our 7 th session of building this check-in app.  If you are interested in all of the ins and outs of what got us to this point and you want to build the app from the beginning check out the six videos in the playlist first. In our last session, we learned how to add records by using a form.  In this session , we are now going to find a way to edit any records that are in our student location data source.  To do this we will need to add some navigation functions, icons, and also force the hand of Power Apps to take our form out of the default New Form mode and change the form to edit mode.  We are also going to run into a problem where our pre-populated fields of the form don’t behave the way we wish they would.  We will fix this using an IF statement. The goal of these next few blogs and videos is to build an app, but not do it too quickly.   I want to let the information soak in one week at a time without overwhelming anyone....

  It’s now our 6 th session of building this Power App.   If you are interested in all of the ins and outs of what got us to this point and you want to build the app from the beginning check out the five videos in the playlist first. We are at the point of adding records to our data sources and actually checking in students to locations around the school.  To create records for this app we use the pre-built forms with some minor modifications.  Along with the modifications to the form we will build in some navigation buttons along with a button to submit the record or cancel the record from being created. The goal of these next few blogs and videos is to build an app, but not do it too quickly.   I want to let the information soak in one week at a time without overwhelming anyone.   If you think the videos cover too much or not enough material for one session please email me at mpeterson@pragmaticworks.com so I can modify the future sessions or leave ...