Excellent video. Correct me if wrong, but another use case for collections is for offline use, so if the user is going to be in a place with intermittent coverage, as long as they open the app and load the collections when they are attached to the network, they could then use the app without a connection and then transfer results once they are back in a place with good coverage.
Thank you for the great video April. I am interested in learning more about the offline functionality David is referring to. Our Manufacturing area apps would have to operate in airplane mode so any apps I make for them would have to collect information via a Collection and upload it later. Of course your other followers might have other offline scenarios so I think a number of us could benefit from a video on this. If, as part of your series on Collections you could cover how to do this, we would appreciate having your take on it. Thank you for all you do!
If I can ask since I'm still learning, why and when would you use collections vs tables? I've seen some people using tables, especially within components. What is exactly is the differences and advantages/disadvantages? I really am enjoying your videos and appreciate your time.
Great question. A table is a data type, while a Collection is a (local) data source which stores tables. More on tables: Tables are groups of records with the same columns (or fields). It can be created and used in-line with the Table function or it can be assigned to a variable. The video mentions that Set and UpdateContext are only used for simple types. That is not accurate. These functions can be used to save table values in a variable. Collections on the other hand, are data sources that allow you to store table values (similar to a variable) but in addition, you can create and append new records (or rows), update and delete existing records similar to external data sources such as SharePoint list & Dataverse. As mentioned in the video, Collections are local to your app i.e. they exist "in memory" while your app is running and are discarded as soon as the session is closed. This makes them super-fast but also transient. As for the components you've observed, it is likely because the component just needs a table without a need to create, update or delete any row (or record). An example of such component may be a navigation component that needs a table value to display navigation options. A table value will suffice but you can also pass in a Collection since Collections also return table values anyway.
Thanks for this informative video.Can we append/,merge rows of two different tables in one collection;one table records are filtered based on condition & second table records as it is.Thanks
Hey @April Dunnam, Could you please do a video on how to fetch the data from multiple sharepoint list to powerautomate for creating a pdf document. Eg: we need to create a purchase order and the supplier details are in one list and the item details are in another list. And we need to create a pdf document by fetching corresponding datas from the lists…. Waiting for your reply….
Awesome !! In love with Power App and you !
Happy to hear that!
Hello April, my name is Guto Querubino and I'm from Brazil, your videos are excellent!! Congratulations!!!
Thank you so much for the great feedback :)
Great explanation! Thank you
Thanks, glad you found it helpful!
Good looking, good skills.
Excellent video. Correct me if wrong, but another use case for collections is for offline use, so if the user is going to be in a place with intermittent coverage, as long as they open the app and load the collections when they are attached to the network, they could then use the app without a connection and then transfer results once they are back in a place with good coverage.
Thank you for the great video April. I am interested in learning more about the offline functionality David is referring to. Our Manufacturing area apps would have to operate in airplane mode so any apps I make for them would have to collect information via a Collection and upload it later. Of course your other followers might have other offline scenarios so I think a number of us could benefit from a video on this. If, as part of your series on Collections you could cover how to do this, we would appreciate having your take on it. Thank you for all you do!
If I can ask since I'm still learning, why and when would you use collections vs tables? I've seen some people using tables, especially within components. What is exactly is the differences and advantages/disadvantages?
I really am enjoying your videos and appreciate your time.
Great question. A table is a data type, while a Collection is a (local) data source which stores tables.
More on tables: Tables are groups of records with the same columns (or fields). It can be created and used in-line with the Table function or it can be assigned to a variable. The video mentions that Set and UpdateContext are only used for simple types. That is not accurate. These functions can be used to save table values in a variable.
Collections on the other hand, are data sources that allow you to store table values (similar to a variable) but in addition, you can create and append new records (or rows), update and delete existing records similar to external data sources such as SharePoint list & Dataverse. As mentioned in the video, Collections are local to your app i.e. they exist "in memory" while your app is running and are discarded as soon as the session is closed. This makes them super-fast but also transient.
As for the components you've observed, it is likely because the component just needs a table without a need to create, update or delete any row (or record). An example of such component may be a navigation component that needs a table value to display navigation options. A table value will suffice but you can also pass in a Collection since Collections also return table values anyway.
I'm a Power Apps newbie, are collections similar to VBA arrays?
Great question! Yes, collections are very similar to VBA arrays. They are both used to store lists of data
Thanks for this informative video.Can we append/,merge rows of two different tables in one collection;one table records are filtered based on condition & second table records as it is.Thanks
Nice video April, thanks. What about that lovely music at the end, is that your husband with the guitar or is it you?
Thanks for noticing! That's my husband playing 🙂
How many items can store in collection?
What's the limit?
500 - 2000 items depending on your delegation limit settings in your app
Hey @April Dunnam,
Could you please do a video on how to fetch the data from multiple sharepoint list to powerautomate for creating a pdf document.
Eg: we need to create a purchase order and the supplier details are in one list and the item details are in another list. And we need to create a pdf document by fetching corresponding datas from the lists….
Waiting for your reply….
Crappy video where you dont show how to store a date value in the collection
This negativity is uncalled for.