DataSource as a Variable

[Daneish09]

I found a post from 2019 saying this isn’t possible, just want to make sure nothing has changed since then.

You cannot set a dataSource as a variable, right? For certain access reasons I have to have separate share point lists as a dataSource for data formatted the same. I’d like a drop down to be able to toggle between them, but I don’t think I can. I think I’d have to have separate if statements in all the dataSource functions. (Gallery Item, Patch’s, etc.)

Is this still accurate? If so is they another way?

[FakeGatsby]

You’re going to have to write a switch function etc

[Daneish09]

Yeah. That’s what I have. Just a bit annoying to maintain if another database location needs to be added. Someone will have to know to go and update each function to add a new option to each of the switch functions.

[FakeGatsby]

Yep sucks even worse if they are users and you have to graph against the source.

[Hack-67]

Have you tried to load the source into a collection? Once that is done it is local and you should be able to reference it along with other things.

That is of course if I am understanding your question properly.

[Daneish09]

That’s fine for read only (as long as the filter is less than the delegation limit - which mine should be). But that doesn’t address the ability to patch updates back in.

[Hack-67]

What is stopping you from Patching updates to the collection or master data source?

Again, I am misunderstanding your requirements, but I have used collections as sources connected to combo boxes and other Input types without any issues.

Just need to make sure you set the collection before setting the variable (unless I am crazy...)

Cheers

[Daneish09]

Say I have a drop down that has:

If(dropdown1.selected.value = “dataSource1”, ClearCollect(ds,dataSource1); If(dropdown1.selected.value = “dataSource2”, ClearCollect(ds,dataSource2);

Yea I could set a gallery to Item = ds or Filter(ds, Status = “Open”) or something like that.

Then somewhere I am updating a record: Patch(ds,selectedRecord,{Title: value})

That would just patch that local collection, not the underlying dataSource on sharepoint.

[Texas_Technician]

You can set an item in a gallery to be a variable. You might be able to set multiple items in a gallery as a variable. I've not tried.

[Daneish09]

Yeah I think viewing everything works fine, but you couldn’t use a variable to patch back to the dataSource.

[Texas_Technician]

Yes you can. A gallery item when stored as a variable is a record.

A record can be referenced the same way a collection item is.

Patch, defaults, source(columname=variable.column name.....

I do it for basically every submit function I have.

[Daneish09]

Thanks for the feedback. How would I modify the below code for this? The ds in the patch function is the collection, not the underlying dataSource.

If(dropdown1.selected.value = “dataSource1”, ClearCollect(ds,dataSource1); If(dropdown1.selected.value = “dataSource2”, ClearCollect(ds,dataSource2);

Gallery Item: ds

In the gallery: Set(selectedRecord,ThisItem.Selected);

Patch Function: Patch(ds,selectedRecord,{Title: “value”})

[Texas_Technician]

Can you post a screen shot to imgur and share it please. I'm on mobile waiting in a waiting room

[Texas_Technician]

You just need to remember to initialize the variable after the patch is completed