PowerApps Tips and Tricks - Create loading spinners, add comments, make your life easier, and more!

[@anthonyleduc]

It's never too late. Almost 2 years later I discover this video. More incredible tip and spinner it is a must have. Thank you shane. Your're my mentor

[@ShanesCows]

Glad it helped you Anthony!

[@rhysross3712]

Loading screen. Beautiful. So happy I found this video. If anyone has dynamic displays, where the size changes, look into implementing something like the below for positioning the loading icon: X: (Parent.Width)/2 - 100 Y: (Parent.Height)/2 - 100 For a loading icon that is 200x200 (I'm sure you can be fancier and reference the images size instead of hardcoding the -100's). Then for the tinted rectangle in the back, just use Parent.Height & Parent.Width. Also, in the latest canvas apps world, you'll need to update the rectangles colour for all it's attributes, otherwise you end up with the hover colour and such.

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks for sharing 👍

[@KyleCordell]

I frequently create a "Scrollable Screen", cut and paste the canvas onto the screen I am developing, then place my objects on to various sections. Then I make each section visible with a different variable, collection, etc. This resolves the "too many items on a screen" issue you mentioned as well as creating an interactive popup or pane that can change without needing to navigate to a different screen. I use this in all of my apps. It saves me a ton of headaches. Also, I never realized I could click "Run OnStart". (I love how you mention it so casually.) You literally changed my life. I always thought I had to close and reopen. I don't know how I am just now finding out about this. THANK YOU!

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome Kyle. 🤩

[@jasongreen2353]

Girl started with PA for work a few months ago. Been watching in all my spare time. Love the channel and knowledge sharing. Much appreciated! Keep up the great work. Wish you much success and happiness!

[@jasongreen2353]

*got started not girl started

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@marselledutoit1038]

Comments are super important, we spend about 80% of our time reading, reading and reading some more code. Thanks for the great videos!

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help 😍

[@michelesarsitis233]

LOVE the videos, thanks so much! I've gone from zero to working on several apps for different departments with using your videos as my guides. LOVE the spinner!

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help. 😀

[@martinvasek2081]

That Documentation screen is actually very great idea. Using now for the first time as to-do list and ideas and I will use it in the future. Thanks!

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome 😎

[@elliotalderson3724]

I kinda like shanes presentations style. He is funny, informative and a great teacher. Keep going shane!

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks 😊

[@AdiCristea]

Thank you, Shane! It is an honour to be mentioned in the video. Great tips for everyone to have in the bag. Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, see you in 2020!

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks for the assist Adi. Happy holidays

[@DirkManes]

Great tipps. When I see your little version label in the bottom corner it came to my mind that you can link it to another screen where you can inform your user about latest changes you implement.

[@ShanesCows]

That's a great idea!

[@tenisviejos]

Happy holidays, sensei. Thanks a lot for all the lessons in 2019.

[@ShanesCows]

Right back at you. See you next year

[@marcsavoie7865]

Thank you for that! I really love your way of presenting the information. Very easy to understand.

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks for watching!

[@hpchristener]

Nice Christmas present! Thanks Shane.

[@ShanesCows]

Hope you had a great holiday Hans. :)

[@ashokpershad]

Merry Christmas Shane...looking forward for more videos in 2020... Happy Holidays

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks and Merry Christmas back to you.

[@mundopower]

Shane, you said about sometimes you back and split you app in others apps, because, there are a lot of screens, and this let the studio maker slow! I'm passing for this.. is very difficult to create and modify each component in my app.. i have 65 screens! So.. the tips is split this app to let me work in studio?

[@ShanesCows]

Correct. Your app is just too big for Studio. Splitting into smaller apps will make your life as the maker much easier.

[@johan-fires]

Hi Shane. Good vids looking forward to the next vids. Enjoy your holidays.

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks Johan! Happy holidays to you too.

[@AndreasMake]

Happy holidays Shane! Looking forward to 2020 content from Shane. Thanks for the tips and tricks. =)

[@ShanesCows]

You too. Thanks

[@jimfitch]

Great tips, Shane. Thank you for these videos. They’re very helpful. My learning curve is beginning to flatten as a result. Looking forward to more in 2020. Happy holidays!

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks Jim 😎

[@sokgat7019]

Happy holidays Shane. Thank you for you effort!!!

[@ShanesCows]

Right back at you. 🥳

[@0007bipin]

Thank you Shane!!Happy Holidays

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks you too Bipin.

[@DarylsWorld]

Hello, how to create a "slow flow" like here --> 11:47 ?

[@72Freshy]

Hey Shane, just wanted thanks for the vids; I’ve only discovered power apps in the last couple of weeks and have no experience in coding or formulas so on a steep learning curve... haven’t built an app from scratch yet but I’ll get there I’m sure. Anyway cheers for all the info because I’d seriously be lost without it!!!!

[@ShanesCows]

You are welcome Brett

[@ManikandanNadar]

Great tips Shane!!

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks

[@guillaumechandonnet8225]

Holy Sh... Shane, thanks a lot! that awesome, one of the best video!! Everything is gonna be a lot easy and faster!

[@ShanesCows]

😎

[@kevindibb6534]

23:55 - I know how to make apps for phone/tablets, how do you make it "full screen" for the web browser?

[@ShanesCows]

App settings > scale to fit

[@lanetltd]

Brilliant as always, thanks Shane!

[@ShanesCows]

Thank you 🐶

[@NKBobcat]

Cheeze!!! var record will save me from multiple edit forms from every gallery. Thanks....I am going to go back and set this on my older apps and will be able to delete a few screens in each app, improving performance. I can replace this If(varGallery="1", LookUp('AR Log DEV',ID=Gallery1.Selected.ID),If(varGallery="2",LookUp('AR Log DEV',ID=Gallery1_2.Selected.ID), LookUp('AR Log DEV',ID=Gallery2_1.Selected.ID))) With that simple variable. Thank you Shane!

[@ShanesCows]

Awesome!

[@uiterlex]

Super, Shane. Have a nice Christmas time. Gr. Lex

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks Lex. You too!

[@proasethkosal1394]

How do you create the "my slow flow" in the Power Automate?

[@ShanesCows]

This video shows it. About the 1 minute 20 second mark where I am explaining racing. kzbin.info/www/bejne/imeunWuDfKh_a6c

[@akshaynm]

Hello Shane, Thanks for showing the simple way to add spinners. However while added with Button 'OnSelect' it is not showing the spinner. Do i need to create the flow as well? If yes, could you please share the steps for that as well? Thanks

[@ShanesCows]

Nope no flow required. Maybe check your visible property is set properly

[@paulmelrose-wyatt7620]

Hi Shane, You mentioned in the video you would link us up to how to create the Spinner GIF. I don't see that anywhere in the comments, or maybe I missed it? Can you provide again.

[@ShanesCows]

Loading.io 😀

[@moyura2]

Thanks sharing, I have one question, how would you apply this concept to loading data in a gallery, for example after the first 100 records, it will get the next 100 records from the data source.

[@ghuerren]

Tx for the vídeo. I have q looooog form that takes some time to load due to some combo box calculations. Is there a way to setup a loading spinner into that form page so that it spins until the form finishes to load (form mode = edit mode). Tx

[@ShanesCows]

I don’t think I have any good ideas for that. 🤨

[@MizanNet]

Great stuff. Happy New Year!

[@ShanesCows]

Happy new year Mizan

[@ResponsibleXI]

Hi Shane, May be this question is out of context of above video. Can you tell me if I can open a SharePoint Custom List in Power Apps and add fields/columns there where the added fields reference to other Custom List. Once submitted I would like to have those values to go to their respective lists. I will be very much thankful for any reference for this to your existing videos or any other resources.

[@ShanesCows]

Yes. Use Patch to update the second list.

[@limychelseafc]

Hi Shane, with a delegable gallery, how do I show a loading spinner while it is loading items (e.g. first start and when a filtering is happening?) Thanks.

[@chaddiytuts2496]

how to create the slow flow? you did show how to configure it? thank you!

[@ShanesCows]

Use the delay action in flow and set it to the number of seconds you want yo wait. Then respond to Power Apps when the flow is done.

[@bootsbax]

Great tips thanks Shayne

[@ShanesCows]

Happy to help

[@thelegand1]

really cool spinner trick, but is there a way to use that for refreshing a sharepoint list too?

[@ShanesCows]

StartSpinner;Refresh;StopSpinner 🤩🤩

[@thelegand1]

@@ShanesCows this is what I instinctively tried too, but it only shows spinner for a split second then the dots span across the top until it loads.. ChatGPT actually resolved it for me, for some reason if(countrows >0,set(spinner, on)) works, no idea why but it’s literally perfect! Sorry Shane looks like you might be out of a job afterall!! 😁😘

[@thelegand1]

@@ShanesCows Just incase it helps someone else... Set(varSpinner,true);Refresh('sharepointlist');If(CountRows('sharepointlist') > 0, Set(varSpinner, false));Reset(gallery)

[@techdrift73]

Hi Shane, I struggled with Set(varRecord, This item) as I didn't have a form on my screen that I was passing the record to. Although I found out that in the 'OnSelect' of a 'Title' control there was already a similar thing, Set(_selectedUser, ThisItem). When I passed _selectUser.DisplayName (or ID, MailNickName), it worked

[@ShanesCows]

Glad you got it

[@fatimajoytabat]

Hi Shane, are you using a flow for the loading spinner because you find the Loading Spinner property for a screen/gallery/form buggy? I have been trying to use it but it just doesn't seem to work. I'm wondering if you've tried it too.

[@ShanesCows]

I don’t use a flow normally. Just in this video to make it stay longer.

[@subsguts2691]

When I use the varRecord idea in the video, it often will not change the record shown on the Editform. In fact, after this happens, you cannot select the item from the gallery until you select another item from the gallery. It's like it is getting confused as to what item has been selected. I've see this when things are added in the OnSelected of the gallery. I think it's a timing issue, but have no idea how to get this to work. Help please.

[@ShanesCows]

I use varRecord in hundreds of apps. I would mess about with your logic. It shouldn’t be making things harder it should be making them easier. 😕

[@vishweshwar100]

Hi Shane, is there any way we can provide the PA for to update the Fields in the Flow and also it should not move until Approver updates the values in PA form. Thanks Vish

[@ShanesCows]

I am not sure what you are asking. Sorry.

[@dandeaton3601]

Hi - awesome video, I’m learning so much from watching them all. I liked the “slow flow” - but wondered how I would create this for my own project? Thanks Shane!

[@ShanesCows]

I have a delay until in the Flow. Nothing too fancy 😎

[@junbecks]

Hi Shane, really curious about that 13 page code block. Would be great to learn about it while sipping on some coffee

[@ShanesCows]

It was crazy. I would be afraid to show it to anyone. 😬

[@nickoelton]

Hey Shane, I have a question, what's wrong with custom loading spinner? A few days ago, I created a similar example but when I edited for second time, this custom loading spinner doesn't work anymore. I suppose that the property OnSelect of the buttons doen't work multiple code lines, because: Set(varShowSpinner, true); // Here show the image // Here a Navigate() or Refresh()... (Here time passed, and we can see the custom loading spinner) Set(varShowSpinner, false); //Here hide the image In the past, this formula was running step by step or line by line, but now I Power Apps run as a single line. Do you have any recommendations?

[@ShanesCows]

I use this technique all of the time. I hope they didn’t break it and you are just seeing a fluke. Hmmm. I will look tomorrow

[@karamqusai]

man I love your videos..

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks. They love you also. 🐶

[@elmasinvisible007]

Shane thank you for all your videos: question about (hidenavbar=true) why this is not a feature in the settings? I couldnt find it

[@ShanesCows]

Not sure, just one of those little things I guess

[@ankuryadav2885]

Nice to see you that you are still active, great job. I will consider you a pro (although you already are) 😄 if you let me know way to present users outlook photos in gallery without red error which happens due to missing photos. I tried all ways but it didn't worked.

[@ShanesCows]

You have to add If logic to show a missing person photo of the user doesn’t have a photo.

[@ankuryadav2885]

I have actually tried almost all the possible ways I can think of including if function and given up at last, the problem is powerapps considers the image in else function for missing cases but still throws out an error 😔, I have also tried if, if error, not and other suggestions mentioned on powerapps forum but still not figured out yet.

[@ankuryadav2885]

Would you be able to make a video on this or outlook functions and include this problem? I have seen sample app that was using outlook photos of team members and was not throwing any error but was not able to figure out the code.

[@Fernando_Calero]

Hi Shane, great tips, thanks again! I'm a little stuck with the Welcome message in the header. I set the user variable at the start of the app but the Component doesn't recognize it. I assume it has to do with custom properties, but not sure (that's why I'm stuck). I tried to copy a header with that variable working already but didn't do. Thanks.

[@ShanesCows]

Components don’t support variables ☹️ Don’t give up by think about your solution a bit differently. Did you watch my components video? Input property is the key.

[@dcm9058]

Hi Shane, I have a video that plays automatically as soon as the screen is visible (navigated from previous screen) well the video loads like 10 secs. and i want to show a spinner while the video is loading.. do you have any magic tricks to do that? Thanks!

[@ShanesCows]

Have the spinner start and not finish until the file is downloaded? All in Onstart

[@guruprasadmarathe]

can I load data from other list and those items will be a check box on the list new form? can i call ajax jquery call to bring data from db and bind them on form as form details..

[@ShanesCows]

Cannot run Ajax. Yes, you can use multiple lists for your data sources. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKKrYohmlLmUpKs

[@emilybrownson2850]

Do you have a video on how you are able to include individual photos for each person?

[@ShanesCows]

Try this kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKG7o3lrg6mNmKs

[@jasonthedogcatcher]

Spinner is the winner!!!

[@ShanesCows]

So fun. 😎

[@vishweshwar100]

Hi Shane, I have gone through your videos it is really awesome...have one question may be it is silly question to ask you. What is the best way to show the PA to the end user ...to share the PA URL or place it in SharePoint Embed in or insert it sharepoint power apps web part . Thanks vish

[@ShanesCows]

We usually use the url so they can open it directly in their browser.

[@vishweshwar100]

@@ShanesCows Thank you Shane for the reply.

[@emmanueljoseph939]

Hey Shane. What if I have a gallery view showing an employee's profile from many employees in my SharePoint list, but gathering the information from the SharePoint list takes a few seconds, I want to show a loading gif and also place the rectangle on the screen in the meantime. Could you please help me out with this?

[@ShanesCows]

I don't have a quick answer to showing somethign while the gallery loads. Why is the gallery slow? Are you doing lookups and other calls inside the gallery?

[@emmanueljoseph939]

@@ShanesCows Hey Thanks shane I figured it out

[@Vihushrihu]

Do you have a video on how to get the spinner ?

[@ShanesCows]

loading.io/ You can download it from there for free.

[@carlw]

Tried the Select(Parent) tip. Worked from parent to detail screen but then I couldn't get the subsequent edit screen item to work. Had to change back. :(

[@ShanesCows]

Hmmm. Not sure why it didn’t work for you b

[@carlw]

@@ShanesCows I'll attempt an investigation

[@danielbell9192]

Hi Shane, been using VarRecord in my apps since you released this video, I’ve come across an issue though, wondered if you could offer your help? When my page loads, I want the first (top) item in my filtered collection to automatically show, rather than the user actually having to click an item. Is this possible? I’ve tried using the OnVisible attribute to set the variable to the filtered list however it doesn’t seem to work? Also when a record is deleted I’d like to move directly to the next record in the filtered collection. I can delete the record and then set the variable to blank, but can’t get it to auto select the new top item?

[@ShanesCows]

Set(varRecord, first(filtered list)) should work

[@danielbell9192]

Shane Young thanks will give it a try, would this be in the OnVisible property of the screen?

[@H40XKM]

I have to admit i am confused the turning circle of death doesnt come as a standard feature in powerapps. Back in the days of Windows Phone 8(.1) this was already a thing to be included explicitly by the developer, i thought they'd be moving on a little. Your tutorial really helped me getting my users knowing what the hack is going on while the flow is running in the background. Thanks! :)

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help. It is interesting they don't do it, I agree.

[@K1eyvan]

Great video as always. Thank you.

[@ShanesCows]

Glad to help. 😀

[@cosikvendetta6250]

I thing this tip about Variable is not working when it comes to Multiply screen Phases. For example: - first screen only have Gallery, - second have only View of some data of main items (there is formula which check whether the specyfic field is empty or not) - third have Full view to edit value of all data When you submit Third screen the Formula still see the old data, not the newest one which you submitted.

[@larryjburgess]

You mentioned showing us how to create a spinner but didn't get to it. I'm in serious need of that right now. Can you share that?

[@ShanesCows]

I got the spinner from the website loading.io 😀

[@sahejadmansuri]

how you create a flow of "myslow flow" ? can you just tell us!

[@ShanesCows]

Trigger is Power Apps. Then delay 3 minutes is the first actions. Then respond to Power Apps is the last action.

[@tysonfernandes7648]

You can use the timer to run to slow the processing time rather than using flow to do that and wasting your flow runs.

[@ShanesCows]

True. My slow flow is just handy for demos like this. 😎

[@prasannaacharya9786]

can you please share SlowFlow details

[@williamlilley1376]

Great video. Does the SubmitForm function work as expected if the item is varRecord? What about Patch?

[@ShanesCows]

Yup 😀

[@threewiseman1]

OMG varRecord. I kept asking Microsoft why my selected item would keep going to the first record on the list and got crickets back. Hooray for this!

[@ShanesCows]

Yup. That is a big one for sure. 🤩

[@alexanderprinz589]

Hi Shane, thank you for your great tutorial videos about Power Apps. I love the loading spinner function, but unfortunately my loading spinner doesn't work as it should. Maybe you have an idea what the problem is. At the beginning of an OnSelect command I set the spinner variable to "true", then all the other functions and at the end I set the spinner variable to "false" again. This also works so well, but on one screen it does not. The only difference to the other screens is that there is no screen swapping with these OnSelect commands. I would be happy to get an answer

[@pateltapesh505]

Thats great so far. Its very helpful to get to know more and more in every video of you and also other friends of you. Just Have an request. why don t you make videos on responsive apps? like how to adjust Round Image in Header Bar, How to make Good responsive app which can be used at all other platforms.

[@ShanesCows]

Maybe one day I will thanks for the idea

[@gwenmac1601]

Happy Holiday - good video. Can you do a video on error handling after doing a patch for example. How do you check what error was returned

[@ShanesCows]

That would be a solid topic. Errors function is the short answer. Let me see what I can do

[@stwilhite1]

Is barcode scanner really going away? A quick cursory Google search didn't turn anything up on this, and I'm working up to building an inventory app with it.

[@ShanesCows]

Not the new version of it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYi4p6eql76jq5Y

[@stwilhite1]

Shane Young I built one, and used your video for how- and it was the first PowerApps I built that come together as I exactly expected it to. Big milestone for me. I’ve got lots in the test dev stage, and even using a few dressed up lists, but they all required me to seek out alternative something or other to get what I wanted. Not this one. Thanks so much, Shane! I watch you a lot, some videos over and over. To

[@mehdid.1022]

Amazing videos again Shane! Thanks for sharing these tips, too bad I can only push the like button once. Quick question: is there a way to customize the background of the app opening loading screen? it shows the app icon with a plain colored background. I'd like to put a picture instead of the plain background. Thanks!

[@ShanesCows]

Not that I know of. 😟

[@asimrehan73]

Thanks for great tips Shane, about the loading spinner, why did you use the "slowflow"? instead of ; UpdateContext({VARSPIN: true}); Refresh('****');UpdateContext({VARSPIN: false})

[@ShanesCows]

I just like my slow flow. Thought it was fun to show.

[@asimrehan73]

@@ShanesCows thanks... yes it was fun & I learned something different.

[@ivarerving6554]

Great tip using varRecord instead of Gallery.selected. Having issues though if I add a new record to the gallery using patch and I want the newly added record to be selected. I create two varible called "Added" and "LastID", then use if(Added; LastID) in the gallery "Default". It works but the second "click" resets the gallery and throws me up to the first record. Anoying! Any tips on how to handle this?

[@ivarerving6554]

Also I've tried to set varRecord to the "LastID" when I patch the record and set "Default" in the gallery to varRecord. This gives me the dynamic I want but the default record always wants to be at the top of the gallery. Gives the gallery a kind of jumping feeling and it looks wierd.

[@ShanesCows]

I need to make a video on this. Basically I use VarRecord instead of IsSelected or Selected, including in template fill.

[@itsLarryAlright]

Shane can you recommend a source to learn power apps

[@b0rme]

Sylvester Hilary this channel is a great starting point

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks b0rme. Sylvester check out my classes at training.powerapps911.com

[@sintyahamise]

thankyou.. but how to make slow flow?

[@ShanesCows]

Have the trigger be PowerApps. Then have the flow Delay 10 seconds. Then respond to Power Apps. Very simple but effective if you need a delay. :)

[@avinoamrothenberg1244]

Your solution of using a "slowflow" for the spinner is no longer feasable since there is no more "result" attribute for the powerapp button. Instead I used a Timer component, and used it's OnTimerStart and OntimerEnd attributes.

[@ShanesCows]

Odd. Glad you found a work around

[@RobFahndrich1]

Great work! Could you do a video for offline work?

[@ShanesCows]

I am working on exactly that. There is so much trying to scope it. January I hope.

[@louisbertini]

Great Tip, Shane. Love the App.ActiveScreen.Name.

[@ShanesCows]

Thanks 😊

[@derondilger6223]

Yet another great video, Shane. Thanks. (1) Did I miss you telling us how to make the animated spinner GIF?, (2) I strongly disagree about renaming your controls. I'm a stickler for using a naming "style" as it makes it MUCH easier to use autocomplete in PApps Studio, IMO. Here's our style guide, for what it's worth: www.galtaniumtech.com/PublicResources/GTech%20PowerPlatform%20Style%20Guide.pdf

[@ShanesCows]

Https://loading.io to get a gif. Glad you rename all of your controls. I never get that kind of time.

[@bopraYT]

varRecord! Thank you for a great tip!

[@ShanesCows]

One of my favorites 😻