Introduction
Power Apps provides a convenient way to create forms using Edit Forms and New Forms to manage data in SharePoint, Dataverse, and other data sources. While forms are easy to use, they come with limitations that can restrict flexibility and performance. Instead of relying on forms, developers can use the Patch function, which offers more control, efficiency, and customization when handling data updates and inserts.
In this blog post, we will explore why you should stop using forms and start using Patch, its benefits, and real-world examples with Power Apps.
Problems with Power Apps Forms
While forms in Power Apps are useful, they come with several drawbacks:
1. Limited Customization
Forms provide predefined layouts and controls, but they don’t allow much flexibility. If you need custom UI elements or dynamic interactions, forms can be restrictive.
2. Performance Issues
Forms load all fields of a record, even when only a few fields need to be updated. This increases data retrieval and rendering time, affecting app performance.
3. Complexity in Managing Multiple Forms
When dealing with multiple lists or tables, forms can become hard to manage. For instance, switching between forms dynamically based on conditions is not straightforward.
4. Dependency on Form Controls
Forms rely on FormMode (New, Edit, View), which makes it difficult to handle custom data validation and conditional logic efficiently.
Why Use Patch Instead?
The Patch function in Power Apps is a powerful way to create, update, and modify records without using forms. Here’s why Patch is a better alternative:
1. More Control Over Fields
With Patch, you can update only specific fields without affecting other data. This improves efficiency and prevents unnecessary data updates.
2. Better Performance
Since Patch only updates the fields you specify, it reduces data load and improves performance compared to forms that load entire records.
3. Custom User Interfaces
Patch allows you to design fully customized screens without the constraints of forms, giving you full control over UI elements and interactions.
4. Works with Multiple Data Sources
Unlike forms that work primarily with a single data source, Patch can work with multiple lists, Dataverse tables, or SQL databases simultaneously.
5. Easier Error Handling
Forms require extra logic for error handling, whereas Patch allows you to implement custom error messages and validations effortlessly.
How to Use Patch in Power Apps
Let’s look at some real-world examples of how to use Patch instead of forms.
1. Updating an Existing Record
Instead of using an Edit Form, you can update a record in SharePoint or Dataverse using Patch.
In this example:
The LookUp function finds the record with ID 10.
Patch updates the Name, Department, and Salary fields.
Only the specified fields are updated, making it more efficient.
2. Creating a New Record
Instead of using a New Form, use Patch to insert new records dynamically.
Here, Defaults('Employee List') creates a new record, and Patch assigns values to the fields.
3. Updating Only Specific Fields
If you only want to update a single field without affecting others:
This ensures that only the Salary field is modified, leaving other fields untouched.
4. Working with Multiple Data Sources
If your app needs to update records in two different lists:
Here, Patch updates Employee List and Payroll List separately, something that’s difficult to achieve with forms.
Best Practices When Using Patch
To ensure efficiency and maintainability, follow these best practices:
1. Use Variables for Efficiency
Instead of multiple LookUp calls, store the record in a variable and use it:
2. Validate Data Before Patching
Before executing Patch, validate inputs:
3. Use Collections for Bulk Updates
If updating multiple records, use ForAll with Patch:
This allows batch processing, making updates more efficient.
Conclusion
While Power Apps forms are useful for simple scenarios, they become restrictive and inefficient as your app complexity grows. Using Patch instead of forms provides:
- Better performance by updating only required fields.
- More flexibility to design custom UIs.
- Easier integration with multiple data sources.
- Improved error handling and validation.
If you’re looking to build a scalable, high-performance Power Apps solution, stop using forms and start using Patch today!