Funny Frustration: The Tale of PowerApps Combobox Clear Selection

Funny Frustration: The Tale of PowerApps Combobox Clear Selection

If you’ve ever used PowerApps, you’re probably familiar with the combobox control. It’s a handy tool that allows users to select a value from a dropdown list. However, there’s one issue with combobox that can be a real pain in the backside: the clear selection functionality. Let me tell you the funny tale of my frustration with the PowerApps combobox clear selection feature.

Hilarious but Frustrating

One day, I was creating an app for a client that required a combobox control. Being a seasoned PowerApps developer, I knew exactly how to use the combobox control. However, when it came to the clear selection functionality, things started to get a little confusing.

I mean, who clears selections anyway?

There I was, scratching my head, trying to figure out how to make it work. I thought it was a simple task, but it turned out to be a hilarious but frustrating experience. Let me tell you why.

The Clear Selection Functionality

First, let me explain what the clear selection functionality is. The combobox control allows users to select a value from a dropdown list. However, what if they want to clear that selection? That’s where the clear selection functionality comes in.

The clear selection functionality allows users to remove the selected item from the combobox. It’s a useful feature that helps prevent user errors and makes the app more user-friendly. But, getting it to work can be a hilarious adventure.

The Hilarious Interface

So, I added a clear selection button to my combobox control. It was looking great, until I clicked the button.

Nothing happened!

I clicked again, still nothing. I shook my head and thought, “Well, this is embarrassing. They’re going to think I don’t know what I’m doing.”

I examined the interface and found that there was no option to clear the selection. I thought, “What is this? I can’t be the only one who needs to clear a selection.”

The Unfortunate Solution

So, I went online to see if others had encountered the same issue. That’s when I stumbled upon Todd Baginski’s blog post. He provided a solution that required me to create a new list item in the combobox control with the word “None” and assign it a unique value. Then, I had to create a button that would select that “None” item and set its value to null.

What?!

I thought to myself, “This is insane. I’m creating an entire solution just to clear a selection.” But I tried it anyway. It worked, but it wasn’t a practical solution.

The Unexpected Ultimate Solution

As I was about to give up, I remembered something. I had recently been working on a different app, and I had used the combobox control. I remembered that I had added a clear selection button to that app as well.

So, I opened that app and examined the combobox control. There it was, the clear selection functionality. I looked at the properties of the control and realized that I had forgotten to set the “Allow null values” property to “Yes” in my current app.

I couldn’t believe it. The solution was so simple, yet it had eluded me for so long.

The Funny Conclusion

I felt relieved and accomplished, but also a little silly. I had spent so much time trying to find a practical solution when the answer was right in front of me.

In the end, I learned a valuable lesson: sometimes the simplest solution is the best one.

The PowerApps combobox control can be a hilarious journey, but with a little patience and persistence, you can make it work for you. Don’t be intimidated by the clear selection functionality. With the right tools and a little creativity, you can make it work for you.

Quick Solutions

To save you from a similar frustrating experience, let me provide you with some quick solutions to the PowerApps combobox clear selection issue.

Solution 1: Allow Null Values Property

As mentioned earlier, the “Allow null values” property needs to be set to “Yes” for the clear selection functionality to work. It sounds simple, but the property can easily be overlooked. Make sure you check it when setting up your combobox control.

Solution 2: Clear Selection Button

If you want to provide a clear selection button to your users, you can add a button to the screen and set its OnSelect property to the following code:

UpdateContext({selectedItem: null})
Reset(ComboBox1)

This will clear the selection and reset the combobox control.

Comparing the Solutions

If you’re still not sure which solution is the best one for your needs, let me help you out.

It’s up to you to decide which solution works best for your app.

Final Thoughts

Even though the PowerApps combobox clear selection feature can be a frustrating experience, it’s important to stay patient and persistent. Use the solutions provided in this article and experiment with different techniques until you find one that works for you. With a little humor and creativity, you can make the PowerApps combobox control work for you.

References:

1. Todd Baginski’s blog post: https://toddbaginski.com/blog/powerapps-clear-selection-for-combobox/
2. PowerApps documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/controls/control-combobox#clear-the-selection-of-the-dropdown-menu