Filter Look-Up Columns for Model Driven App Forms

Matt Peterson is back with another insightful tutorial on our YouTube channel. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just diving into the Power Platform world, Matt's got you covered. Today, he's tackling a common challenge faced by model-driven app users: filtering lookup columns. Let's dive into Matt's step-by-step guide on making this process seamless.

The Lookup Conundrum

Ever found yourself scratching your head over lookup columns in model-driven apps? Matt gets it. Picture this: you're creating a travel record, selecting a state, and then bam! You're flooded with cities from every corner of the globe, not just the one you're interested in. Frustrating, right? But fear not, Matt's got a solution.

Step 1: Adding a Parental Connection

1. Identify the Subcategory Field: In Matt's scenario, it's the city lookup dependent on the chosen state.
2. Navigate to Solution: Head to the solution in your model-driven app.
3. Add a Lookup Column: On the city table, add a new column (e.g., State) as a lookup to the state table.
4. Save and Publish Form: Ensure this new column is added to the form and publish the changes.

Step 2: Form Modification Magic

1. Travel to the Travel Table: Head over to the main form in the travel table.
2. Filtering Time: Click on the city lookup field in the form.
3. Filter by Related Rows: Activate this option to filter based on the relationship with the state table.
4. Choose Relationships: Specify the relationship to the current table (travel state to city) and the lookup table (state to city).
5. Save, Publish, and Disable Most Recently Used Items: Make sure to save and publish the form, and for an added touch, disable the recently used items to enhance the filtering experience.

Step 3: Putting It to the Test:

1. Associating Cities with States: Link cities to their respective states in the city table.
2. Refreshing the Model-Driven App: Matt refreshes the app to showcase the changes.
3. Testing the Filter: Matt selects Florida as the travel state, and voila! Only Jacksonville and Orlando, the cities associated with Florida, appear.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Relationship Precision: Ensure your relationships between tables are correctly defined.
• Save and Publish: Always save and publish your changes for them to take effect.
• Testing Across Different Scenarios: Try different states and cities to guarantee the filter works consistently.
  

   

Conclusion

No more sifting through irrelevant options—now your app responds precisely to your needs. As always, Matt encourages you to explore more training opportunities with Pragmatic Works, like our on-demand learning platform, private sessions, and hackathons. Dive in, enhance your Power Platform skills, and stay tuned for more insights from Matt in the next tutorial.