The SaveData function in PowerApps is used to save data locally on the device. This can be particularly useful for offline scenarios where you need to store data and sync it back to a server or use it later when the app is online.
PowerApps – SaveData() function Syntax
- Data: The data you want to save. This can be a collection, a table, or any other data structure.
- Name: A string that represents the name under which the data will be saved. This name will be used to retrieve the data later.
Notes:
- Size Limit: There is a limit to the amount of data you can store locally. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2023, this limit is typically around 1 MB per app.
- Platform Specific: Local data storage behavior can vary between platforms (iOS, Android, Windows).
- Sensitive Data: Avoid storing sensitive data locally unless it is encrypted and handled securely.
PowerApps – Save a Collection Locally
Suppose you have a collection named MyCollection and you want to save it locally:
SaveData(MyCollection, "MyLocalData")
This will save the MyCollection data locally on the device under the name "MyLocalData".
If you have a form with data that you want to save locally before submitting it to a server:
SaveData(EditForm1.Updates, "FormData")
This will save the data from the form EditForm1 locally under the name "FormData".
PowerApps – Load Saved Data
To retrieve the data saved with SaveData, use the LoadData function.
LoadData(MyCollection, "MyLocalData", true)
- MyCollection: The collection or variable where the loaded data will be stored.
- "MyLocalData": The name under which the data was saved.
- true: Optional parameter to indicate if the load operation should be done silently without an error if the data doesn't exist.
PowerApps – Save data locally and retrieve data from local storage
Suppose you are creating a survey app where users can fill out surveys offline. You want to save their responses locally and then upload them when they have internet access.
- Saving Responses Locally
SaveData(SurveyResponses, "LocalSurveyResponses")
- Loading Responses and Uploading
When the app detects that it is online, you can load the responses and upload them:
LoadData(SurveyResponses, "LocalSurveyResponses", true)
// Code to upload SurveyResponses to the server
PowerApps - Handle Errors while saving data locally
You might want to handle cases where saving data fails. For example, you can use the IfError function to display a message if SaveData fails:
IfError(
SaveData(MyCollection, "MyLocalData"),
Notify("Failed to save data locally.", NotificationType.Error)
)
By using SaveData and LoadData, you can build robust PowerApps applications that work seamlessly both online and offline, enhancing user experience and data reliability.