Patch combobox default selected items created with variable

[Laura3]

Hi there

I created a people picker for a combobox (canvas app based on Sharepoint list) based on this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRKHfv4XYJE) by @aprildunnam This is by far a much better user experience for a people picker. 

In short, with a variable I set the default selected item for the combobox. This displays perfectly fine but I can't seem to patch it back to the datasource. The patch works totally fine if I manual select the person in the combobox, but not if I use the variable to select the default selected items. Any ideas?

[Laura3]

Ok, so the variable SelectedPerson is simply set in the Gallery. When the user selects a person from the gallery  it triggers Set(SelectedPerson,ThisItem).

The gallery items property is set to: Office365Users.SearchUserV2({searchTerm:TxtSearchUser.Text,top:4}).value to display the top 4 names that match that entered in the text input. 

The default selected items in the combobox I set to the variable SelectedPerson. The default property on the datacard.. I never did anything to it so it's set to ThisItem.ResponsibleOfficer. The items on the combobox I've tried various things, of late I tried: Office365Users.SearchUserV2({searchTerm:SelectedPerson.DisplayName}).value, I also tried Choices([@Datasource].ResponsibleOfficer. 

If it's of any help, I've tried sending the info into a collection (which it did fine) but from that I can see that there are two gaps in how the data is transcribed in the collection: Claims is blank and so is email. I think that might be the missing piece of the puzzle. Thank you so much for your help.

[RandyHayes]

@Laura3 

Yes, none of that (the collections etc) is of any value.  Your problem as I mentioned prior is that you are trying to use Office365 User Records to Update a SharePoint User record.  They are two completely different records and you cannot use them interchangeably. 

But before I provide the solution you need, I need to know an answer to my last question:

"is the intention of this form and people picker for New records or also for editing existing records?"

[Laura3]

The intention is for both updating records and new records as part of data entry. However, I think I have found a solution that works. In case it's of use to anyone else here is the answer:

On the people picker, described as above (gallery with text input to search the gallery), when selecting the person:

Select(Parent);

UpdateContext({
SelectedPerson: {
'@odata.type': "#Microsoft.Azure.Connectors.SharePoint.SPListExpandedUser",
Claims: "i:0#.f|membership|" & Lower(ThisItem.Mail),
Department: "",
DisplayName:"",
Email: ThisItem.Mail,
JobTitle: ".",
Picture: "."
}
})

Then a simple Patch, works just with ResponsibleOfficer:SelectedPerson

Using Patch lets me do this just as well for new record and editing records. 

Thank you so much for your help! I knew we would work it out in the end.

[RandyHayes · Accepted solution]

@Laura3 

So, before you jump on this, and why I delayed providing what you just posted until now is based on the Edit and New of records.  Your solution will not work for the Edit. Which is why it is not worked out.

And again, do you really want to do two data actions? i.e. the Patch and SubmitForm?

All of this should be in your form.

Here is what you need - let's start with the DataCard

For your DataCard for ResponsibleOfficer -

The Default property should be: ThisItem.ResponsibleOfficer

The Update property should be: 

{
    Claims: "i:0#.f|membership|" & Lower(yourGallery.Selected.Mail),
    Department: "",
    DisplayName:"",
    Email: yourGallery.Selected.Mail,
    JobTitle: "",
    Picture: ""
}

(you must have seen an old article/post as the odata column is no longer needed)

For your Combobox - well, you don't really need it, so you can ignore it.

Here is where your problem comes in.  If you go to edit a record, your ResponsibleOfficer column will be written over with the wrong value.  And worse is that if a person goes to edit or view the ResponsibleOfficer in the Gallery, it will be wrong.

If you are relying on the Gallery as the provider of the ResponsibleOfficer then it needs to default to the proper record.

So, we need to take one step back...what is the Item property of your Form?  This will be the start to getting the proper information back in place when you edit a record.