Use Document Libraries not Attachments with SharePoint

Tired of the limitations of SharePoint attachments in your Power Apps? In this video, I’ll show you how to replace those attachments with the power of SharePoint Document Libraries to give your users a much richer, more functional experience!

You'll learn step-by-step how to integrate document libraries into your Power Apps, enabling features such as direct file editing, seamless uploading, and enhanced file management that are simply not possible with the default attachment controls. By the end, you'll see how this approach can streamline workflows, reduce user frustration, and give you more control over your documents.

What You’ll Learn:

* Why SharePoint attachments are limiting and why document libraries are a better option
* How to set up a document library and link it to your Power Apps
* Using Power Automate to handle file uploads from Power Apps to SharePoint
* How to display, edit, and manage files within your app
* Pro tips for improving the user experience, handling file overwrites, and ensuring real-time updates

Up your Power Apps Skills Today!

0:00 SharePoint Documents not Attachments with Power Apps
0:28 The problem with Attachments
2:12 Demo of the Example Power Apps app
3:46 Create the screen and parent gallery
4:27 Setting up the upload control
6:54 Setup the SharePoint document library
8:17 Create the upload flow
15:01 Use a gallery to display the related files
18:00 Adding a delay to the process
20:08 Loading Screen for Power Apps
23:21 OnAddFile replaces the button
23:58 Launch the link to the file to edit

Do you need some help with something that you are working on, contact us!

PowerApps911

Let's connect on social!

Join this channel to get access to perks:

#powerapps #PowerPlatform #CanvasApps

[CameronPawluk]

Awesome. This is great. I had to figure all of this out by myself just last week. Nice to have a few extra tips that I can now go back and make some small adjustments to make it work even better. I add, if you want to be dynamic with the folder you want to share to, you can easily create a variable in powerapps first with the folder/s name and add that in when creating the file. I had to do this as the documents, I was uploading had to go to a specific folder based on the task the document was for.

[jeremys]

Thanks for this. I've always used attachments in form controls. But this really adds some additional functionality. I could also see the potential for adding the files to a dynamically selected doc library or folder.

[gosyomei]

Thank you for the very easy-to-understand content. I'll implement it in my app right away!

[Rich-hmux]

Very well explained but not sure how this could work with a new form scenario since the new form does not have an ID yet in the main list. How would you account for new submissions?

[FrancescaHulbert]

Thank you for the video. The explanation is very clear. One question if we keep getting an error about expecting a string and getting null. Do you have any idea what the issue may be?

[nickc]

Thanks Shane, I will use this for the document control app I am working on. Did you draw for the radio at PPCC yet?

[billpatterson]

Nice one Shane! Do the same principles apply for choosing Dataverse for the document library?

[mr_pika]

Hi Shane, awesome video as always, I just have a one doubt what if I creating a new list item there i want to upload files, I be missing the parent ID right bc the item is not even created yet. Should I use Last(list).ID+1 as parent ID for new item creation but it feel like not reliable . I really love to get your insights ❤

[Eth_Mey]

Great video i had a form in but this is next level brilliant content 🎉 is how can one preview a zip file or video file? When i upload the file it works but cant see which file i would like to open if i attach a zip or video just asking if possible but great work brother

[SaranLearning-qr]

Brilliant Video, Shane you're PowerApps legend!!!! I have a question: this works perfectly for uploading existing items linked to Gallery.Selected. How can I apply this to new items/records?

I have a SharePoint list where users submit a form and upload documents as list attachments. I’m considering directing these uploads to a SharePoint document library instead, so users can edit them dynamically. However, I’m not sure if it’s possible to preview the attachment before it’s added to the SharePoint document library. Is there a workaround for this?

Additionally, I creating variable to generate a unique number when the form is submitted and sent to the SharePoint list Form_ID column . How can I link this Form_ID to the document uploaded to the document library?

[tomka]

Hello Shane, what effects does placing a filter function inside a gallery on performance and the number of API calls?

[drewbdoo]

Great video - for me, I can't seem to make it refresh correctly within the upload code - I keep having to manually refresh or have some other process outside of the upload refresh for me, doesn't seem to be firing after waiting for power apps.

[bitokay]

I just launched a invoicing tool sharepoint site, We use the sharepoint list to upload the invoice as attachment and fill out necessary fields as a invoice submission to be processed. Shall I change this attaching process? They also have ai builder scanning form for invoices t be uploaded and fields filled automatically. Can this be my option rather than document libraries ?

[andrewproudman]

Can this be used to upload multiple images from the camera

[caraziegel]

I tried using this but my users couldnt use the button to save a document - not sure if it was permission or license - my manager who was a co-owner could also use teh button. but testers couldnt.

[ravirachchh]

What is best way to upload large sized documents using power apps? Attachment control comes with file size limitations

[LemasterDave]

it's silly to have to do this when there is an Attachments folder under the List already with a subfolder for each item id.

[radiosonicfan]

Intestering video. Watched a portion, going to have to finish later. OMG losing my mind. Moving cards in Power Apps is so glitchy. They won't move to where I want. Then it starts randoming moving stuff even though snap columns is off.