Never Ever Use Choice Fields in Power Apps! Never!!

🚫 Are you struggling with choice columns in SharePoint or Power Apps? Look no further! In this comprehensive video, we delve deep into the pitfalls of using choice columns, regardless of whether you're working with SharePoint, Dataverse, or SQL Server.

🔍 What You'll Learn:
Understanding Choice Columns: Get a clear explanation of what choice columns are and why they're commonly used in different data sources. 🥲 The Problems with Choice Columns: Discover the long-term issues, including data integrity and delegation problems, that arise from using choice columns. Direct Data Modification Risks: Learn why allowing users to directly modify data in choice columns can lead to significant data integrity issues.

➡️ Practical Alternatives: Explore effective alternatives to choice columns, including the use of single lines of text and database tables for dynamic choices. 💜 Dynamic Department Information Handling: Gain insights on managing dynamic information, like department changes in a startup, using relational database design principles. Ensuring Data Integrity: Understand the importance of maintaining data integrity by avoiding redundant data storage across multiple locations.

👨‍💻 Who Should Watch:
SharePoint and Power Apps Developers
Database Administrators
IT Professionals dealing with data management
Anyone interested in efficient data structure design

📌 In this video, we not only highlight the issues with choice columns but also provide practical solutions and alternatives. Whether you're building from scratch or dealing with existing systems, these insights will help you make informed decisions for your data management strategies.

💡 Key Takeaways:
Learn why choice columns might be an easy setup but a poor long-term choice.
Discover how to use single lines of text and dropdowns in Power Apps as alternatives.
Understand the role of database tables in managing dynamic choices effectively.
Get tips on maintaining data integrity in your database design.

📢 We love to hear from you! If you have any questions, need clarifications, or have experiences to share about choice columns and their alternatives, drop a comment below. Your input helps us create content that's even more relevant and helpful for our community.

-Darren Neese with PowerApps Tutorial

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0:00 - The Problem with Choice Columns
1:06 - Direct Data Modification and Data Integrity
2:34 - Alternatives to Choice Columns
4:51 - Using Database Tables for Dynamic Choices
6:17 - Handling Dynamic Department Information

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[PowerAppsTutorial]

🔥🔥Who here is ready to ditch choice fields⁉
🍬 Get my free video course, access to my free community

[navarrocloud]

I agree 100%.
I would create a SharePoint List to hold the values and allow the Admin of my app to manage those values within the app itself.
I guess the same would go for lookup columns, those that look up values from other Lists. Keep it simple when storing the data to avoid delegation issues down the road.

I did not know about the Dataverse Yes/No column being a choice. Thanks for the insight.

[crwebers]

Why don't people start with these concepts of choice?!?!?!

I liked the video!

[kingmrrah]

What do you mean single line of text? Do you mean filter with startswith function even if its in a drop down control

[madhumitharaghavendra]

Hello, I love your videos! May I ask for some advice on how I can create locked tabs? when they finish the first portion, then it’ll unlock the next tab and so on and so forth! Looking forward to hearing from you, thanks!

[ebugasadunajohn]

Hi sir, I've been following your videos and I've learned alot from you.
But I'm currently stuck on a project I've been working on.

From Jos, Plateau State Nigeria.
I have two list, both are SharePoint list, I want to be be able to create an item on the second list (taken an item from the first list and making it an item in the second list), On the click of a button.
I've tried using patch function or using power automate, all to no avail. I've watched videos and read, did everything for days now and yet I'm still stuck.
Can you please help me sir

[tonyparmstig]

Thanks, what tool are you using as editor?

[AlexandrePerret]

I disagree with this one :) (hopping to understand correctly all you said as english is not my language)
Choice column (at least in dataverse) are responsible of getting the assurance that your datas are what you planned for.
The first 2 solutions you give us are not a good option as : 1/ text can be changed easily by anithing else that is not intended in your app, 2/ collection in your app is only working within your app.
Data modelisation is here to give the assurance that whatever your apps are (Canvas, model driven or whatever) your datas are consistent. If a new dev use your datas, he shouldn't have to learn all the dev specific tips to use it. Data modelisation should be enough by itself. That's why options are a good choice wherever your data model needs it.
Your third solution may be better, but not the best : you have to reinvent the wheel to do exactly the same as a choice column does. It is only helpfull if your choices needs to handle some other datas with it, because a choice column can only handle a text (and a number).
Finally the only thing I agree is for the boolean column... What a shame to not have a real boolean, instead of this brain f***g yes/no option