Everything You Need To Know About Creating A Dropdown In Power Apps

Everything You Need To Know About Creating A Dropdown In Power Apps

Dropdowns in Power Apps are a simple yet effective way to offer users a selection from a predefined list, saving space and ensuring consistency.

In this blog, we’ll cover the basics of creating a dropdown, working with data sources like SharePoint, and customising properties.

Whether you’re new to Power Apps or refining your skills, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get started.

What is a dropdown?

A dropdown is an input control that can be used to contain a list of options for a user to select from. They are great for condensing screen space whilst restricting the input options to a pre-determined set of choices.

Microsoft defines it as “A list that shows only the first item unless the user opens it”.

Key Features

Default – The value of the dropdown unless it is changed.

Items – The data source. If the data source has multiple columns, you will need to set the Value property as well to specify the column

AllowEmptySelection – Does what is says on the tin. Allows the user to choose a blank value if set to true and forces the user to pick an option if it is false.

Why would I use a dropdown?

A dropdown’s primary use is granting the user the ability to input data from a predefined list of options. They are excellent for interacting with choice columns in a database.

How to create a dropdown

Whilst you can do this without connecting to a data source, the chances are that you will be connecting to a data source.

To use one without a data source, you can add this expression to the dropdown’s Items property:

[“Chester”, “Manchester”, “Liverpool”, “Wrexham”]

This example will follow with a data source – namely SharePoint Using the previously created list – Pet_data and app template.

Step 1 – Setting up a choice column

Head over to SharePoint where you previously created the Pet_data list.

Select the “Pet Type” column -> Column settings -> Edit

Change the Type to Choice

In the new “Choices” section, add in Dog, Cat, and Hamster

Hit save

Step 2

Open the app you previously created and select the data tab on the right-hand side of the screen

Right click pet_data and hit refresh

Step 4 – Inserting a Dropdown

Head over to the edit screen

Select the “Pet Type” card

On the right-hand side of the screen, press Advanced, then hit unlock.

Now delete the text input box

Insert a Dropdown and resize as necessary

Step 5 – Getting the Correct Fields

The Dropdown will come built in with the Power apps default DropDownSample

To change this, we will need to go to the “Items” property for the Dropdown and enter the following:
Choices([@pet_data].’Pet Type’)

Now you should have a working dropdown.

Next Steps

Having now created a dropdown from a choices column, have a play with the properties and design of the dropdown so you become familiar with it. Ready for a challenge? Create yourself a People picker dropdown.

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