Debugging Power Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming
For anyone who isn’t a professional coder, programmer, or tech wizard, tackling debugging Power Apps can be quite frustrating. Due this seemingly unscalable wall, many great ideas have died on the vine. For those who have ventured into the world of Power Apps, there’s good news: a built-in tool can save the day. Yes, even if you’re clueless about coding, you can debug like a seasoned expert. This post will walk you through how to use this tool.
Debugging Power Apps Using the Formula Bar
Once your app is ready for testing, you might notice things aren’t working quite as planned. The Power App may show a sea of squiggly red lines in numerous areas within the formula bar. Even worse, a button could have a red circle with a white X. (See Image 1) The formula bar (See Image 2) will assist in numerous ways to help you catch the bugs that are causing issues with the Power App. This handy tool is your key to spotting and squashing the bugs plaguing your Power App.
Image 1
Image 2
Debugging Power Apps by Mouse Hover
Picture this: you’re typing away in Microsoft Word, and that trusty red squiggly line pops up to nudge you about a typo. This same behavior works in Power Apps formula bar the same way. When the pointer hovers over the red squiggle, a description of the issue is given. (See Image 3) Some descriptions are clear while others leave you scratching your head. Despite cryptic error messages using the hover method is a great way to try and identify the issue to allow debugging Power Apps quickly. In Image 3 the message identifies there is a missing parenthesis at the end of the formula when the cursor hovers over the red squiggly line.
Image 3
Debugging Power Apps by Cursor Situational Awareness
Placing a cursor into the formula bar on a specific function will allow you to visually see what issues is. When looking at Image 4, the cursor is in the center of the called object dpdAMPM. On the bottom of the formula box on the notification panel, the object is identified followed by an equal sign. Beyond the equal sign one of two things will appear. A valid value of the object or an error message to assist you with debugging the app.
Debugging Power Apps with Color-Coded Clues
Looking at Image 4 on the far right, you can see a red filled rectangle on the second row of the grey bar going along the right side. That red rectangle is a visual indicator the issue with the formula will be found on the second line. Only the equal sign has a red squiggly line under it so may be easily looked over. With the color coding on the right side, it will assist with identifying issues when debugging Power Apps. Warnings will be a mustard yellow color on the far right.
Conclusion
Debugging Power Apps doesn’t have to feel like a chore—think of it as a treasure hunt with a toolbox full of clever gadgets! When debugging Power Apps, there are many tools available to assist you. Take the time to understand how to use the tool effectively. Have patience and fun when debugging. With a little practice, you’ll be debugging like a pro in no time.