How to Convert Textbox to Dropdown in Power Apps?

In this Power Apps tutorial, I will explain how to convert textbox to dropdown in Power Apps.

Here, I will show you how to set up an Excel sheet and format it as a table. Then, I will show you how to upload the Excel file to any cloud database [OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, etc…] and how to create the Power Apps Canvas app from Excel directly.

Last, I will show you how to change Text input to a Dropdown list in the Power Apps canvas app.

Convert Textbox to Dropdown in Power Apps

Here, we will see how to add a Power Apps dropdown list from Excel with a simple scenario. And then, I will show you how to convert textbox to dropdown in Power Apps. To work around this, follow the below steps:

1. Setup an Excel Sheet and format it as a table

• I have an Excel Sheet named “IT Companies“. Inside this, I have added two columns with respective records.

Column Name	Data Type
Company Name	Text
Location	Choice

• Here, for the Location column values, I have added another sheet to create one dropdown list [Locations]. Then, I said those values in the “Location” column based on the below Data Validation.

Source: = =Sheet2!$A$2:$A$5

• After adding data to the Excel sheet, you should set up the Excel Sheet Format As a Table, and also check the My table has headers option. Also, add a Table Name as “Companies”.

Refer to the below screenshot:

• In the same way, you can also set the “Locations dropdown” as a Table Format and add a Table Name as “Locations” in Sheet2 as well.

• Once the Excel Sheet is ready, please save it to your local device.

2. Upload the Excel file to any cloud database like OneDrive for Business

• Now, open OneDrive for Business -> Click on the + Add new button -> Select Files upload option -> Select respective Excel file [Companies] from your local device -> Click on the Open button.

• Once the Excel file is added, it will appear under the “All” files dropdown, as in the screenshot below.

3. Create a Power Apps Canvas app from Excel [Directly]

• Next, we need to create a Power Apps Canvas app from an Excel Sheet.
• For that, Open Power Apps with your respective Microsoft credentials -> Click on the + Create option -> Create your app from Excel, as in the screenshot below.

• Next, select your OneDrive for Business connection -> Choose an Excel file -> Choose a table -> Click on the Connect button.

Once it connects, it will take a few minutes to create a Canvas app with three different screens. Such as:

1. BrowseScreen1: This screen will browse all Excel file records
2. DetailsScreen1: We can use this screen to display the selected item records
3. EditScreen1: If you want to edit or update any specific item, then use this screen to edit

4. How to change Text input to a Dropdown list in Power Apps

Whenever a user wants to add a new record in Power Apps’ new form, it will not give the dropdown values. Here, we will get only Text input control to add a choice field.

• However, it is the not right way to add value to the location field. Here, we can only choose a value from the Excel dropdown list.
• For that, select the + Add data -> Select a data source as OneDrive for Business -> Choose an Excel file [Companies.xlsx] as shown below.

• Next, Choose the Excel table [Locations] -> Click on the Connect button.
• Once it is connected to the app, you will get a data source under the Data section like below.

• Now, select the Power Apps EditForm1 -> Select Edit fields option -> Choose Location DataCard and change the Control type to Allower Values as in the screenshot below.

• Then, you should change the DataCardValue Items property like below.

Items = Locations

Where,

1. Locations = Excel Table Name

• Whenever you change the Items property, it will give an Error like “Name isn’t valid. ‘Value’ isn’t recognized“.
• To resolve it, you can change the Location_DataCard Update property to the code below.

Update = DataCardValue5.Selected.Locations

Where,

1. DataCardValue5 = Dropdown List Name
2. Locations = Excel Table Name

5. Save, Publish, Preview, and Run the app

• Once your app is ready, provide the name and click on the Save button. Then, Publish your app by clicking the Publish this version button as shown below.

• Now, we find our app under the Apps section and click on the Play button to run the app.

• Once click on the play button, it will redirect you to the Browse screen. When a user wants to create a new record, just click on the + icon, and it will navigate to the new form.
• Here, provide the new record details and select the Submit icon, as shown below.

• See here; the new record will be added to the Power Apps and the Excel sheet.

This is how to convert textbox to dropdown in Power Apps.

You can check out a video on the same.

Conclusion

From this Power Apps tutorial, we learned all about how to convert textbox to a dropdown in Power Apps, including:

• Setup an Excel Sheet and format it as a table
• Upload the Excel file to any cloud database like OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, etc…
• Create a Power Apps Canvas app from Excel
• How to change Text input to a Dropdown list in Power Apps
• Save, Publish, Preview, and Run the app

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