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steveh2024's avatar
steveh2024
Copper Contributor
Nov 08, 2024

How can I show more than 12 lookups on a power apps form?

Hi,

 

Due to the limit of 12 lookups on a view when I add these to a power apps form I get an error.

What is the work around to this please?

 

Thanks.

  • Mks_1973's avatar
    Mks_1973
    Iron Contributor

    try these:

    Split the form into multiple forms, each containing up to 12 lookup fields.
    Place each form on the same screen or on different tabs within the same screen.
    Use navigation buttons or tabs to switch between forms to provide a seamless experience.
    ======================
    Instead of adding all lookup fields directly to the form, create a Gallery or Data Table to display related lookup records.
    This approach lets you use more than 12 lookups by displaying related data in a list format instead of as individual lookup fields on the form.
    Use the selected item in the gallery or data table to populate the lookup fields dynamically.
    ======================
    Convert some of your lookup fields to Combo Box controls instead.
    Populate each combo box with items from the relevant lookup table.
    This is useful if some lookups don’t need to be tied directly to the record and can instead be selected as options.
    ======================
    Instead of using lookup fields directly, you can use Power Apps formulas and Patch function to set lookup values.
    Create additional fields to hold selected lookup values in plain text or as IDs, and use them to update the record when saving.
    For example, on save, use Patch to apply the selected values from combo boxes or other dropdowns to the lookup fields in the data source.
    =======================
    If possible, split some of the lookup data into related tables or entities and create sub-forms or sub-galleries that reference these tables.
    This approach keeps your main form within the 12 lookup limit but allows you to access additional lookup data via related records.
    =======================
    Use tabs or sections to separate different types of related data.
    This allows you to add more than 12 lookups conceptually by splitting them into sections, with each tab or section showing up to 12 lookups.



    Example Scenario with Multiple Forms:
    Suppose there are 18 lookups:

    Create Form1 with the first 12 lookup fields.
    Create Form2 with the remaining 6 lookup fields.
    Add a button or tab navigation to switch between Form1 and Form2 on the same screen, and combine the data on submit.
    By leveraging one or more of these strategies, you should be able to work around the 12-lookup limitation in Power Apps effectively.

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