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angelak241695
August 2, 2021
Solved

Using the new a!update()

  • August 2, 2021
  • 4 replies
  • 1 view

Is is possible to update multiple fields of a CDT using the a!update()? The documentation shows that you can for a regular array, but with the CDT examples shown, it only updates one field at a time. When I test it out in an expression, it throws an error. I just want to check that I'm not missing anything here. 

e.g. 

a!update(
  data: ri!submission,
  index: {"StatusID", "SubmissionTypeID"},
  value: {1, 2}
)

error thrown: Expression evaluation error at function a!update: Invalid index: cannot index multiple indices of type List of Text String into type CRA_T_Submission

 

Best answer by mikes0011

I have reported this to Appian recently, because I found the same issue with testing.  It throws the same error when you try with either a Dictionary or with a CDT (surprisingly), but works if you feed it a MAP specifically.  Which is weird.  I was really looking forward to replacing the "update dictionary" plug-in, but as it stands, a!update() is not usable for that in 99% of my current use cases.

Working (a!map):

Not working (dictionary):

Edit to add in retrospect: as of 21.4, the nonworking cases I mentioned earlier now seem to work.

4 replies

mikes0011
mikes0011Answer
Brainy
August 2, 2021

I have reported this to Appian recently, because I found the same issue with testing.  It throws the same error when you try with either a Dictionary or with a CDT (surprisingly), but works if you feed it a MAP specifically.  Which is weird.  I was really looking forward to replacing the "update dictionary" plug-in, but as it stands, a!update() is not usable for that in 99% of my current use cases.

Working (a!map):

Not working (dictionary):

Edit to add in retrospect: as of 21.4, the nonworking cases I mentioned earlier now seem to work.

    stewart.burchell
    stewart.burchell
    August 2, 2021

    You can use fn!reduce() in the same way you would with any list that you want to process against an initial value:

    fn!reduce(
a!update,
ri!submission,
fn!merge(
{"StatusID", "SubmissionTypeID"},
{1, 2}
)

    ...but I take your point, it seems odd/inconsistent that it natively processes a list for maps but not for Dictionaries or CDTs.

    mikes0011
    mikes0011
    Brainy
    August 2, 2021

    I mean, if you have to pull in (two[!!]) primitive looping/array functions to make one of the most basic use cases work, to me that defeats the entire purpose of the new Update function, when compared to updateDictionary() which works just fine in one step.

    alex.ladue
    alex.ladue
    August 2, 2021

    This is a known bug with updating dictionaries and CDTs with a!update(). This will work as expected for maps and record data types. We are working to fix the issue, but I don't have a timeline for the fix right now.

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