The correct answer is that the column name in the formula uses a space and is missing single-quote delimiters. In Power Apps, when a column name contains a space—such as 'Account Name'—it must be enclosed in single quotes to be parsed correctly; without them, the formula interprets the space as a separator, causing the lookup to fail and the condition to always evaluate as false, triggering the 'No records found' fallback. This question tests your understanding of Power Fx syntax and common data-source referencing errors, a frequent trap on the Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals PL-900 exam where candidates overlook the need for quotes around column names with spaces. The key memory tip is simple: if a column name has a space, put it in quotes—think "space equals quotes" to avoid the 'No records found' error.
PL-900 Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Apps Practice Question
This PL-900 practice question tests your understanding of demonstrate the capabilities of power apps. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Power Fx formula:
If(
IsEmpty(SortByColumns(Filter(Accounts, 'Account Name' = "Contoso"), "Created On", Descending)),
"No records found",
First(SortByColumns(Filter(Accounts, 'Account Name' = "Contoso"), "Created On", Descending)).'Account Name'
)
A canvas app uses the formula shown in the exhibit to display the name of the most recently created account named 'Contoso'. The formula always shows 'No records found' even though there are accounts named 'Contoso'. What is the likely issue?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "always"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
Refer to the exhibit.
Power Fx formula:
If(
IsEmpty(SortByColumns(Filter(Accounts, 'Account Name' = "Contoso"), "Created On", Descending)),
"No records found",
First(SortByColumns(Filter(Accounts, 'Account Name' = "Contoso"), "Created On", Descending)).'Account Name'
)
A
The SortByColumns function is used incorrectly.
Why wrong: The syntax is correct.
B
The First function cannot be used on a filtered result.
Why wrong: First can be used on any table.
C
The formula is not delegable and returns incomplete data.
Why wrong: Delegation limits might cause missing records, but not always empty.
D
The column name in the formula uses a space and may be incorrect.
If the actual column is 'AccountName', the filter fails.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The column name in the formula uses a space and may be incorrect.
Option D is correct because the formula references a column name with a space ('Account Name') without using single-quote delimiters. In Power Apps, when a column name contains a space, it must be enclosed in single quotes (e.g., 'Account Name') to be parsed correctly. Without the quotes, Power Apps interprets the space as a separator, causing the lookup to fail and the condition to evaluate as false, always falling back to 'No records found'.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The SortByColumns function is used incorrectly.
Why it's wrong here
The syntax is correct.
✗
The First function cannot be used on a filtered result.
Why it's wrong here
First can be used on any table.
✗
The formula is not delegable and returns incomplete data.
Why it's wrong here
Delegation limits might cause missing records, but not always empty.
✓
The column name in the formula uses a space and may be incorrect.
Why this is correct
If the actual column is 'AccountName', the filter fails.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "always" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume the issue is delegation (Option C) because 'No records found' suggests a data limit, but the real problem is a syntax error in referencing a column with a space, which is a subtle and easily overlooked detail in Power Apps formulas.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Power Apps uses the '!' or '.' operator to access column values, but when a column name contains a space, the parser treats the space as a token separator unless the name is wrapped in single quotes. This is a common pitfall when working with imported data or SharePoint lists where column names often include spaces. In a real-world scenario, a developer might copy a formula from a gallery and forget to quote the column name, leading to silent failures that are hard to debug because no error is thrown—just an incorrect result.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Apps — This question tests Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Apps — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The column name in the formula uses a space and may be incorrect. — Option D is correct because the formula references a column name with a space ('Account Name') without using single-quote delimiters. In Power Apps, when a column name contains a space, it must be enclosed in single quotes (e.g., 'Account Name') to be parsed correctly. Without the quotes, Power Apps interprets the space as a separator, causing the lookup to fail and the condition to evaluate as false, always falling back to 'No records found'.
What should I do if I get this PL-900 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "always". Absolute qualifier. An answer using 'always' is only correct if there are genuinely no exceptions — absolute statements are often wrong in networking.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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