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How to Compare Text and Format Changes in Power Apps

Rana Garcia Oct 13, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to display text additions, deletions, and specific formatting changes within a Power Apps application.

How to Compare Text and Format Changes in Power Apps

Product: Microsoft Power Apps
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to create a text-diff or version comparison feature inside a Power Apps interface.
Observed behavior: Standard Power Apps text labels cannot apply different formatting to individual words, making it difficult to highlight added or deleted text.

Before you start

Ensure you have access to the Power Apps maker portal and a basic understanding of HTML tags, as standard text labels do not support rich text formatting for individual words.

Solution 1Recommended

Use HTML Text Controls for Text Diffs

Since standard labels lack word-level formatting, use the HTML Text control to manually render additions and deletions using HTML tags.

Power Apps standard labels apply formatting to the entire block of text. To highlight specific changes, you need to use an HTML Text control and pass your formatted strings into it.

Insert an HTML Text Control

Open your canvas app in Power Apps Studio. Navigate to the 'Insert' menu at the top, search for 'HTML text', and add the control to your screen.

Format Text Changes with HTML

In the 'HtmlText' property of the control, use standard HTML tags to format your comparison. For example, use <ins> or a span with a green color for additions, and <del> or a red color for deletions.

Bind to Dynamic Data

Combine your Power Apps formulas with string concatenation (using the & operator) to dynamically generate the HTML diff based on your variables or data source.

Limitations: This method requires you to calculate the text differences beforehand, either through a Power Automate flow or a custom API, and then pass the formatted HTML string back to Power Apps.

Solution 2

Seek Specialized Help in Microsoft Communities

For complex text comparison behaviors or custom component requirements, posting in specialized developer forums is highly recommended.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Compare Documents Easily with WPS Office

While Power Apps requires custom HTML or components for text comparisons, WPS Office offers built-in, powerful document comparison and track changes features. It serves as a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office for all your document management needs.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free suite and follow the simple installation instructions.
2. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Writer and open the original and revised documents you want to compare.
3. Use the Compare Feature: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon and select 'Compare' to instantly generate a detailed text-diff of your documents.

Built-in robust document comparison and track changes toolsExcellent compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsFree, lightweight, and user-friendly interfaceSeamless migration with no complex coding required

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can standard Power Apps text labels format individual words?

No, standard text labels in Power Apps apply formatting settings (like color, bold, or italic) to the entire text block. You cannot target individual words without using an HTML Text control or Rich Text Editor.

How can I automatically calculate text differences in Power Apps?

Power Apps does not have a built-in function to calculate text differences. You typically need to use a Power Automate flow to process the text through a third-party API or custom script, which then returns the highlighted differences to your app.

Where is the best place to ask for help with custom Power Apps components?

For specialized developer assistance, including building custom PCF components for text diffs, the Power Apps Community and Microsoft Q&A forums are the best official resources.

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