[Designer] Rendering of template with some complex field does not update while sample data is updated

[benjguin]

Problem Description

While updating the sample data, the rendering does not update correctly for the Target Object field.

• The first screenshot shows the designer with no sample data - rendering is correct.
• The second screenshot shows the designer with correct sample data - rendering did not update for the Target Object field.
• The third screenshot shows the designer with correct sample data and correct rendering

I provide a simplified version of the JSON card below that reproes the issue with the following data

{
    "data": {
        "task": {
            "start_date": "01.02.2023",
            "target": ["ABC", "DEF"]
        }
    }
}

see 4th screenshot

The first three screenshots were done a few months back.

Card JSON

{
    "$schema": "http://adaptivecards.io/schemas/adaptive-card.json",
    "type": "AdaptiveCard",
    "version": "1.6",
    "msTeams": {
        "width": "default"
    },
    "body": [
        {
            "type": "ColumnSet",
            "columns": [
                {
                    "type": "Column",
                    "items": [
                        {
                            "type": "ColumnSet",
                            "columns": [
                                {
                                    "width": "100px",
                                    "verticalContentAlignment": "Top",
                                    "items": [
                                        {
                                            "type": "TextBlock",
                                            "spacing": "None",
                                            "text": "Target Object",
                                            "isSubtle": true,
                                            "weight": "Bolder"
                                        }
                                    ],
                                    "type": "Column"
                                },
                                {
                                    "width": "stretch",
                                    "verticalContentAlignment": "Center",
                                    "items": [
                                        {
                                            "type": "Container",
                                            "items": [
                                                {
                                                    "type": "TextBlock",
                                                    "$data": "${$root.data.task.target}",
                                                    "text": "${$data}"
                                                }
                                            ]
                                        }
                                    ],
                                    "type": "Column"
                                }
                            ],
                            "$when": "${count(data.task.target) > 0 }"
                        },
                        {
                            "type": "ColumnSet",
                            "columns": [
                                {
                                    "width": "100px",
                                    "verticalContentAlignment": "Center",
                                    "items": [
                                        {
                                            "type": "TextBlock",
                                            "spacing": "None",
                                            "text": "Start Date:",
                                            "isSubtle": true,
                                            "weight": "Bolder"
                                        }
                                    ],
                                    "type": "Column"
                                },
                                {
                                    "width": "stretch",
                                    "verticalContentAlignment": "Center",
                                    "items": [
                                        {
                                            "type": "TextBlock",
                                            "spacing": "None",
                                            "text": "${data.task.start_date}",
                                            "isSubtle": true
                                        }
                                    ],
                                    "type": "Column"
                                }
                            ]
                        }
                    ],
                    "width": "stretch"
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "actions": [
        {
            "type": "Action.OpenUrl",
            "title": "Open",
            "url": "${data.task.url}",
            "style": "positive",
            "id": "${data.task.task_uid}"
        }
    ]
}

Screenshot

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2/

3/

4/

[anna-dingler]

Hi @benjguin,

This is by design. When you are not in preview mode, only basic text blocks will be rendered for ease of designing. To view more complex data parsing, you need to enter preview mode (your third photo).

This behavior can also be observed in one of our cards that parses data for a FactSet. Design Mode:

Preview Mode:

Let me know if you have any questions!