Create a new column in SharePoint list from Flow

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

So I have pre-existing lists that I would like to automate the process of creating a new column on. Can you automate this process with Microsoft Flow?

More Details:

I have about thirty lists that I would like to not have to manually go into and create two new columns, as mulitple sources will continue to create more lists overtime. The photo attached shows the two columns I create highlighted in red ink.Screenshot of Columns

All help is appreciated!

Update: This link provides great examples for accomplishing this type of thing https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/developer/sharepoint-rest-reference/dn6001...

[yashag2255]

Hi @Anonymous 

Creating a column in a sharepoint list is not supported as a direct action in flow currently. What you can do is, to create the two columns in every list in your sharepoint site, you can invoke the rest api using the "send an http request" to sharepoint action and create those columns. Here is an example of how you can invoke the rest api to create a column:

https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/how-to-create-column-in-a-list-using-rest-api-in-sharepoint/

More on SharePoint rest api options: 

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/sp-add-ins/complete-basic-operations-using-sharepoint-rest-endpoints

The flow configuration can be: Manual button trigger -> Get Lists from Sharepoint Action -> Apply to each on the List returned -> send an http request to sharepoint.

Hope this Helps!

If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!

[Anonymous]

So, I can include non-JSON code into the body of a "Send Https request to Sharepoint" and populate the list with the two newly created columns (ex. pulling code from the link's example)? Or, are you saying I need to use the request to call an outside SharePoint Custom Add-in that is created similar to this: https://www.c-sharpcorner.com/article/how-to-create-column-in-a-list-using-rest-api-in-sharepoint/ to achieve the creation of columns?

@yashag2255 

[abm · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous ,

Yes need to include the JSON request. Please see below. Here I am creating a new text column called 'Country' with field length 25 under the list called 'aj'.

If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up.

Thanks

[yashag2255]

Hi @Anonymous 

You can refer to @abm 's suggestion for the send an HTTP request to sharepoint action. You can variabalise the column names / use the dynamic selector if you want to extract those from elsewhere.  

You can get more details on the column types and sending http request to invoke the SharePoint REST API from the URL's that I have shared earlier. 

More on column types etc. here: 

https://support.office.com/en-gb/article/list-and-library-column-types-and-options-0d8ddb7b-7dc7-414d-a283-ee9dca891df7

Hope this Helps!

If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!

[Tom_Slosse]

Hey all

Some more information on the different FieldTypes could come in handy for this one I think 🙂

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/sharepoint-visio/jj245640%28v%3doffice.15%...

Kind regards

Tom Slosse

[maxwn5]

Is there any way to make the column visible by default?  The HTTP request worked for me, but the new column is hidden.

[abm]

Hi

Once the column is created you need to execute another HTTP POST

http://<sitecollection>/<site>/_api/web/lists(listid)/Views(viewid)/ViewFields/addViewField(strField...

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/previous-versions/office/sharepoint-visio/jj246043(v%3Doffice.15)

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I am trying the same approach here but with newly added column field as choice type.

I manage to get it run successfully with new "Phase" column added:

However, it won't update or display in the list:

How do I get it it to display once added with power automate?

[Anonymous]

Hi @maxwn5, have you found a solution to display the hidden column by default?

The link shared by @abm is no longer reachable.

Thanks.

[abm]

Hi @Anonymous 

You need to change the view manually.

Thanks

[DAAZEVEDO]

.

[DAAZEVEDO]

Hi @Anonymous ,

You need to creat a new HTTP request w/ POST method to add this (or all columns creates) to the default view.

Try w/ this Uri = _api/web/lists/GetByTitle('YOUR_LIST_NAME')/views/getbytitle('All Items')/ViewFields/AddViewField('YOUR_ColumnName')

[nickas]

How using MS Flow insert data in additional Sharepoint columns?

[Anonymous]

You need to add the filed "Required": "true/false", to the Json body.

You can refer to this documentation : https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/sp-add-ins/working-with-lists-and-list-items-with-re... .

[Amino0]

In case someone is still wondering how to achieve this in a single action. 

1. Use the action "Send an HTTP request to SharePoint".
2. For Uri, use the API /_api/web/lists(guid'@variables('SiteURL')')/fields/createFieldAsXml
3. Include in body, "Options": 16. Whereas, this means that this field should be added to default view. More information about this attribute along with other options can be found here.
   Below is a sample with Options 17. Whereas, 17 means add to default view (16) and add to default content type (1).
   

   {
        "parameters": {
             "SchemaXml": "<Field Name=\"MoreInfo\" Type=\"Note\" DisplayName=\"MoreInfo\" Description=\"More info about the Onboarding Task\" RichText=\"TRUE\" RichTextMode=\"FullHtml\" Required=\"FALSE\" EnforceUniqueValues=\"FALSE\" Indexed=\"FALSE\" Group=\"Onboarding\" StaticName=\"MoreInfo\" ShowInEditForm=\"TRUE\" ShowInNewForm=\"TRUE\" ShowInViewForms=\"TRUE\" ShowInDisplayForm=\"TRUE\" ></Field>",
             "Options": 17
        }
   }

   
   
   

[Fabio_Levy]

@Amino0,
Thank you very much! It was the only thing that worked for me!
And to help the others, in the field "Type", I tested with "Number", "Text" and "Datetime", instead of "Note", and it works like a charm!
Best regards!

[sergio_flows]

This is perfect. 

Do you know if you can add multiple fields at the same time by setting the xml structure?

Also, how did you come up with that API uri?

[aadhawan]

Thank You, This helped me a lot.

[NikitaGadhave]

@Amino0,
Thank you very much! It was worked for me! 

Can you help me-How to create choice column with same code

Thank you very much