Getting a list of SharePoint list column names

[ryleybauer]

Building on this post in the PowerApps forum with a long method to get all list items, generate and parse the entire thing as a CSV table, I reviewed their method and enhanced it into a 3-step flow! I went down the rabbit hole of wondering if it was exposed via an endpoint, and sure enough, it is! Instead of using a CSV, I'll just use a SharePoint HTTP action, append array action to create the table of columns!  

1. HTTP request to SharePoint:

   a. Site Address: team site URL, not root site URL

   b. GET

   c. URI: /_api/web/lists/getbytitle('LISTNAME')/fields?$filter=Hidden eq false and ReadOnlyField eq false

           - Also, the filter above takes care of all of the reserved columns except for "Content Type" and "Attachments", which could be removed by changing the URI to: /_api/web/lists/getbytitle('LISTNAME')/fields?$filter=Hidden eq false and ReadOnlyField eq false and Title ne 'Content Type' and Title ne 'Attachments'

2. Run the flow/perform this request to get a sample payload

3. Add Parse JSON step, using the body from the previous step and paste in the sample payload in the "Generate from sample" option

4. Append "Title" to an array variable inside of an Apply to Each loop based on "results"

[ryleybauer · Accepted solution]

Marked OP as solution

[Vanazco]

How do i use this in powerapps to show it in a gallery item

[ryleybauer]

Do a clearCollect(colColumnList, Run.GetColumnNamesFlow())

Then you can show the colColumnList as the data source in the gallery

[jpr23]

Caution : when parsing JSON , an error occurs because the stype "string" is invalid because it could be null.

So .. you have to change in the JSON text , all occurence of "string" by "string" , "null" and then it works!

Thank you microsoft for this tool not perfect !

[DizzyAy]

Is that change needed for all instances of string within the JSON schema or just all instances for the Title string (or any other attribute you are wishing to collect)?

[Northonicus]

Thank you, jpr23. Just a slight revision - 

Replace all instances of "string" with ["string", "null"]

Need the square brackets to denote an array.

[power_ap]

Thank you for the post.

I am new to PA - the flow returns an array of column titles, but how do you retrieve actual list data under these names? Could you elaborate the next steps?  

[surbhikshah82]

Hi

looking for this type of solution and I wonder if there is solution file i can get or is there detailed blog on this on how to do it . 

[ryleybauer]

What do you mean? If you want the list data, just use the "Get Items" action? This is only for retrieving the schema as an advanced maneuver. Maybe I'm not understanding your question.

[ryleybauer]

What do you mean "this type of solution"? 
This is a single step for a complex edge case I've only been asked for once. What are you trying to do with your solution? As far as a blog post goes, this was the post haha, but maybe if I get some time over the next few weeks and you explain your problem, maybe I can write up more detail for you.

[surbhikshah82]

yes that’s what I meant if you can provide me same example with more details as I am trying to accomplish the same solution or if you have a zip file i can use ?

[ryleybauer]

Please tell me what you're actually trying to do if you'd like a blog post that has more than just this post with a few more sentences 😉 

[surbhikshah82]

yes looking for detailed blog basically 

[ryleybauer]

Please describe your problem that's not being answered here. Between this forum post and the one I linked to, everything described in "get a list of column names" is here, so I'm not sure what you're asking for. 

I know you asked for a zip, if you PM me, we can talk about how I can help you directly.

[surbhikshah82]

Here is what I am trying to accomplish and need help to understand JSON part 

1. Using HTTP to SharePoint retrieve column names 

2. Create Excel using Create CSV table 

3. Populate that new excel sheet with just columns and each sheet should have separate list . List 1 should be in Sheet 1 and List 2 should be in Sheet 3 etc 

So similar thing I have to accomplish 

[surbhikshah82]

Following is what I am trying to accomplish 

To retrieve a list of data using an HTTP GET request, dynamically extract the column names from the response, convert it to a CSV table, and populate it into an Excel worksheet using Power Automate, you can follow these steps:

1. Create a new flow in Power Automate.
2. Add the "HTTP" action to make the GET request. Configure the action with the appropriate URL, headers, and any required authentication.
3. Add a "Parse JSON" action after the HTTP action. Use the "Body" output from the HTTP action as the content to parse.
4. In the "Parse JSON" action, provide a sample response from the GET request to generate the schema. This will help in dynamically generating the column names.
5. Add a "Select" action after the "Parse JSON" action. Set the "From" field to the parsed JSON output.
6. Use the "Compose" action to create an array variable to store the column names. Set the value to the expression `outputs('Select')?['body/{property_name}']`, where `Select` is the name of the "Select" action.
7. Add a "Create CSV table" action. Set the "From" field to the parsed JSON output.
8. Add a "Create file" action and configure it to create a CSV file. Set the "File name" to a suitable name with the `.csv` extension and set the "File content" to the output from the "Create CSV table" action.
9. Add an "Excel - Create table" action to create a new table in an Excel worksheet. Specify the workbook, worksheet, and table name.
10. In the "Excel - Create table" action, map the output from the "Create file" action to the "Table" field. This will populate the CSV data into the Excel worksheet.
11. Save and test the flow by triggering it or using sample data for the HTTP GET request.

By following these steps, you can retrieve a list of data using an HTTP GET request, dynamically extract the column names from the response, convert it to a CSV table, and populate it into an Excel worksheet using Power Automate.

[ryleybauer]

Thanks for outlining your steps, but you have added unnecessary extra ones. Part of my instructions were a response to another post that had already done this like you described, but shortened your steps 5 and 6 to a single append to array action, as the Select action is more complex for new users. 

Can I level with you? 

If your goal is just to export a list of columns from a list to get a CSV file, I think asking ChatGPT to write you some PowerShell is 100000% a better approach. 

The ONLY reason I did this in Power Automate was that it was a small part of a larger flow. I would never do this in Power Automate if the only goal is to get the column names.

[surbhikshah82]

Well if it is requirement I will have to do it along with data types and that is nice article except I have use rest api to get list from sharepoint 

[ryleybauer]

If you can use PowerShell, that's a better approach. I'd only use the Rest API for your solution if your IT blocks PowerShell. Otherwise, Power Automate to the SharePoint Rest API is the long and hard way of doing this haha