Help with Updating a SharePoint List field with the value of another field and the Item ID

[TimTeska]

Hello Experts,

I'm trying to create a flow when a new list item is created, it should concatenate two fields together [Region]_ID with a "_" between them and put it in [Unit_Audit_ID]

[Unit_Audit_ID] is a single line text, [Region] is a text as well, but I think I'm running into trouble concatenating the ID because it is an integer.  I tried composing it as a string (see below), but then I get another error, see below / attached.

If anyone can help, I would greatly appreciate it...  Thank you!

 

[creativeopinion]

@TimTeska Because you are returning a single item, the Apply to Each action isn't necessary in your flow. You'll need to pull these actions outside of your Apply to Each action. 

In the meantime, you might find this YT Tutorial helpful: 3 Mistakes YOU 🫵 are Making with the Apply to Each Action in your Microsoft Power Automate Flow

In this video tutorial I’ll go over how to avoid these common mistakes when using the Apply to Each action in a Power Automate flow:

1️⃣ Looping through a Single Item

2️⃣ Creating Unnecessary Nested Loops

3️⃣ Looping through an Unfiltered Array

At the end of the video I share a few helpful insights when it comes to using the Apply to Each action in your flow.

IN THIS VIDEO:

✅ How to avoid the Apply to Each action with a single item array

✅ How to use the item() function to access dynamic content in an array

✅ How to prevent unnecessary nested Apply to Each action loops

✅ How to use the Select action

✅ How to convert an array to a string with the Select action

✅How to use the Filter Query field

✅ How to count the number of items in an array

✅ How to use a condition control

✅ How to use the concurrency control

✅ How to set a top count

✅ How to use Compose actions for troubleshooting

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok and Instagram

[TimTeska]

Hi,

Thank you for taking a look - So I pulled those two out of Apply to Each, I'm getting this error that I was getting before as well.  I don't understand why it says that the 'item/field_10[0]/Id' is read only - it is a required field though, if I leave it blank it says 'Tax Teype Under Audit' is required...   any ideas?

 

[creativeopinion]

@TimTeska What type of column is the Tax Type Audit column?

[TimTeska]

It is a multi choice field, and it's required.

[creativeopinion]

@TimTeska For multi-choice fields, you have to use a Select action to parse the multi-choice selection from the Get Item action.

In the from field, insert the dynamic content of the multi-choice column. Important: Ensure you are selecting the multi-choice column — not the multi-choice column value dynamic content.

In the key field, enter Value with a capital V. In the value field, insert the multi-choice value dynamic content.

In the Create Item action, select the icon to switch the input mode. 

Insert the output from the Select action. 

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok and Instagram

[TimTeska]

Hi,

I really appreciate your help, I wouldn't have been able to figure this out, and ChatGPT was leading me down one rabbit hole after the next.

I just have a couple questions to clarify what I need to do now - this is confusing because I have other required multi-choice fields in this list - and I'm not using data from those fields to update the [Unique_Audit_ID], which is what I'm ultimately trying to do, I want [Unique_Audit_ID] to be the concatenation of [Region]_[ID]

1. I'm adding the "Select" item? - because I don't see a "Select-Multi-Choice" item as an option.

2. Which Dynamic content for [Tax Type Under Audit] do I use for the *From?  I'm not sure what the differences are:

•  1- Tax Type Under Audit Value
•  2- Tax Type Under Audit Item
•  3- Tax Type Under Audit 

3. Do I still need the  "Compose" item before the  "Update item" which does the concatenation of [Region]_[ID]) ?

4. Am I replacing the "Update item" that I currently have with "Create item"?  This flow is supposed to run after I create a new list item and update the field .... 

Again, thank you so much for your help.

[creativeopinion]

@TimTeska No worries. The Select action is required to parse the values for a multi-choice column. A Compose action can be used anywhere in your flow to store values. I use them a lot in my flows to pre compose values and test before I even bother adding an Update Item or Create Item action to my flow. However, it's important to note you'll want to make sure you rename your Compose actions—especially if you have multiple instances of that action in your flow. Otherwise things can get pretty confusing very quickly. 

For more flow troubleshooting tips—check out this YT Tutorial: 5 Power Automate Troubleshooting FAQs and Helpful Tips for Creating Better Flows

In this Power Automate tutorial, I explore 5 frequently asked questions that pop up when troubleshooting a flow. If you’d like to to level up your Power Automate flow skills and learn how to troubleshoot your Power Automate flow—this tutorial is for you!

IN THIS VIDEO:

✅ How to troubleshoot a false Condition action result

✅ How to get dynamic content when it isn’t selectable from the list of dynamic content

✅ How to troubleshoot an Apply to Each action that isn’t looping through

✅ How to troubleshoot a skipped Apply to Each action

✅ How to troubleshoot a Filter Query

✅ How to use a SharePoint yes/no column in a Filter Query

✅ How to use Compose actions to troubleshoot a Power Automate flow

✅ How to troubleshoot multiple emails being sent

✅ How to troubleshoot multiple Teams messages being sent

----

I'm assuming the Unique_Audit_ID column is a single line text field. IF that is the case, you don't need a Select action for this. Although you could insert the values directly into the field—I prefer the route you've taken which is to use a Compose action. Did you review the output of your Compose action from one of your recent flow runs? Is the output of the Compose action what you are expecting? 

Keep the output of this Compose action into the Unique_Audit_ID field. 

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok and Instagram

[TimTeska]

Hi,

Yes, the Unique_Audit_ID is a single line text and yes the Compose comes out as expected, I get the error in the Update Item with that multi-select field saying it's read only.

So, which [Tax Type Under Audit] dynamic content should I be using in the Select? There are six total choices:

3 from Get Item, and 3 from when an When an item is created:  I have the *Value, *Item and nothing - see below:

 

[TimTeska]

Also, will I have to do a Select for every multi-select choice required field?  I guess I'll find out after you let me know which one I should be using from my previous response.  Get Item or When and item is created, and *Value, *Item or just the field one.

[creativeopinion · Accepted solution]

@TimTeska The output of these dynamic content are the same. You can actually get rid of the Get Item action as it's returning the same item as the item returned from your flow trigger.

As mentioned from my prev post the dynamic content of the multi-choice column. Important: Ensure you are selecting the multi-choice column — not the multi-choice column value dynamic content.

In your case it would be Tax Type Under Audit.

You will need to have a Select action for every multi-select choice column. 

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
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[TimTeska]

The values are coming through, but I'm still getting the same error.  I did not use the Multi-Choice Value, I used "Tax Type Under Audit" not "Tax Type Under Audit Value"

 

[TimTeska]

But it's populating my Unique_Audit_ID as expected, it's failing from not being able to write back to the required fields - well this one anyway.  I'm still not sure why I'm not getting errors on any other multi choice required fields, yet.

[creativeopinion]

@TimTeska The output of your Select action doesn't look correct.

In the from field, insert the dynamic content of the multi-choice column. Important: Ensure you are selecting the multi-choice column — not the multi-choice column value dynamic content.

In the key field, enter Value with a capital V. In the value field, insert the multi-choice value dynamic content.

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok and Instagram

[TimTeska]

Wait hold, on, I wasn't putting the Output from the Select into the "Tax Type Under Audit" field, it runs with no errors, I have to go in and out of the list to see the Unique_Audit_ID, but it works.

Thank you.

[TimTeska]

Hi CreativeOpinion,

I just realized something is not working right with that required field that was giving me grief and I had to set up a "Select - Multi-Choice" for an array for "Tax Type Under Audit".  The Power Automate runs without failure updating the "Audit_ID" field but now but the value that the PA is putting in the "Tax Type Under Audit" is very strange.  See below.  When I first complete the new List item, the value I selected for "Tax Type Under Audit" is correct, but after the PA is finished it replaces the value with what you see below. Any idea how to solve this?

 

[creativeopinion]

@TimTeska Is this a single choice or multi-choice field?

You need to ensure that you are selecting the correct dynamic content. It must be the value dynamic content of the dynamic content field. For example, if you refer to the two dynamic content labels in this Select action—the dynamic content in the from field will output all the dynamic content of the multi-choice column. However, the dynamic content in the value field, will output the multi-choice value. 

If it's a multi-choice column, you need to ensure you insert the output of the select action. As previously shown:

Insert the output from the Select action. 

However, if it's a single choice column, you need to ensure you are selecting the dynamic content with the word VALUE in the dynamic content. If you aren't sure if you are selecting the right dynamic content, put it into a Compose action and run a test!

[TimTeska]

I'm using Select, I should be using a "Select - Multi-Choice"?  because I don't see that as an option.  I also just noticed that it's doing that for another multi select required field that I have called Sector but it doesn't break my flow, see below.

 

 

[creativeopinion]

@TimTeska The fields will look different depending on the column type. 

A single choice column will only allow you to select a single choice. You can either select a single choice from the dropdown—or a custom value.

When using dynamic content to insert a single choice value from one SP list to another, you need to ensure you are selecting the value dynamic content of the choice column. 

A multi-choice column will allow you to select multiple choices. 

You may select choices from the dropdown, click Add new item to add a new choice.

However, if you are copying multi-choice values from one SP list to another, you need to use a Select action to parse your selections from on SP list and insert the output of the select action. As I've shown in my previous screenshots...

If it's a multi-choice column, you need to ensure you insert the output of the select action. As previously shown:

Insert the output from the Select action. 

The way you have this set up is incorrect. You need to click on the icon to switch the mode first BEFORE you insert the output of the select action into the field.

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

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