flow to copy a column to another column within a item list in SharePoint

[AlanChen]

Hi all,

Im new to power automate, anyone can let me know what is the warning below?

I was trying to do a flow when a user create a item and select a choice column then will copy the choice column into a single line of text column within the same item created.

From SP designer POV, the result should be like this (Billing Name = choice column) will update to (Billing_Name = single line text column)

So, my flow will be like when user create new or modified item (is this correct action?)

then, i use update item to update the same list name column?

but i saw this warning after save the flow...

anyone can advise if my step are correct or how?

[Amit_Sharma]

Hi @AlanChen 

In your Flow your trigger condition is when item is created and modified For SharePoint list and next step you are using Update item Action on same list, so it makes self-referencing loop so whenever your list will be update then again, its trigged because in your trigger action you are using same list.

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[v-liwei-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @AlanChen 

I suggest you change the trigger to When an item is created.
In this way, when the item is modified, the flow will not be triggered repeatedly to cause an infinite loop.

Best Regards,

Levi

[grantjenkins]

@AlanChen My question is - Why would you want to do this? If you already have the value in your Choice column, why copy it to a Single line of text column? Is there a specific reason for doing this?

[AlanChen]

Hi @v-liwei-msft 

I cannot put only created, because the user might modify he chooice column to different selection. So i need make sure both are same.

Or is there anyway i can set the flow run only when the chooice column are not match with the single line column data?

[AlanChen]

Hi @grantjenkins 

the single line column is the default column - clickable to open the item on All Items view 

[Amit_Sharma]

Hi @AlanChen 

I have Created Sample For you.

The above sample flow is only triggered when only status column is modified.

After this I guess you are good to go.

[grantjenkins]

You just need to add a Trigger Condition to check if the choice value is different to the Title value.

For this example, I'm using the following list which has the Title field and another field called Billing Name which is a Choice field.

The full flow is below. I'll go into each of the actions.

When an item is created or modified will trigger when you create or modify an item. We can add a Trigger Condition to ensure the flow only runs if the Title and Billing Name are NOT equal. To add a Trigger Condition, you can go into Settings then click on Add and paste in the condition. See below.

@not(equals(triggerOutputs()?['body/BillingName/Value'], triggerOutputs()?['body/Title']))

If the condition is true (the values are different) then it will run the rest of the flow, otherwise it won't even run. So, we can just put our Update item next which will only run if the values are different.

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[AlanChen]

Hi @Amit_Sharma ,

i follow your sample, It run trigger and looping as below pic... but there was no changes to the column which it should update the changes...

also this appear when i do the flow checker

[AlanChen]

Hi @grantjenkins 

i follow your flow, it work as plan. 

but below appear when i do flow checker, not sure how it will infinite loop. i checked the flow history, it only show the history of flow when the trigger condition are meet. so i assume it was fine?

[grantjenkins]

@AlanChen yes it will still show that warning but will definitely only run once for each create or update you do.

[AlanChen]

Hi @grantjenkins 

I found this so weird, the flow not working on new item. but once i edit and save the flow, it will immediately run the request which not run earlier.... but it won't run on new items... also there is no workflow error or history i can refer to...

any idea why this happen?

[grantjenkins]

@AlanChen I just tried it with a new item, and it still worked fine. When you create a new item do you add anything into your Title field initially as it's normally a required field?

[AlanChen]

Hi @grantjenkins 

Yes, there is a default value of "-" over the title.

[grantjenkins]

Can you try changing the trigger condition to the following? And of course, with your actual field names.

@not(equals(triggerOutputs()?['body/BillingName/Value'], triggerOutputs()?['body']?['Title']))

[grantjenkins]

I'm wondering if it's just taking longer than you expect when you create a new item - maybe wait a bit longer and it should work as expected. Also try updating your list to check the change has happened.

[AlanChen]

Hi @grantjenkins 

Im not sure, it still same.. new item wont update. but when i edit and save the flow it will run.

not sure, if i need wait for it to do the changes? i already make a new item and do not change the setting on the flow.. waiting for the result now..

[AlanChen]

Hi @Amit_Sharma ,

I notice the flow now run probably due to the version return as true for new items? and the condition was only the column A is changed then only update to column B...

Probably i should make it run when there is a new value on column A and changes on column A then will update column B.

[grantjenkins]

I'm not sure why it wouldn't work for you as it should and works successfully for me. Using a trigger condition is definitely a better approach as you will only get a single flow run for each create or update. Can you check to make sure you're using the correct internal field names in your trigger?

[AlanChen]

Hi @grantjenkins 

The flow run, but only after 6 hour?..

below is the version history

and the items in SP view

this is the trigger im using

@not(equals(triggerOutputs()?['body/Billing_x0020_Name/Value'], triggerOutputs()?['body']?['Title']))

Billing_x0020_Name = Billing Name (choice or fill in column)

Title = Billing_Name (single line of text field, that copy detail from Billing Name column "choice or fill in field")