App -> sharepoint list > excel online

[Jasper1234]

@RandyHayes 

Hi,

i am thinking about a concept and hope you can share some advice on the setup of it all. 

following scenario and purpose:

1. i have a work schedule in a sharepoint list (List_Schedule)

2. after each work day, we need a report according to certain parameters in a sense of "what did i do today and how long did it take". Until now we use an excel form directly. 

3. in future i would like to create an app to replace the task of filling in the excel form by hand AND to collect the values in a list for the purpose of analysis. 

I would set it up as follows:

App -> select booking from schedule list -> use certain info from the specific item AND have a sort of record form -> on submit create a new entry in another sharepoint list (List_records) -> make a flow, upon new entry safe this new entry to an excel online form, safe the form as pdf and send by email. 

Now i do have a few points / questions which make it potentially complicated:

1. the excel form is currently using a lot of formulas. If i do as above, will the flow only fill in the data BUT the calculations wont run and accordingly the pdf will only show 1:1 the records but nothing else?

2. every single parameter / field actually should also have the option to attach a picture. How can set up the app and the whole above chain to enclose pictures as well?

Would be great if you can share a few thoughts on this before i start to run in a wrong direction from the beginning. 

Thanks a lot in advance for your help!

[RandyHayes · Accepted solution]

@Jasper1234 

Personally, I would take Excel out of the equation.  You say your end result is a PDF, so why an intermediate step of an Excel file?

You'll not be able to incorporate Excel formulas into the mix, so just move the calculations that you need into your app or flow and then the resultant product of all of that can go into a PDF and emailed.

As for pictures, it can work for each to have a picture.  You'll just need to incorporate that into the final PDF as well.

I hope this is helpful for you.

[Jasper1234]

@RandyHayes 

Thanks a lot for this input. It took me a few days now to get into it, but by now most of it is workable already! Its much better compared to my own idea for this case. Thanks a lot again for your advice!

However, now im getting to the point of "how to include pictures". Ive already read and watched quite a bit for this topic but still am not sure which way to go. URL and multiple lines of text, image column etc etc... and furthermore how to include the add picture option in the app accordingly. 

Would be really helpful to get input from you for this point as well. 

I have / need to:

- 1 sharepoint item will need up to 10 pictures. 

- each of the pictures needs to be unique somehow. Ie the sharepoint item has 10 columns for "problems". Each of these problems should allow to upload a picture. 

- these pictures need to be "unique" so the next steps (flow/pdf) will be able to get them with the correct description and place them in the correct position corresponding to the problem. 

- i only want to add pictures from camera roll / file explorer. I dont want to add a camera option. 

- it needs to be possible to add and save 10 pictures at the same time in the same form. This means there has to be a certain step to change size/resolution of these pictures as well i assume.

Would be great if you can share some advice on this particular point as well and lead me in the right direction. 

Thanks!