SharePoint list column not recognized by Powerapps

[MJKjoachim]

Dear all,

I just migrated my DB from an Excel file to Sharepoint list as it seems much more flexible and powerful than Excel (image support, etc.).

I am currently modifiying my app to use Sharepoint list source instead of Excel and it seems (at least) 1 column from 1 source is not listed with the column name (which is "CustomerID") as you can see below.

I already read This thread which is roughly talking about the same problem.

The sharepoint list internal column name seems to be used by Powerapps instead of column name.

In my URL column settings page, it is finishing by "Title" instead "CustomerID"

Is there any way to modify this field name ?

Thanks in advance

[iAm_ManCat]

Hi @MJKjoachim 

There's no way to edit the internal name for a column, however you should be able to use the display name when referencing it.

I wrote an older post describing SharePoint columns, but the short version is there are three names SharePoint uses, and the internal once set is never changed (its how SharePoint knows which field you're talking about)

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/General-Discussion/Field-name-size-limit/m-p/178748#M59197

Cheers,

ManCat

[MJKjoachim]

Thank you @iAm_ManCat for your information !

Do you know why the 1st column internal name of each of my sharepoint list is named "Title" instead of the display name (which is the case for all others columns) ?

[v-xida-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @MJKjoachim ,

Do you rename the Title column in your SP List into "CustomerID"?

Based on the issue that you mentioned, I have made a test, and the issue is confirmed on my side. I think your thought is right, PowerApps use internal column name of a SP list as referenced column instead of the Display name.

Even though, you rename the column name within your SP list, SP List would still use the first name you set for the field as internal column rather than the renamed one.

If you want to use Display name as referenced column within a PowerApps app, I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in PowerApps currently.

If you would like this feature to be added in PowerApps, please consider submit an idea to PowerApps Ideas Forum:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/PowerApps-Ideas/idb-p/PowerAppsIdeas

Best regards,

[iAm_ManCat · Accepted solution]

You're welcome - the first column created in a blank SharePoint list is Title, so it will rename the Title field to your column name then create the other named columns after that.

I would manually create the SharePoint lists if you have the ability to, as this way you can set the Title field to 'not required' and then create specific columns for all of your fields, so that they will all have the correct name when referenced. It might be a bit more work especially if migrating from Excel, but I think in the long run and for code readability it's definitely worth it - I hated having to remember (and write down) what each Title column referenced with each list.

[MJKjoachim]

Thank you to both of you for your kind help !

[Anonymous]

Thanks for this information it is very informative. I am struggling with a Sharepoint list into Powerapp. My columns are Title, AIDent, EmployeeFirstName, EmployeeInitial, EmployeeName. The column headings (Referenced in the BrowseGallery) are AIDent, FirstName, Initial, ThisItem.LastName.

I cannot use ThisItem.LastName in a SortbyColumns() statement. I have been unable to find the right way to reference what I initially called EmployeeLastName.

I hope you can give me some ides.

Thanks

[MJKjoachim]

Better than never, thank you @v-xida-msft Kris for your feedback !

[AaronO]

In the meantime, how do you find the internal name so it can be referenced?

[JKat]

Go to the list settings, then click on the column name. The site name is referenced at the end of the URL, where it says Field=???