Copy Comments From One Sharepoint List To Another

[Baw5694]

Hello, my workplace uses a ticket system to document feature requests and fixes. I have an already existing flow that transfers items from one Sharepoint list to another (in the same site). Its function is to transfer all items marked as "Done" in the status to a "Finished" list. However, none of the comments get transferred over to the newly created list items in the latter list. Please see the screenshot for context.

Any help would be much appreciated. I have seen other articles saying to put a function to send an http request?

[David_MA]

I am not sure the screen shot is helpful. What exactly are you trying to accomplish? In other words, why can't you add a column to your list to store the comments, and then update your workflow to populate the field? You said you already have an existing flow.

[Baw5694]

I have a flow that transfers Sharepoint list items' attachments, title, requester, hours worked, etc. to another list. The screenshot showcases the type of "comments" that need to be transferred over. Everything transfers to the copied items except for the comments; none of them show up in the new item. When someone makes a comment, it makes a new entry. I need each entry transferred over so it appears as the picture's results. I tried everything to get that one particular field to transfer all of the comments over but nothing has worked. Every other column is copied over as what I believe is a string, whereas the comments are probably treated as an array of some sort, or some other kind of variable, which may be why they aren't transferring over.

My flow is in the attachment if you need to see what it looks like.

[David_MA]

Hopefully someone else can offer a recommendation because I am still confused. Is your screenshot of the process you need with the exception of the comments? If so, just add a field in the list where your action Create item points to that is of the same type as the field in the list where your Get items action points to. Then in the Create item action, populate the field with the data from the Get items action.

[Baw5694]

The flow I shared is the process of copying over each item in the Sharepoint list marked as "Done" in a Status column. Every detail I need is copied over with the exception of the notes and comments, which are pictured in the test example in the original photo.

I do know what you mean though- I plug in the "notes and comments" field from Get Items but nothing appears in the copied-over items, if that makes sense. I double-checked several times to make sure it's populated with the right "notes and comments" field but still I don't see a single entry from such copied over into the same field on the copied-over item. Hypothetically, the field would copy over, but it isn't for some reason.

[DJ_Jamba]

Hi @Baw5694 

Are the SharePoint column settings for the notes and comments field in Lists 1 and 2 identical?
Can you post a screenshot of the column settings for both?
 

[David_MA · Accepted solution]

Okay, I think I understand now. I assume the field in both lists is multiple lines of text. If so, are they both configured the same in both lists. For example, are they both set to plain text or rich text:

If you are using rich text, do you have append changes set to yes. If so, that is likely your problem. Power Automate doesn't support that.

I have only built flows with lists that use plain text. If you are using rich text with append changes set to no, that may be your problem, but I could not be certain since I don't set things up that way. I did ask Copilot, and it says you need to use an HTTP request to copy rich text fields. I am pretty sure I use plain text all the time because of the problem you are having. But I have been doing it this way for so long I may be wrong and maybe it is now just habit. 

If you have access to Copilot, this is what I asked: When copying a SharePoint list item using Power Automate, if I have a field that is multiple lines of text and rich text is enabled, are there any issues with this in Power Automate? I am not sure its response was accurate, which is why I didn't post it. If you don't have access to Copilot, I can ask again and post it.

[Baw5694]

The settings are both identical, here is a picture of them:

I can see that both do, in fact, use the rich text format.

[Baw5694]

Ah, I see that append changes is set to yes. Rich text is also turned on for both. I will see about turning off rich text and append changes, then test the result. Thank you both for your help so far. Copilot hasn't been much of a consistent help as of yet.