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# symbol from a SharePoint variable

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Posted on by AG-29011614-0

Hi all,

I am a new user in Power Automate and I am editing part of a flow I was given, where I need to add a new variable from a SharePoint table which contains the symbol # on it (i.e. 'Cost Center #').

This is the function expression I have been using:

      if(empty(triggerOutputs()?['body/Cost_x0020_Center_x0020_#']), '', toUpper(triggerOutputs()?['body/Cost_x0020_Center_x0020_#']))

However, when I run the flow, the field came empty.

Is there any restriction in Power Automate on using # symbols as part of the variable name?

If yes: How could I fix this issue without renaming the variable back in SharePoint?

Thanks in advance

Alex G.

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Building flows

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trice602 15,404 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi Alex,

Looks like there is an extra special character reference in there, try:

if(empty(triggerOutputs()?['body/Cost_Center_x0023']), '', toUpper(triggerOutputs()?['body/Cost_Center_x0023']))

In general terms, I won't use any columns in "#" or other special characters; I typically rename those columns but this should work!

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David_MA 12,982 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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I agree with @trice602 regarding, "In general terms, I won't use any columns in "#" or other special characters; I typically rename those columns but this should work!" I go a step further and create my SharePoint lists fields using camel case and then add spaces afterward.

I don't know how old this blog post is, but I have followed this advice for years and it helps to avoid many issues: CamelCase naming in SharePoint for lists and columns - a SharePoint Online from Scratch tutorial

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