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Collection Column Names

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Posted on by Aimthedame

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I have a SharePoint list (Parts & Supplies) that I created from an Excel spreadsheet. It looks correct when viewed in SharePoint. In PowerApps, however, I created a collection (colInventory) On Start of the app and my column headers show as field_1, field_2, etc. Anyone know what is happening here?

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RandyHayes 76,299 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@Aimthedame

When you create a list from Excel in SharePoint, it will do this! It will not use the column names from your Excel as the column names in SharePoint.

Once a column is named, it can never be renamed. That is, the "real" name of the column can never be renamed. You can rename in SharePoint, but it is "visual" only. The Real name will not change.

PowerApps works with the Real names.

The only way to resolve is to build another list and create your columns and name them all manually. Then you can copy your data over from the other and use the new list for your PowerApps.

I hope this is helpful for you.

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Aimthedame 220 on at

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I thought I was saving myself time by exporting into excel, adding the additional information and then importing it back. I didn't change any of the column names. In fact, when I look at the SharePoint column names under list settings they appear as they should. So, what you're telling me is that somewhere on the backend the column names are being altered by Excel?

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RandyHayes 76,299 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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@Aimthedame

To determine a column's real name, you can click on the column in the List Settings of your list and then in the address bar of your browser, look at the end of the URL - it will show the real name. So, the fact that you see the column name as you expect in SharePoint, if you go to the settings and look at the URL as mentioned, it will show you that it really created them as field_1, etc.

And...PowerApps will work with the real column names. SOME functions in PowerApps will honor the "phantom" column name. Even the forms will honor the phantom name, but if you get into a bunch of manipulating of records based on column names, it can be confusing. Although best to not do all of that in PowerApps anyway, there still are times!

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Aimthedame 220 on at

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Thanks Randy! I knew that would happen if I changed a column name in SharePoint but I had no idea that it automatically happened with Excel. I will definitely avoid that trap in the future.

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kabekipowe 4 on at

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Hi Randy. Hope you can help me with this related issue...

I created a Sharepoint list from Excel - notice the second column "pers_id"

Screendump from my PowerApp:
The column "field_1" in the top is from a collection made from my SP-list - the "pers_id" in the bottom is from inserting a quick table from the source itself.
I'm in the process of changing data source from DataVerse, and I would appreciate it, if I could keep my column names as they are.
Any ideas why this change occurs when I make a "ClearCollection"

Best regards / Kim

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jkrey 26 on at

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I'm glad I found this answer, which is a bit maddening, but there may be a workaround:
If you are in Sharepoint and create a new list by pulling in an Excel worksheet, the field names given in your Excel columns are lost.
BUT! If you start in Excel after defining your table, Table Design>Export>Export Table to Sharepoint List... then I found that the field names are preserved.

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Lorde022 14 on at

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You, Sir, are a genius! Thank you so much, that was exactly what I was looking for!

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yong_lee8838 21 on at

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And I found that the filed names should without blank , unless the blank will change to" x0020 "

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LEFEBVA 3 on at

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OMG!!! I am totally new to Power Apps and have been banging my head on the wall for the last 2 days over this. It all make sense now. Too bad I have to re-create my SP Lists however. Thanks a million!!

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