Answered

Lookup column not displaying anything in SharePoint, despite holding value

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by smcdonald

I have a lookup column that's referencing a document library. It displays the ID field.

Despite a flow creating the item correctly, and putting in the ID, and it displaying the ID in an REST API Get call, it shows nothing in SharePoint. The NewDocID column is just a number column and updates correctly

Rest API call

I can manually select the ID if I edit the item.

The Rest API call output is identical after manually selecting it.

I've even tried having a seperate flow to run once the item is created to update the Lookup ID via REST, but it still doesn't display in the list

Any ideas?

Categories:

Building flows

I have the same question (0)

All responses (12)

Answers (1)

David_MA 12,982 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

Like (0)

Report

The first and easiest thing to try and resolve this issue is to wrap the SharePoint value in the body of the HTTP request within quotes.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Suggested answer

stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

Like (0)

Report
@smcdonald HI,

You can try this.

Method: POST Uri: _api/web/lists/GetByTitle('<ListName>')/items(<ItemID>)/validateUpdateListItem Body: { "formValues":[ { "FieldName": "<FieldToUpdate>", "FieldValue": "<ValueToUpdate>" } ] }

Original article will help you :

https://tomriha.com/update-single-sharepoint-column-in-power-automate-with-http-request/

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
smcdonald 33 on at

Like (0)

Report

That looks like it's done something, because the ID appears in version history

But it doesn't show in SharePoint.

But I can select it

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

Like (0)

Report

@smcdonald

Did a test on my side. works like a charm.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
CU10061430-0 6 on at

Like (0)

Report

When creating SharePoint columns names, some are not it actual names you have provided it.

If you go to List, List Settings.

Column Visibility Setting within here you should see your column internal names try that column name for DocID.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
smcdonald 33 on at

Like (0)

Report

Not working here. Bear in mind my Lookup column is displaying the ID number of the lookup list

Does that make any difference?

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

Like (0)

Report

@smcdonald Hi,

Your logic is odd.

You try to assign a number column ( NewDocID) to a lookup DocID.

You have to make sure that NewDocID value exist in you Documents library.

The FieldValue should be always from one of the ID from your Documents library.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
smcdonald 33 on at

Like (0)

Report

NewDocID only exists because I wanted to see if the actual number I'm trying to input into DocID was working.

Even putting in a manual number, which does exist in the lookup because I can manually select it by editing the item, it doesn't work

{
"formValues": [
{
"FieldName": "DocID",
"FieldValue": "50"
}
]
}

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Verified answer

smcdonald 33 on at

Like (0)

Report

I've got it working now, but I had to delete DocID and create a new one with a new name.

I think there was something wrong in the back end, because I've not changed the flow and it now works.

Thanks for your help.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

Like (0)

Report

@smcdonald Hi,

Glad to hear that, Please mark this as answered, this is the way how we support the Author Tom Riha

This case will also help the others , and lead them to visit the article.

thanks for your understanding.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No