Choices() function in Power Apps to call Manage Metadata Column in SharePoint

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Posted on by AB-23012151-0

Hi,

Below is a scenario that describes my problem that I am facing.

I have a SharePoint List called States which has a column with metadata management. The metadata is - Locations and under Locations there are- all the states in the US, i.e. 52 choices/options.

Now in my power app, I have a drop down menu where I want to show these 52 choices/options. I am using this function/line of code-

Choices([@States].Location)

This code is working, but the issue is that Choices() function has a default limit of 255 characters. So I am only able to see 10-12 choices/options out of all 52.
I have tried using Distinct() function, but did not work as well.

Distinct(States, Location.Value)

So my question is how can I display/call these 52 metadata choices/options in a drop-down list? What else can I use besides Choices() function?

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Building Power Apps

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anuragporwal 71 on at

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Hi,

Crux and fast fix-

* Choices() only works with SharePoint Choice and Lookup columns.

* Managed Metadata (taxonomy) columns are different because they’re tied to the SharePoint Term Store, which stores terms with both a Label (name) and a GUID (unique ID).

* That’s why you cannot directly use Choices() for a Managed Metadata column.

Here are the practical ways you can do it -

You’ll need to pull terms via REST/Graph API:

1. Create a Power Automate flow with action

Send an HTTP request to SharePoint.

* Use endpoint

GET _api/v2.1/termstore/sets('{TermSetId}')/terms

2. Return term labels + GUIDs to Power Apps.

3. Collect them in a Power Apps collection:

ClearCollect(colTerms, YourFlow.Run());

4. Bind your control to `colTerms`.

Please ✅️ Does this answer your question if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider giving it a Like ❤️.

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TechFreak 42 on at

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Are these 52 items being in column or the choices?

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WarrenBelz 153,084 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @AB-23012151-0,

Firstly @anuragporwal's summary and suggestion is very valid and should be followed if you want to head in that direction.

I will add however that Managed Metadata columns are an historical SharePoint facility around long before Power Apps and were not designed with Power Apps in mind (hence the complex potential workarounds needed) and my experience is that they do not "play well" with Power Apps. You might consider a child List with a one-to-many relationship parent/child.

Please ✅ Does this answer your question if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider giving it a Like♥.
Visit my blog Practical Power Apps LinkedIn

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