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Update task - add multiple checklist items from excel

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Posted on by NicoleSue

I am a bit new to power automate and I need a small amount of help with a flow please. I have built a flow to create tasks in MS Planner from an excel table. The flow works perfectly - creates all tasks correctly. I have also managed to add content to the Notes area of each task as well. Now I need to update the flow to add multiple checklist items to each task in MS Planner. Here is a screen shot of my existing flow that creates my tasks in Planner:

The 1st 'Apply to Each' is creating the tasks in Planner and then it updates my excel table with the newly created TaskID:

The 2nd 'Apply to Each' is updating the task details with the 'Notes' data:

I have tried to apply the checklist items using youtube tutorials but I have not managed to get the checklists populated correctly.

My checklist items are listed in the same table under the CheckList items column, and they are seperated with a semicolon. I don't want to reformat my table nor do I want to create a seperate table for the checklist items. I know there is a way to add checklist items from a string of data but can't seem to work it out:

Please advise the power automate steps that I need to create in my flow so I am able to add checklist items to my MS Planner tasks using the existing format in my excel table.

I appreciate your assistance. :-)

Thanks

Nicole

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Building flows

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stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@NicoleSue Hi,

Since you have one column contains semicolon separated info, which means you have to loop it.

From your Apply to each 2 , add another Apply to each.

Split from each item (CheckListItems) by semicolon.

Update task details with check list info and other info.

Done.

Good Luck.

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If the answer helps, please consider 👍, Thanks.

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NicoleSue 24 on at

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Hi @stampcoin

Thank you for those high level steps to complete my flow. Because I am a bit new to power automate - could I ask you to provide screen shots showing the exact data that I need to enter please? I am having trouble setting up the split function in the newly created 'Apply to Each'. There isn't an option to enter an Expression and I cannot find an Action that splits data. Please walk me through each of the steps needed to create the split correctly.

Thanks

Nicole

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Michael E. Gernaey 53,335 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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HI @NicoleSue

You need to use

There caveat here is that you have 2 ways to add them.

1. literally add them 1 by 1

2. Create an array to add them

You would click the advanced button on the top right of that picture

then you just get one line

And you add the json into that

How to add Microsoft Planner checklist items dynamically using Power Automate? - Manuel T. Gomes

If this helps, I'd appreciate if you could Mark both mine and @stampcoin as the correct answer as they both are, I just finalized that last part you asked.

Thanks!

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NicoleSue 24 on at

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Hi Michael E. Gernaey and stampcoin

Thank you for your responses but they do not help me. I have tried to create actions to 'split' the ChecklistItems data under a new 'Apply to Each' and it doesn't seem to work. I have tried multiple ways including by 'initializing a variable' but this action can't be nested - it has to be at a top level.

Considering I am so new at powerautomate, can I ask you to provide screen shots of the exact actions/expressions that I need to finish my flow please?

1. My excel spreadsheet including the 'ChecklistItems' column with data seperated by a ';' :

2. My existing flow - Section: Create task in Planner and update excel spreadsheet with the newly created taskID:

3. My existing flow - Section: Update task to add the Notes data into the Notes section:

This existing flow (above) works perfectly, but I now need to add actions into the flow that will update the task again but this time with the data from the ChecklistItems column in my excel spreadsheet (seperated by ';' ).

Can I ask you to provide screen shots of the exact actions/expressions that I need to finish my flow please?

Thanks

Nicole

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stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@NicoleSue Hi,

this will be an answer.

Enjoy Power Platform and have a great day 🚀 | My LinkedIn

If the answer helps, please consider 👍, Thanks.

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stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@NicoleSue Hi,

have you tried this ? I am pretty sure it will work.

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NicoleSue 24 on at

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Hi stampcoin

I have entered everything that I can based on your screen shots, but I am having trouble with 1 thing:

I cannot find the 'Planner Id' under dynamic content for the 'Update Task Details' action. It is not showing up in the options available and does not show when I search for id either. Can you tell/show me how to get the 'Planner Id' into this action please?

Your Screen shot of the Update Task Details action:

My screen shot of the 'Update task details' action - unable to locate 'Id' for Planner:

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stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@NicoleSue Hi,

I see.... before the update, add a Compose which take the input from your List rows present in a table 3, then use the output to feed Update task details.

( make sure your excel contains the correct taskID).

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NicoleSue 24 on at

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Thanks stampcoin

The flow says that it fails when I run it, but when I check planner the flow has actually worked. The tasks are created, the notes are added as expected and the checklist items are all showing as expected. I am unsure why the flow says it failed when it actually worked.

But I can see the tasks created with the checklist items as expected:

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stampcoin 5,058 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@NicoleSue Hi,

That's good news, which means flow works, the error means there is one of them failed.

check those >, and you will find the failed one/ones.

It might be the data in the excel or the formula not perfect.

Try if you can fix it by yourself, feel free if you need help.

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