web
You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
close
Skip to main content

Announcements

News and Announcements icon
Community site session details

Community site session details

Session Id :
Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Apps / Sharepoint Choice Fiel...
Power Apps
Answered

Sharepoint Choice Field with multiple selections or pick list, not supported. Workaround?

(0) ShareShare
ReportReport
Posted on by 178

I've got a pick list of 12 that I'd really like to work in a Powerapp. Any smart workarounds since this doesn't seem to be supported?

Categories:
I have the same question (0)
  • Meneghino Profile Picture
    6,949 on at

    Hi KProuty, this is Steelman but I changed names.

    One quick suggestion is to change the choice field into a lookup.  That should work with any number of items.

    In any case I think the choice field should also work.

    Or maybe I misunderstand your problem, could you give some hints as to how to reproduce it?

    Thanks

  • KProuty Profile Picture
    178 on at

    Why did you change your name? Steelman rocks, and you have been a HUGE help!

     

    Anyhow, see this: https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/tutorials/connection-sharepoint-online/

     

    Sharepoint doesn't support choice fields or lookups with multiple selects. I guess I could make each choice a drop down but I was hoping there was a more elegant solution, since there are twelve possibilities. If not, then I guess I'll have to go the hard, arduous way...

     

    Moreover, PowerApps doesn't support columns that support multiple values or selections.
    For Lookup columns, the Allow multiple values checkbox must be cleared.

    For Managed Metadata columns, the Allow multiple values checkbox must be cleared.

    For Person or Group columns, the No option under Allow multiple selections must be selected."

  • Verified answer
    Meneghino Profile Picture
    6,949 on at

    I am beginning to see the problem.  Basically you have a lookup field and you want multiple selects in SharePoint and to use that field in PowerApps.

    Frankly lookup fileds with multiple selections is always going to give problems in interfacing with other systems.

    The way to work around is to have another "linkage" table (not sure what the technical term is) whereby it provides the multiple links between the two main tables.

    Let me give you an example from my work.  We have two tables; Transactions and Invoices.  Any one transaction could be related to zero, one or multiple invoices (if for example you settle two or more invoices with one bank transaction).

    There are two ways to link the invoices to the transactions:

    1. A lookup field in the Transactions table that gets its values from the Invoices table and has multiple selects
    2. Create a third table called TransactionsToInvoices that simply has two lookup fields as follows:
      1. One lookup to the Transactions table
      2. One lookup to the Invoices table

    I am sure that by now you have guessed that 1. will not work with PowerApps (and a lot of other stuff) while 2. will be a little more fiddly at the start but will work with everything.

     

    Please let me know if everything is clear so far or not, and if you need help to go further.

  • Meneghino Profile Picture
    6,949 on at

    PS I work for a steel company for now, but you never know...

  • KProuty Profile Picture
    178 on at

    Thanks so much! I'm going to mull this over and I'll get back if I need help...

  • Vicky_Song Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    @KProuty, currently, the Multi-select Choice in the SharePoint list is still not supported in PowerApps. You can open one suggestion in the Ideas forum.

    I will accept @Meneghino's reply as a solution on behalf of you, once you still have further questions, please post back.

  • Ryball Profile Picture
    23 on at

    Is is posible if you guys could post an exaple of the filter to use on alternative 2 ? 

     

    I have 3 list , 1 that has a lookupfield to the 2 other list .

     

    Based on choise of list 1 i whant to filter list 3 using list 2 as my multi choise allternative workaround.

     

    Br

    Raymond

  • Bakr Profile Picture
    6 on at

    Hi guys, 

     

    I had the same issues, to passby the multiple choice problem in powerapps, you need to creat a new calculated column and put its it'ss value equal to the multiple choice column. For instance if you want to link power apps to a multiple choice column A, you will need to create a calculated column B and put the value of B as [A]. B value will be supported by PowerApps.

     

    Hope this helps,

     

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    But you can't refer to a multiple choice column in a formula column, can you..?

  • Daniel_Pipe Profile Picture
    57 on at

    I don't think so.... calculated columns don't support that data type (array, People, Lookup, etc). I WISH that powerapps/SharePoint could convert a People or Lookup to a string of text so that it can be used for filtering, search, etc!

Under review

Thank you for your reply! To ensure a great experience for everyone, your content is awaiting approval by our Community Managers. Please check back later.

Helpful resources

Quick Links

Introducing the 2026 Season 1 community Super Users

Congratulations to our 2026 Super Users!

Kudos to our 2025 Community Spotlight Honorees

Congratulations to our 2025 community superstars!

Leaderboard > Power Apps

#1
Haque Profile Picture

Haque 94

#2
WarrenBelz Profile Picture

WarrenBelz 82 Most Valuable Professional

#3
Kalathiya Profile Picture

Kalathiya 38 Super User 2026 Season 1

Last 30 days Overall leaderboard