Answered

Getting MS Forms choice responses into Sharepoint List Columns

(2) Share

Report

Posted on by BG-28051430-0

Hello,

I have a flow set up that takes MS Forms responses and puts them in a Sharepoint list. One of the questions (see snip below) has a response with quite a few choices. Responders can select multiple choices if applicable. I would like these choices to populates under the "Involved Asset(s) column in the Sharepoint list. However, they are populating in a strange format - please see snip below. The response should be populated like the first item in the list but they are showing up with unwanted brackets and quotes. I am not sure if I have not set the flow up correctly.. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

Categories:

Building flows

I have the same question (0)

All responses (27)

Answers (1)

Suggested answer

David_MA 14,090 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!
Do the following:

For each question that can have multiple answers, create an array variable with a default value of [] (this is important).

Add a Compose action and set the input to the question that accepts multiple answers.

Follow it with a Parse JSON action and use the following for the JSON Scheme:

{
"type": "array",
"items": {
"type": "string"
}
}

Add an Apply to each action and set it to the Body of the Parse JSON action.

Add an Append to array variable in the Apply to each and it to the Body item value from the Parse JSON action.

You can then use the join expression to join the values together with a comma and space or format of your choosing: join(variables('MultiChoice'), ', ')

The flow will look like this:

Result:

The "strange" format you see is the data JSON array of the response.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
BG-28051430-0 59 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@David_MA,

Thank you so much for your reply! Where I seem to be getting stuck is choosing the dynamic content from the additional actions you've advised on. I've replaced the highlighted "Involved Asset(s)" form response with "Multiple Choice" appended array but am receiving the following error in Flow Pic 1. What do you think I might be missed? Also, in the Parse_JSON step is my dynamic content for "content" correct in Flow Pic 2. Thank you so much!

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
David_MA 14,090 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

I may forget to look back at this, so you may need to ping me when the images you attached have been released by the scan. It is better to insert the images inline to your message rather than attach them, so they don't need to go through the scan and are immediately visible in the post. It also saves people time from having to download and open the files. You can use the screen shot feature of your browser to do this and then copy it to the clipboard and past it in the message. Without seeing what you've done or the actual error message it is hard to diagnose the issue.

One suggestion is to make sure your flow looks like what I posted.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
BG-28051430-0 59 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@David_MA,

Apologies, the reply has been updated with pics. Please let me know when you have the chance. Thanks!

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
David_MA 14,090 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Based on what you show, you are not doing what I outlined in my post when you update the SharePoint item. You need to use an expression like this to update SharePoint, so it converts the array to a sting: join(variables('MultiChoice'), ', ')

As the error message is noting, you are trying to populate a string field with an array.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
BG-28051430-0 59 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@David_MA,

Ah, understood. Thank you. The error is resolved. Do you have any advice on how to refine the formula so that if multiple choices are selected in the form question, the choices will populate in the Sharepoint column as per the first row in the pic below? For filtering purposes, I would like the choices to be separate from each other as opposed to joined by a comma. This is my last question! Thank you.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
David_MA 14,090 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!
With the join() expression, you can separate the values with anything you want. Just replace the comma in the expression with the separator of your choice.

If your SharePoint list column is a choice field where multiple options can be selected and the options match your form, you could do this:

Add a SharePoint HTTP request action to your flow.

Configure it as a POST request and point it to your SharePoint site that contains the list.

In the Uri field, enter: _api/web/lists/getByTitle('Display Name of List')/items(@{triggerOutputs()?['body/ID']})/validateUpdateListItem and replace the highlighted text with the display name of the list. If for some reason the display name of the list begins with a lowercase letter, make it uppercase. Otherwise enter it just as it is.

This portion of the Uri will need to change probably, but it is the dynamic value that contains the ID of the list item to update. When I update SharePoint list item, the ID usually comes from the trigger action which is why I used it as a placeholder.

In the body, put the JSON below.

For the field name, be sure to use the internal name of the field.

Then for the field values, use the join expression and join them with a semicolon and make sure the expression is within the quotes.

{ "formValues": [ { "FieldName": "InternalNameOfSharePointField", "FieldValue": "Dog;Cat;Mouse" } ] }

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
BG-28051430-0 59 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@David_MA,

Thank you! I am super close I think. I am receiving an error message that that "Involved Asset(s)" column does not exist. But this is exactly what its called in the SP list. Have I formatted the FieldName incorrectly in the JSON body?

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
David_MA 14,090 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

The column definitely would not exist with an internal name of "Involved Asset(s)" as the internal name of fields in SharePoint cannot have any spaces or special characters in it. To get the internal name of the field, which you need to use in the HTTP request, go to the list settings and click on the field. At the end of the URL will be the internal name of the field. Use that instead.

You may also want to blackout the site address and other sensitive information when you post. Since the screen shots you posted don't actually show your tenant domain URL and just include the SharePoint site name, it is not as sensitive. But if it did include the URL, you would have given everyone a valid SharePoint site and list within your tenant along with the domain, which people could then probably figure out where you work based on how Microsoft assigns the tenant domains. This would be ripe information for generating phishing attacks,

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
BG-28051430-0 59 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Thank you @David_MA. I found the correct fieldname. However, this expression join(variables('MultiChoice'),';') is still resulting in one response in the column separated by a semi-colon, rather than separate responses in the column. For example if a user selects A, B, C, D in the Form, one bubble will appear in the relevant column as "A; B; C; D" as opposed to "A" "B" "C" "D" in their own bubbles. Hope that makes sense.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No