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Creating a new item in another SharePoint list with multi-select columns

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Posted on by ahartsfield

I have a flow that is triggered when a new item is created on a SharePoint list. Further down the flow I am creating an item on a different SharePoint list with variables from the first list.

I have a couple of multi-choice fields. One is working and the other is not, leaving me with the error "Item could not be created. Check if input is valid."

I am using String variables successfully in the other parts of my flow, but for the Create item action, it isn't working when my "Route of Exposure" field is filled in with any data. (If that field is blank, the item is created without problem).

I attempted to follow the instructions in this post but was unable to get it to work.

Here is how I've setup my variable:

I've tried many different things in the Create Item action, but with no success. Here are a couple iterations:

Any idea what I'm doing wrong or need to do differently?

Thank you!!

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Building flows

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creativeopinion 10,508 Moderator on at

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@ahartsfield You can use a Select action instead. Insert the dynamic content for the multi-choice column into the From field.
Enter Value into the key field, insert the multi-choice column value into the value field.

Run a test. Review the output of the Select action.
Select this icon to change to input entire array.
Insert the output from the Select action.
Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
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For more flow troubleshooting tips—check out This YT Tutorial: 5 Power Automate Troubleshooting FAQs and Helpful Tips for Creating Better Flows
In this tutorial I cover:
✅ How to troubleshoot a false Condition action result
✅ How to get dynamic content when it isn’t selectable from the list of dynamic content
✅ How to troubleshoot an Apply to Each action that isn’t looping through
✅ How to troubleshoot a skipped Apply to Each action
✅ How to troubleshoot a Filter Query
✅ How to use a SharePoint yes/no column in a Filter Query
✅ How to use Compose actions to troubleshoot a Power Automate flow
✅ How to troubleshoot multiple emails being sent
✅ How to troubleshoot multiple Teams messages being sent

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ahartsfield on at

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Thank you! It unfortunately did not make the error go away. BUT, it did make my inputs format correctly as:

[
{
"Value": "option 1"
},
{
"Value": "option 2"
}
]

So that feels like a step in the right direction. But the error "Item could not be created. Check if input is valid" is still there and keeping it from writing to the SP list.

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creativeopinion 10,508 Moderator on at

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@ahartsfield Confirming that you are trying to take a multi-choice value from one SP list and Create an Item in another SP list with a multi-choice column (that contains the same values?). Or am I missing something?

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ahartsfield on at

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You are correct. I could change the second SharePoint list to just be a single line of text and have the values flow into it that way if it would make it easier. But currently, both lists are setup identically with the multi-select drop-down lists.

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creativeopinion 10,508 Moderator on at

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@ahartsfield If they are identical then it doesn't sound like the multi-choice column is the issue. Can you please upload a screenshot of how your Create Item action is set up. It would be more helpful if you can upload a screenshot of your full flow.

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ahartsfield on at

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Except that the multi-choice column is the only one giving me trouble. I have two multi-choice columns and the other is working as expected. My flow is very long, I'll post a few chunks of it:

This is more detail on the Create Item about half-way through the flow:

Do you want to see anything in more detail? The Route of Exposure field is currently set with the output of the Select action.

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creativeopinion 10,508 Moderator on at

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@ahartsfield Your flow seems to have a lot of actions. I think there might be a way you can streamline your flow. Have you considered using the Filter Array action in your flow. I can't tell what's going on within your Apply to Each actions. To learn more about how to use the Filter Array action, please refer to this recent YT Tutorial I uploaded.

To confirm, you've tried running your flow without defining Multi-Choice option. If not, I would recommend running a test without defining that field to confirm that is the field that is in fact causing the issue.

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ahartsfield on at

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Yes, I've run tests leaving that field blank and it will update the SharePoint list in that case. Otherwise, the flow is doing what it needs to do.

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ahartsfield on at

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Also, thank you for the YT resource!
I use the Filter Query on the Get Items action to limit the data pulled into the flow.

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creativeopinion 10,508 Moderator on at

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@ahartsfield Confirming the allow multiple choice toggle is on in the SP list (where you are Creating the Item)?

I also have this YT Tutorial: How to Send SharePoint List Attachments 📎 via Email with Power Automate

Where I cover the following:
✅ How to attach a single SharePoint list attachment to an email
✅ How to use the Filter Query to Filter SharePoint List Items by a Single Choice Column
✅ How to use the Filter Array action to Filter SharePoint List Items that have an Attachment
✅ How to use turn on Pagination and Set a Threshold in the Get Items action
✅ How to us the Top Count field in the Get Items action
✅ How to use the Get Attachments Action
✅ How to avoid the Apply to Each Action
✅ How to use the Get File Content Action
✅ How to Edit an Expression
✅ How to use the Compose Action
✅ How to Get Multiple SharePoint Attachments
✅ How to use the Append to Array Variable Action

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