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Formatting an Array to Place in SharePoint List Item

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Posted on by nathanisaacson

I am trying to build a flow that involves updating certain fields in a SharePoint list item. Every time I try and input an array into the corresponding field, it automatically adds a 'Apply to Each' loop and the flow fails (see screenshots below for context)...

Apologies, this is likely a simple fix but I am an ammeter when it comes to variables. Really appreciate all help in advance!

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Manish Solanki 15,167 Moderator on at

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Hi @nathanisaacson

If you are updating the same value in the field, then you don't need to do that. You can simply leave the field empty if want that field to remain unchanged after update operation.

If this helps & solves your problem, please remember to give a 👍 and accept my solution as it will help others in the future.

Thanks

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nathanisaacson on at

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Hi Manish,

Appreciate the quick reply. I am trying to add a new selection to that field, on top of the selection that was previously inputted. See below for reference...

If there is a more efficient way to do this, I am completely open to suggestions. Thank you!

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trice602 16,021 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @nathanisaacson ,

Looks like you are really close here and hope this will help! Get Items, by design, is going to bring back one or more items so it is designed to apply to each because it will loop through each item and update something in your example. The issue is the nested apply to each and this can happen when developing a flow. Here's my recommendation:

Delete both apply to each loop which will include update item, that will leave you with Get Items and anything above it then add Update Item. When you select the ID from Get Items, this is telling Power Automate you intend to update each item in Get Items by the ID and then you populate your fields accordingly. If this was helpful, please mark as a solution to help others find this answer quickly too!

Are you attempting to update every item in the list or something else?

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nathanisaacson on at

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Hi there,

Really appreciate the quick/informative response! I am indeed trying to update all items that were retrieved from the 'Get Items' action, so the initial 'Apply to Each' loop is intentional.

I eliminated the other actions from my screenshots for simplicity, but I plan on adding a few conditionals before the 'Update Item' because each item will be updated differently, according to the results of the conditional. I've tested this and it works, my main struggle is this array.

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nathanisaacson on at

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Hi Trice, just following up on the above. Would really appreciate if you were able to help me out with this. Thank you so much!

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trice602 16,021 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @nathanisaacson ,

I'm online this evening here and would also like to solve this as a solution too! Can you please help get me up to speed on where you are here? Adding your current flow as screenshots in the post (not attachments) and the error or next thing you need help with. Let's solve this!

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nathanisaacson on at

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Hi @trice602 , really appreciate the quick reply! I haven't gotten any further than my original post (screenshots embedded for reference). Essentially, I am building a flow that will update a SharePoint List item based on a few conditionals. There is a multiple choice field in the item which I am focusing on updating. I want the previous selection in the field to be carried over, but also add a new selection based on the conditional. But every time I put the original dynamic content in the "Update Item" and then click "Add New Item" to add the new selection, it adds a new "Apply to Each" and fails.

Keep in mind, the original "Apply to Each" is intentional; I am updating multiple list items through this flow.

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trice602 16,021 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Thanks for sharing. I'm going to dig into this now and hope others help and collaborate as well. Tom

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trice602 16,021 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @nathanisaacson ,

Ok, this is where I am at. I added a choice column to one of my lists and this is what it looks like if I want to update my list items:

Is your choice column a single value or multiple value options? I am trying to rebuild this in a sample list here but can't make it look like yours. What is the value or values you want to update in RiskExposure?

In my sample list, I have a choice column named RiskExposure and has three options Choice 1, Choice 2, Choice 3, and only one can be selected.

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nathanisaacson on at

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Hi @trice602

My column is multi-value, which is probably why it doesn't have that drop-down in the "Update Item" action. If it were a single-value, I'd have no problem placing the "Risk Exposure Value" into that column in the "Update Item". I think the fact that it's technically an array is throwing it off.

The values that are included as part of the multi-choice column are: Associate Data Elements; Investor Data Elements; Corporate Data Elements; Investment, Transaction and Position Data Elements; IT Information.

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