Mismatched names of columns for SharePoint lists in galleries

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Posted on by GreenJaguar

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I just created a SharePoint list by importing data from an Excel Table. I then connected it to a power app.

Something bizarre happened next. When trying to write the Items function for the gallery, which included a Search and Sort, the system kept throwing errors at me. Some are the well-known. First column needs to be referred to as "Title" even though the SharePoint list shows it renamed as "Need", but then, other columns, such as one called "Code" needs to be referred to as field_2,

But the Label in the Gallery will take ThisItem.Code with no problem.

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Building Power Apps

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BCBuizer 22,636 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @GreenJaguar ,

SharePoint columns actually have two names: an internal name and a display name. Depending on which function you use, you need to provide either of these.

For the given examples, what is asked for are the internal names.

When creating a SharePoint list from an Excel file, unfortunately the internal names get these non-descriptive values.

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GreenJaguar 178 on at

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Thx. Sounds like a bug to me. 🪲🐛🪰. Especially if the SharePoint List shows the proper column names and the system picks the appropriate names in some cases but not in others.

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BCBuizer 22,636 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @GreenJaguar ,

It is not a bug, but a mechanism to prevent existing solutions from breaking down whenever a column name gets changed. This actually only changes the display name of the column whilst the internal name of the column stays the same throughout its' life-cycle so it can always be identified by that.

In case you are referring to having to use one type of name for one function and another for the next function, then I agree it is not the most user friendly, but you will get used to it.

A hint though: if you need to use double quotes, the internal name is required.

To find the internal names of your columns, go to the SharePoint list settings, select the column you need, and then in the URL bar, scroll all the way to the right to find the internal name.

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GreenJaguar 178 on at

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@BCBuizer Thx. Yes. I think the dev user experience could be better in that respect. Much appreciated.

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