The ask, figure out why a maker's Send an HTTP request to SharePoint flow action runs long without returning anything. The action just hangs even though it was running perfectly just a few days ago. Copying and testing the REST API directly in a browser, the maker reported a threshold error message: Figure 1 - … Continue reading SharePoint Online: Column Indexes + Power Automate
SharePoint Online
Power Automate: SharePoint Online | Check If Document Set Exists [ v3 ]
The ask, find another, another way to determine whether a document set exists or not. Still using the Deal ID value as the unique identifier, instead of adding the Get files (properties only) action [ option #2 ], use the Send an HTTP request to SharePoint action. This particular HTTP request action takes advantage of … Continue reading Power Automate: SharePoint Online | Check If Document Set Exists [ v3 ]
Power Automate: SharePoint Online | Check If Document Set Exists [ v2 ]
The ask, determine whether or not a document set exists before Power Automate tries to create one. Otherwise, the cloud flow will run long, appear stuck, and eventually fail. The flow could check for an existing document set by Name, but because SharePoint Online (SPO) isn't the source of truth system. this column value isn't … Continue reading Power Automate: SharePoint Online | Check If Document Set Exists [ v2 ]
SharePoint Online: Add Shortcut to OneDrive | Explained
There are essentially two content sync options in SharePoint Online (SPO). Traditional Sync, which is pretty straight-forward, and Add shortcut to OneDrive, which is a bit more confusing for some. Because the shortcut button is stand-alone and it doesn't explicitly say "sync," it does something completely different, right? Figure 1 - SharePoint Online document library … Continue reading SharePoint Online: Add Shortcut to OneDrive | Explained
SharePoint Online: Document Sets | Default Folders Only
Document sets are essentially metadata-enabled folders, ideal for standardizing and bundling documents in a predefined folder structure, allowing people to manage their related assets as a single entity. Imagine HR onboarding a bunch of new hires. On their first day, HR creates a record for each person, then shares the item with the respective new … Continue reading SharePoint Online: Document Sets | Default Folders Only
SharePoint Online: JSON Formatting | Hide ‘Add shortcut to OneDrive’ Button
SharePoint Online [SPO] is a modern, cloud-based service accessible from any modern browser. Emphasis on modern service and modern browser. Still, because of many legacy business processes, end-users flock to sync their SPO files the first chance they get. They ultimately achieve the same purpose, but there are actually two ways they can sync their … Continue reading SharePoint Online: JSON Formatting | Hide ‘Add shortcut to OneDrive’ Button
Office Scripts: Generate Custom GUID(s)
Office Scripts in Excel is an automation alternative to Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). Macros are still recorded as a series of actions, but now, these steps are performed using TypeScript, which a superset language of JavaScript. Assuming everything is licensed and configured correctly, everyone should see an Automate tab along the top of their … Continue reading Office Scripts: Generate Custom GUID(s)
Power Automate: Ticketing System | Microsoft Teams + SharePoint Online [managed solution]
Some time ago, I architected a low-cost "service management"-esque app combining Microsoft Teams, SharePoint Online (SPO), and Power Automate. As a Power Platform low-code solution, I could piece everything together and demo a working ticketing system in a few hours. However, I never packaged the deliverable as a Power Platform managed solution, adhering to proper … Continue reading Power Automate: Ticketing System | Microsoft Teams + SharePoint Online [managed solution]
SharePoint: Prevent Folder Move
SharePoint is a collaboration platform that also encourages self-governance. Sure, the IT department could deploy and manage all things SharePoint, but that isn't always best. In an ideal, balanced partnership, IT would just handle the administrative tasks and empowered users would provision their own site collections, manage their own site access, and create their own … Continue reading SharePoint: Prevent Folder Move
SharePoint Online: Understanding | Document Sets
Likely an oversimplification, but document sets are essentially collections of files and folders bundled together with shared metadata. A holdover from earlier versions of SharePoint Server, document sets aren't enabled by default in SharePoint Online [SPO], but can be enabled as a feature at the site collection level: Figure 1 - SharePoint Online site collection … Continue reading SharePoint Online: Understanding | Document Sets
Power Platform: Data Sources | SQL Tables or SPO Lists
The Power Platform is Microsoft's collection of low-code, citizen developer solutions. Being low-code, makers don't need coding experience to build their apps, bots, automations, and/ or dashboards. Even so, makers still need to decide where their data should ultimately live. For most people, SQL is typically the go-to data storage consideration. And honestly, SQL isn't … Continue reading Power Platform: Data Sources | SQL Tables or SPO Lists
Power Apps: Canvas App | SubmitForm() + SPOItem [Attachments w/ Permissions]
SharePoint Online lists are flexible as Power Apps canvas app data sources. Not quite as popular as SQL, but app makers can use SPO lists like database tables. One major perk of leveraging SPO lists, they're created ready to handle item attachments without makers needing to configure Azure BLOB storage. Still, there is a permission … Continue reading Power Apps: Canvas App | SubmitForm() + SPOItem [Attachments w/ Permissions]
Graph API: SPO List Items + Batch Delete
As previously explored, batching is the preferred and more efficient approach to processing a large volume of API requests. For every request, there is a call to the Microsoft Graph API and the accompanying response. With that in mind, things add up quickly as dozens, if not hundreds, of API requests are made. Batching bundles … Continue reading Graph API: SPO List Items + Batch Delete
MS Lists: Power Automate Connectors
Microsoft Lists are powerful. Especially when they're used to organize things like project tasks, support requests, product logs, etc. But regardless of the list's purpose, lists are created for either the individual or the group. If the individual, then the list is created in that person's [OneDrive for Business] site. Otherwise, the list is saved … Continue reading MS Lists: Power Automate Connectors
MS Lists: Mail Merge Data Source
Mail merge is still a thing. Why? Because after all these years, it continues to get the job done. But with more businesses using Microsoft Lists, can mail merge still do its job? The short answer, yes. However, Microsoft Word can't connect to Microsoft Lists directly. If we open the mail merge data source dropdown, … Continue reading MS Lists: Mail Merge Data Source