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Lutzy's avatar
Lutzy
Copper Contributor
Feb 20, 2023

Import User's names from CSV file into a Sharepoint List's People picker field

HI Everyone,

 

I have spent the past few months learning PowerApps and building an Asset management App that points to a SharePoint list "Asset Database".  This will hopefully replace our existing Asset database that has around 5000 records

 

Now comes the time to stress test the App and import these items from a CSV file exported from old system.

 

From what I can see it starts the import fine but fails when it attempts to import a user that may not be in O365. 

 

I'm hoping someone can help me with how I can best import these items successfully.  

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powershell
SharePoint Online

1 Reply

  • SvenSieverding's avatar
    SvenSieverding
    Bronze Contributor
    Feb 21, 2023

    Hi Lutzy ,

    i understand that you have a list "Asset Database" with a people column (Most likely "Responsible for" or "Checked out by" or something like that.). Now you try to import data into that column for a user that is not an O365 user.

    This does not really work since that field is a "User" picker and not a column where you can enter every name.

    I think this is most likely happening because the names in you csv were once users in your old system but were never migrated to o365 (i.e. because they quit the company)

    You either need to:

    • Import them as users in O365 (They don't need a license, just as a user that cannot login.)
    • Change your field type to text. Now you can enter all email adresses/names
      • If you want to have a user drop down in your Powerapp, then create another "People" list and fill it with all your people information. Change the control for your text column from text to dropdown and set that "People" list as the "Items" datasource.
    • Think about why you have people in your asset database that are not users.
      • I.e. If they were once valid users in your company and are still responsible for assets reassign these assets to a valid user. This might be just data being wrong/not being up to date

    I personally would create another additional text column (i.e. "Legacy User") and try to import the data.
    If there is no valid user found in the people column then i would enter the UserName into that text column instead of the people picker.. In the people picker i would then use a default user.  Now i would try to fix the data and assign the items to the "correct" users.

    Best Regards,

    Sven

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