SharePoint Document Issues

How to Automatically Add Created Date to SharePoint Document Set Names

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to automatically append the creation date and time to a SharePoint Document Set name while maintaining the contact name in a separate column.

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating new Document Sets in a SharePoint library and standardizing the naming convention automatically.
Observed behavior: SharePoint JSON formatting does not reliably populate the document set name using the 'Created' metadata during the initial form submission.

Before you start

Before starting, ensure you have sufficient permissions to create Power Automate flows in your Microsoft 365 environment and that your target library has the Document Set content type enabled.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Power Automate to Update the Document Set Name

Since JSON column formatting cannot dynamically pull the 'Created' metadata during the initial form submission for a Document Set name, configuring a Power Automate flow is the most reliable method.

SharePoint calculates the 'Created' date only after the item is saved to the server, meaning JSON formatting in the creation form cannot access this data instantly. Power Automate solves this by running a background process immediately after the Document Set is generated.

Create a new automated flow

Navigate to Power Automate, click on 'Create' in the left menu, and select 'Automated cloud flow'.

Configure the SharePoint trigger

Name your flow and search for the trigger 'When a file is created (properties only)'. Select it, click Create, and connect it to your specific SharePoint Site Address and Library Name.

Add a condition for Document Sets

Click 'New step' and add a 'Condition' control. Set the condition to check if the 'Content Type' is equal to your specific Document Set content type name to ensure regular files or folders are ignored.

Update the file properties

Under the 'If yes' branch, add the 'Update file properties' action. Select your Site and Library again, and map the 'Id' field to the ID from your trigger step.

Format the new name

In the 'Title' or 'Name' field, use the dynamic content menu to add an expression. Type `formatDateTime(triggerOutputs()?['body/Created'], 'yyyy-MM-dd')` to format the date, and concatenate it with your desired text or original Document Set name.

Save and test

Click 'Save' at the top right. Go to your SharePoint library, create a new Document Set, and wait a few moments to verify the flow automatically appends the date to the name.

Keep columns separate: By automating the name update, your contact name or other metadata can safely remain in their own distinct columns within the Document Set without needing to manually combine them.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't JSON formatting work for naming new SharePoint Document Sets?

JSON formatting customizes how existing data is displayed but cannot pull system-generated metadata like the 'Created' timestamp before the item is actually saved to the SharePoint server during the initial form submission.

Can I format the date specifically for the Document Set name in Power Automate?

Yes. When building your Power Automate flow, you can use the 'formatDateTime' expression to format the date exactly as you need it, such as 'MM-dd-yyyy' or 'yyyyMMdd_HHmm'.

Will this flow accidentally rename standard folders or files in the library?

It will if you don't filter them out. You should always add a condition step in your flow to only run the 'Update file properties' action when the item's Content Type equals your specific Document Set content type.

How do I keep the contact name separate from the Document Set name?

You can create a separate custom column in your SharePoint library for the contact name. The Power Automate flow can then read this column during automation while exclusively appending the created date to the primary Document Set name.

Document & File Issues