SharePoint Document Issues

How to Fix SharePoint JSON Formatting with a Lookup Date Column

WPS Editor Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to properly apply JSON formatting to a SharePoint List lookup column that references a date field in another list, but is experiencing syntax errors or empty return values.

How to Fix SharePoint JSON Formatting with a Lookup Date Column

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Applying JSON column formatting to a lookup column in List B that is actively referencing a date field housed in List A.
Observed behavior: The JSON column-formatting expressions return no value or generate an error instead of displaying the formatted date from the lookup field.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary site permissions to edit list views and modify column formatting. Double-check that the lookup column is actively retrieving date data from the source list before applying JSON scripts.

Solution 1Recommended

Seek Expert Help in the Microsoft Q&A Community

Because JSON formatting with lookup date columns involves complex syntax and potential platform limitations, consulting Microsoft SharePoint specialists is highly recommended.

SharePoint lookup columns return objects rather than simple strings, which complicates date formatting. If standard JSON syntax fails to render the date correctly, the Microsoft Q&A Community is the best resource for advanced scripting support.

Navigate to Microsoft Q&A

Open your web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft Q&A Community platform.

Sign In to Your Account

Click the sign-in button and log in using the Microsoft account credentials associated with your SharePoint environment.

Post Your JSON Query

Create a new thread detailing your JSON syntax, the structure of List A and List B, and the specific error. Tag your post with the 'SharePoint' tag so it alerts the appropriate community experts.

Seek Expert Help in the Microsoft Q&A Community

Include Your Code snippet: When posting in the forum, always include a snippet of your current JSON formatting code so experts can pinpoint the exact syntax error.

Solution 2

Verify the Lookup Column JSON Syntax

Ensure you are using the correct JSON syntax to reference the lookup value, as referencing objects differs from standard text fields in SharePoint.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SharePoint JSON formatting return blank for a lookup column?

Lookup columns in SharePoint return an object rather than a simple string. If you format the column by just referencing the field name, it will fail or return blank. You must append '.lookupValue' (e.g., [$ColumnName.lookupValue]) to access the actual text data.

Can I format date values returned from a SharePoint lookup column?

Formatting a date pulled through a lookup column can be tricky because it is often passed as a string by the JSON formatter rather than a Date object. You may need to use advanced date conversion expressions in your JSON syntax, or seek expert workarounds in the Microsoft Q&A community.

How do I find the internal name of my SharePoint lookup column?

Go to your List Settings via the gear icon, scroll down to the Columns section, and click on your lookup column name. Look at the URL in your browser's address bar; the internal name is the text at the very end of the URL immediately following 'Field='.

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