SharePoint Document Issues

How to Identify the Data Source of an Editable SharePoint Table

Natalie Taylor Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to determine whether an editable SharePoint table is backed by a list, track who modified its items, and verify the necessary permissions to view item details.

How to Identify the Data Source of an Editable SharePoint Table

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to track modifications and verify the underlying data source for a table embedded or displayed in a SharePoint site.
Observed behavior: The user is unsure if the table is a SharePoint list, wants to find out who edited specific items, and may be missing the 'View Item' option due to permission restrictions.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your SharePoint account and have at least basic viewing permissions for the site containing the table.

Solution 1Recommended

Inspect Item Details via the Ellipsis Menu

Use the built-in item menu to view creator and modification details, which confirms the table is functioning as a standard SharePoint list.

Editable tables in SharePoint are usually standard SharePoint lists. By checking individual item details, you can confirm this and see exactly who has been changing the data.

Select a table item

Navigate to your editable SharePoint table and click on a specific item or row to select it.

Open the item menu

Click on the three-dot menu (ellipsis) that appears next to the selected item to reveal a dropdown list of actions.

View item details

Choose 'View Item' from the dropdown menu to open the properties pane, where you can inspect who created or last modified the entry.

Inspect Item Details via the Ellipsis Menu

Missing View Item Option: If the 'View Item' option is unavailable or the three-dot menu is missing, you lack sufficient list permissions. You must contact your site administrator to request the necessary access.

Solution 2

Verify the List Type via the Site Contents URL

Modify the SharePoint site URL to directly access the site contents page and confirm the underlying list type.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Data Management

While configuring SharePoint list permissions requires Microsoft's web platform, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative for analyzing and editing the data you export from your SharePoint tables.

1. Export SharePoint data: Use the 'Export to Excel' or 'Export to CSV' feature directly from your SharePoint list.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office on your computer and select the Spreadsheet module.
3. Analyze your data: Open your downloaded file to analyze, format, and edit the data seamlessly without an active internet connection.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats exported from SharePoint lists.Easily edit, filter, and analyze large datasets locally.Lightweight installation with a familiar, tabbed user interface.Free alternative to expensive office suite subscriptions.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I see the three-dot menu on my SharePoint table items?

The three-dot menu (ellipsis) is often hidden if you do not have the required list permissions. Contact your site administrator to request 'Edit' or 'Read' permissions for that specific list.

Can I track who made specific changes to a SharePoint list?

Yes, if version history is enabled and you have appropriate permissions, you can select an item, click the three-dot menu, and view its version history to see exactly who modified it and when.

How do I find all lists and data sources on my SharePoint site?

You can view all site data sources by navigating to the Site Contents page. The fastest way to access this is by appending '/_layouts/15/viewlsts.aspx?view=14' to your main SharePoint site URL in the browser address bar.

Document & File Issues