Template Issues

How to Populate Multi-Select Power Apps Values in a Word Template

WPS Content Manager Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to export multiple selected values from a multi-select column in Power Apps to a Microsoft Word template, but faces an issue because Word text content controls expect a single text value rather than an array.

Populate Multi-Select Power Apps Values in a Word Template

Product: Microsoft Word, Power Apps, Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Passing form data containing multiple selected options from a Power Apps interface to generate a Microsoft Word document via Power Automate.
Observed behavior: Attempting to pass the multi-select array directly to the Word template fails or produces unexpected formatting because the plain-text content control requires a single text string.

Before you start

Ensure that your Word template is set up with supported Plain Text Content Controls and that your Power Automate flow is configured to accept text string inputs.

Solution 1Recommended

Convert Array to Delimited String in Power Apps

By formatting the multi-select array into a single delimited text string before triggering the flow, you can safely pass the data to a plain-text content control in Word.

Power Automate handles Word template generation best when provided with simple text inputs for text content controls. Using the Concat function in Power Apps allows you to merge multiple selected items into one clean string.

Add a text input control

In your Power Apps screen, insert a new Text Input control. This control will temporarily hold the formatted string. You can set its Visible property to false if you want to hide it from end-users.

Apply the Concat formula

Select the new Text Input control and change its Default property to combine the selected items. Enter the formula: Concat(DataCardValue2.SelectedItems, Value, ";") — make sure to replace 'DataCardValue2' with the actual name of your multi-select control.

Update the Flow trigger button

Modify the OnSelect property of your form's submit button to pass this formatted text string into your Power Automate flow. For example: PowerAppstoWordTemplate.Run(TextInput1.Text);.

Map the text in Power Automate

In your Power Automate flow, within the 'Populate a Microsoft Word template' action, map the incoming text variable to the corresponding Plain Text Content Control field.

Convert Array to Delimited String in Power Apps

Formatting Flexibility: You can change the semicolon delimiter in the Concat formula to any character you prefer, such as a comma and space (", "), to make the output more readable in the final Word document.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word template show an error when receiving multi-select data?

Word's standard plain-text content controls expect a single text string. If you send a data array directly from Power Apps or Power Automate without converting it into a string first, the template action cannot process the format correctly.

What should I do if the Concat expression returns an error in Power Apps?

Verify the exact field name and data structure of your selected column. Ensure that the control name references your multi-select combo box correctly, and that 'Value' matches the exact internal field name of your specific data source.

Can I format the exported text as a bulleted list in the Word template?

Using the Concat function outputs a continuous string on a single line. To create multi-line text (which can simulate a list), you can use Char(10) as your delimiter in the Concat formula, provided you check the 'Allow carriage returns' option in the Word Content Control properties.

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