How to Use SharePoint Online REST API to Read Lists and Excel Files
Question details
The user wants to find the correct SharePoint Online REST API endpoints to retrieve data from SharePoint lists and download Excel files stored in a document library.
- Product
- SharePoint Online
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Developing an application or script that needs to programmatically interact with SharePoint lists, filter column data, and fetch the binary content of Excel files.
- Observed behavior
- The user requires specific GET request URLs and OData query parameters to successfully read list data and retrieve Excel documents via the REST API.
Ensure you have the necessary site permissions to access the target lists and document libraries, and verify that your REST API calls are authenticated using appropriate bearer tokens.
Use SharePoint REST API GET Requests
Utilize standard GET endpoints to retrieve list items, filter columns with OData parameters, and download file contents.
The SharePoint Online REST API allows developers to perform CRUD operations on SharePoint data. By formatting the URL endpoints correctly, you can access list items and document library files securely.
To read all items from a specific list, make a GET request to: https://your-site/_api/web/lists/getbytitle('List Title')/items
To limit the data returned and optimize performance, append the $select query parameter to your request: https://your-site/_api/web/lists/getbytitle('List Title')/items?$select=Column1,Column2
To retrieve the actual binary file content from a document library, use the $value endpoint at the end of the file path: GET https://your-site/_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('Folder URL')/Files('File Name')/$value
Edit Your Downloaded Excel Files with WPS Office
Once you have downloaded your Excel files using the SharePoint REST API, you need a reliable and fast spreadsheet editor to view and modify them locally. WPS Office is a highly compatible, free alternative to Microsoft Office that easily handles complex Excel workbooks and large datasets.
- 1. Install WPS Office: Download and install the free WPS Office suite on your local machine.
- 2. Locate downloaded files: Navigate to the folder where your application or script saved the Excel files fetched via the SharePoint REST API.
- 3. Open and edit: Double-click the Excel file to instantly open and edit it in WPS Spreadsheets with full formatting preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I authenticate my SharePoint REST API requests?
You must include an Authorization header with a valid bearer token acquired via Azure Active Directory (OAuth) or use SharePoint context tokens if you are developing a SharePoint Add-in.
Can I filter list items using the SharePoint REST API?
Yes, you can use the $filter query parameter to restrict the items returned. For example, appending ?$filter=Status eq 'Active' will only return items where the Status column equals 'Active'.
Why am I getting an Access Denied (403) error when downloading the Excel file?
An Access Denied error typically means the account or app token used for the REST API request does not have the necessary read permissions for the specific document library or file.
Is there a limit to how many list items the API returns by default?
By default, the SharePoint REST API returns up to 100 items per request. You can increase this by using the $top parameter, such as ?$top=500, up to the SharePoint list view threshold limit.
