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How to Configure Choice and Person Columns in Imported Microsoft Lists

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to set up color-coded Choice values and Person columns in a Microsoft List that was imported from a CSV or Excel file.

How to Configure Choice and Person Columns in Imported Microsoft Lists

Product: Microsoft Lists
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Importing a CSV or Excel table into a new Microsoft List where complex field types are not automatically recognized during the import process.
Observed behavior: The import process treats Choice and Person fields as standard text, offering no options to apply color-coding or configure user profiles during the initial setup.

Before you start

Ensure your imported CSV or Excel file contains valid email addresses or User Principal Names (UPNs) in the columns you intend to convert into Person fields.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure Columns Manually After Import

Since the initial import process defaults to text formats, you must create the list first and apply specific column settings and formatting post-import.

Microsoft Lists does not support mapping to complex data types like Person or color-coded Choices directly during the spreadsheet import process. These must be handled as a secondary step once the base list is created.

Import the List

Create your list by importing the Excel or CSV file without worrying about the Choice or Person column types during this initial step.

Add the Person Column

Once the list is generated, click on '+ Add column', select 'Person', and manually configure the column settings. Populate it using the valid email addresses from your imported text data.

Format Choice Columns

To add colors to your choices, click on the header of the imported Choice column, navigate to 'Column settings', and select 'Format this column'.

Apply Color Rules

In the formatting pane, apply color-coding rules based on the specific choice values to restore your visual formatting.

User Recognition: Microsoft Lists will automatically recognize users for the Person column if the supplied values are perfectly matched to valid email addresses or UPNs.

Solution 2

Use Power Platform for Advanced Formatting

For complex or automated column population across multiple lists, leverage Microsoft Power Apps or Power Automate.

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Seamlessly Manage Your Exported Spreadsheets with WPS Office

While advanced Microsoft List column configurations require the Microsoft ecosystem, WPS Office is the perfect free alternative for managing, cleaning, and formatting your CSV and Excel data before importing. Enjoy a familiar interface and robust spreadsheet tools without the heavy subscription fees.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office Free from the official website and install it on your device.
2. Prepare Your Data: Open your CSV or Excel file in WPS Spreadsheet to clean and organize your data before importing it into Microsoft Lists.
3. Save and Export: Save your meticulously prepared file in a compatible format (.xlsx or .csv) for a seamless import experience.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my imported Microsoft List columns appearing as plain text?

During a standard CSV or Excel import, Microsoft Lists defaults to treating complex data types as plain text. You must reconfigure or format these columns through the list settings after the initial import is complete.

Can I map a CSV column directly to a Person column during import?

No, the initial import process does not support mapping directly to a Person column. You must create the list first, add the Person column separately, and ensure the data uses valid email addresses or User Principal Names.

How do I fix Choice columns that lost their colors after exporting to Excel?

Exporting to Excel or CSV strips the specific color-coding metadata. After re-importing the data into Microsoft Lists, you must click the column header, select 'Column settings', click 'Format this column', and manually reapply your color rules.

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