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How to Update a SharePoint Quick Chart from a Choice Column

Steve K Oct 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to map a Choice column to a numeric value to feed a SharePoint Quick Chart, and prevent list values from reverting to their defaults after running a Power Automate flow.

How to Update a SharePoint Quick Chart from a Choice Column

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a Quick Chart in SharePoint based on task progress statuses stored in a Choice column, utilizing Power Automate to handle the data conversion.
Observed behavior: The Choice and Calculated columns reset to their default values (e.g., 'Not Started' and '4%') upon the completion of the Power Automate flow, breaking the Quick Chart data.

Before you start

Ensure you have Site Owner or Member permissions to edit SharePoint list columns and create Power Automate flows for your site.

Solution 1Recommended

Convert Choice Values to Numbers Using Power Automate

Use a Calculated column and a Power Automate flow to extract the integer value from a choice-based percentage, then update a dedicated Number column for the Quick Chart.

SharePoint Quick Charts require Number or Currency columns to render data. Since a Choice column outputs text, you must map these choices to percentages and use Power Automate to convert that text into a raw number.

Set Up Your SharePoint Columns

Create a Choice column (e.g., 'Progress') and a Calculated column (e.g., '% Complete') that maps your choices to text-based percentages. Then, create a Number column (e.g., '# Complete') that the Quick Chart will use.

Initialize the Power Automate Flow

Create a new Power Automate flow triggered by an item modification. Add a 'Get items' action to retrieve the SharePoint list data. You can ignore any OData filter warnings if your list is relatively small.

Convert the Percentage to an Integer

Within an 'Apply to each' loop, use a Compose action to target the Calculated column. Add a second Compose action using the formula: int(replace(outputs('Compose'),'%','')) to strip the percentage sign and convert the string into a number.

Update the SharePoint Item

Add an 'Update item' action. Insert the output from your second Compose action into the '# Complete' Number column field.

Fix the Value Reset Bug

Review the 'Update item' action carefully. Ensure that the 'Progress' Choice column and the '% Complete' Calculated column fields are either left blank or set to retain their current dynamic values. If they are mapped to default values in this step, they will overwrite the user's selection and reset the chart.

Convert Choice Values to Numbers Using Power Automate

OData Warning: The warning in the 'Get Items' action regarding OData is merely a performance suggestion to use filter queries. It is not an error and will not stop your flow from functioning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my SharePoint Choice column reset to default after a Power Automate flow?

This typically occurs because the 'Update item' action in your Power Automate flow is configured to overwrite the Choice column with its default value. To fix this, review the flow and ensure you are only updating the target Number column while leaving the Choice column as its current dynamic value.

Can I use a Choice column directly in a SharePoint Quick Chart?

No, SharePoint Quick Charts require numeric data to function. You cannot use a Choice column directly; you must convert the choice text into numeric values using a Calculated column and a Power Automate flow, storing the result in a dedicated Number column.

What does the OData filter query warning mean in Power Automate?

The OData warning in the 'Get items' action is a best-practice suggestion to improve performance by filtering data before retrieving it. It is not an error, and for smaller lists, you can safely ignore it and proceed with your flow.

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