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Send Microsoft Forms Multiple Choices to SharePoint Columns using Power Automate

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to capture multiple overtime dates selected by employees in a Microsoft Form and populate the respondent's name into the corresponding individual date columns in a SharePoint list.

Product: Power Automate, Microsoft Forms, SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Tracking employee overtime by mapping multi-select form responses to distinct SharePoint columns.
Observed behavior: The goal is to place the respondent's name into every SharePoint date column that matches their specific selections in the Microsoft Form.

Before you start

Ensure you have active licenses for Microsoft Forms, SharePoint, and Power Automate, and that you have Owner or Edit permissions for both the Form and the target SharePoint list.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a Custom Power Automate Flow for Data Mapping

Build a customized Power Automate flow to extract form data, process multiple choices, and map them to individual SharePoint columns.

Since Microsoft Forms outputs multiple-choice answers as an array string, you cannot map them directly to separate columns without logic processing. You will need a flow that parses these choices and updates the SharePoint list accordingly.

Trigger the Flow

Log into Power Automate and create a new automated cloud flow. Select the trigger 'When a new response is submitted' for Microsoft Forms and choose your specific form from the dropdown.

Retrieve Form Data

Add a new action called 'Get response details'. Select your Form ID again and insert the 'Response Id' dynamic content from the trigger.

Initialize and Parse Variables

Because multiple-choice answers return as a string array (e.g., ["Date1","Date2"]), use a 'Parse JSON' or 'Compose' action to extract the selected overtime dates into manageable variables.

Map Selections to Columns

Implement a 'Condition' or 'Switch' control for each potential date. Configure the logic to check if the extracted array contains a specific date.

Update the SharePoint List

Inside the condition paths, add a SharePoint 'Create item' or 'Update item' action. If the condition is met (the date was selected), insert the 'Responder's Email' or 'Name' into that specific date's SharePoint column.

Advanced Expression Guidance: Handling arrays and dynamic column updates can require advanced Power Automate expressions. It is highly recommended to seek detailed, scenario-specific implementation help in the Microsoft Power Automate Community.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need a simpler way to collect and organize data? Try WPS Office

If managing complex Power Automate flows for forms and lists is overwhelming, WPS Office offers an integrated suite with WPS Forms and WPS Spreadsheet. Collect data seamlessly without complex API mapping, enjoying a lightweight, highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office.

1. Create a WPS Form: Open WPS Office and select WPS Forms to create a new data collection form for overtime scheduling.
2. Share with Employees: Distribute the generated form link to your team so they can submit their availability.
3. Auto-sync to Spreadsheet: View all collected responses automatically organized in a structured WPS Spreadsheet, eliminating the need for complex flow mappings.

Free, lightweight, and easy to use without complex integrationsHighly compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and Word (.docx) formatsSeamlessly collect data with WPS Forms directly into spreadsheetsFamiliar user interface with zero learning curve

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are Microsoft Forms multiple-choice answers showing as a single string?

Microsoft Forms outputs multiple-choice selections as a single JSON-formatted string array (e.g., ["Date1","Date2"]). You must use the Parse JSON action or string expressions in Power Automate to separate these values before mapping them.

Can I directly link a Microsoft Form to a SharePoint list without Power Automate?

No, native integration only allows exporting Forms data directly to an Excel workbook. Connecting Forms directly to a SharePoint list requires Power Automate to act as the bridge.

How do I handle new dates added to the Form in the future?

If you add new date options to the Microsoft Form, you must also manually create the corresponding new columns in your SharePoint list and update your Power Automate flow's condition logic to map the new values.

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