SharePoint Output to list gives error when the data type in list is People/Groups

Question

How do I configure the data to flow into a SharePoint Output tool so that it will update the name in a field in the list that is of type People/Groups? No I don't have access to the entire name list to do an ID lookup and the input data is coming from a database, not SharePoint. I do have email address and employee ID of the person. I've tried sending different fields or using a formula to try to adjust the input but nothing has worked. I keep getting this error:

SharePoint Output (47) API response: {'lang': 'en-US', 'value': "The query to field 'Name' is not valid. The $select query string must specify the target fields and the $expand query string must contains Name."}. I'm on Desktop version 23.2.1 with SharePoint tool version 2.7.3.

182129 · Answer

Tried all of the above. I continue to get the same error. Even tried a download tool and some kind of python to directly update and still failed. I don't have access to the entire SharePoint people list to get the ID. Tried passing name or email. Didn't work. Even tried to download the list to see if it would give me the control ID but it doesn't (and yes I unchecked replace lookups with values).

And unfortunately I can't change the column type because it is utilized in a Power Automate workflow that connects to the list.

shancmiralles · Answer

hello @182129

this is really tricky..

you amy try and use the attributes for the ppl/prs..like:

* Email address: john.smith@domain.com
* Display name: John Smith
* Membership code: i:0#.f|membership|john.smith@domain.com

the challenge is the ppl/grp  column will turn into string column when it enters alteryx and will leave as string as well..

by using the attributes that makes the ppl/grp unique .. it is a possibility it can resolve your SP inqiury..

( this is why i dont use the ppl/grp column style when I use alteryx for Sharepoint)