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Jeff_Thorpe

Disable Event Firing when Flow updates a SharePoint list item

Submitted by Super User on ‎03-21-2018 06:47 AM

Add a feature that will allow flow to disable event firing when updating a SharePoint list item, so that the Flow doesn't get stuck in a loop. Currently if I create a flow with a SharePoint list trigger when item is created or modified and have the Flow update a field in the item the loop gets stuck in a loop. One workaround is to add logic to check if the field(s) still need to be updated and if not then don't update the item but even in that case the flow will be triggered twice. It just makes sense to have an option that will allow Flow to update an item without triggering an event that will cause the same Flow or another Flow to run against the item again.

Status: Declined

Hi all,

 

After thoroughly reviewing this idea, we have decided not to proceed with this idea for a couple of reasons.

  • SharePoint events are no longer event receiver based and are performed using webhooks or polling where applicable
  • Other Office 365 applications and internal systems like auditing may and will rely on such changes like updates to items, files and other entities in SharePoint

However, that said, we understand the crux of the issue which is to help avoid loops. We will work with the flow team to come up with a generic model/pattern that applies across data source/connections for similar scenarios.

 

Thanks all for your input and please submit/vote your ideas as we are actively monitoring the ideas forum.

 

Thanks,

Chaks

141 Comments (141 New)
Comments
darogael
MVP
‎12-14-2016 10:47 AM

Would like a 'Set Field' action in Flow which will not kick-off the Flow. Currently there is an 'Update Item' action available which is kicking off the workflows. What's interesting is that this can cause a loop effect which can send out continuous email notifications.

Anonymous
Not applicable
‎06-07-2017 02:08 PM

Right now when i edit an item of a sharepoint list from flow, it starts again the event "when item is edited", 
Which causes an infinite loop. this is new, yesterday it works fine. Smiley Sad

SavaricTheSpear
Advocate I
Advocate I
‎11-18-2017 11:22 AM

Hi Flow Team,

 

I'm using the SharePoint - When an item is created or modified trigger.  Within my flow I need to update data on the very same item that triggered the flow.  Doing so causes the flow to trigger again.  This is a loop condition and should be a configurable behavior.

 

You might tell me, as others have, to keep copies of all my list item values, and to test all those values for a difference, and then only update the item conditionally.  This is dumb.  It is not a scalable option.  It doesn't enable your user community.  It discourages adoption of your platform.

 

To spell it out, I have to create a 2nd column for each column for which I want to detect changes.  It is simple enough to test for changes in Flow, but the more columns I have the more tedious that is.  Then I have also to create customized New, Edit, and Display forms in SharePoint to hide these extra columns from the end users.  Adoption is limited to motivated power users, casual users are not enabled.

 

My best suggestion is that the action SharePoint - Update item include a Setting that allows us to disable workflow triggering.  The behavior options could be:

  • Global - Do not trigger any flows with this update
  • Local - Do not trigger another instance of the current flow with this update

I've seen this issue pop up on at least two community posts:

Please help us out by addressing this fundamental gap.

 

Best,

Harry

tobystatham
Advocate IV
Advocate IV
‎11-29-2017 12:05 AM

When I have a SharePoint trigger for a SharePoint List it would be good to have an option to disable any further triggers if I need to update the list from the flow.

 

Say for example I need to update a Status field based on the outcome of the flow, currently, if I used the SharePoint Update item to do this it triggers the flow again causing a loop.

 

This can be prevented with some form of field hack and conditional statement but would be great not to have to do this.

 

it could just be a checkbox option for the SharePoint Update Item action "Prevent further Flows from running"

mschaaks
Regular Visitor
‎12-21-2017 06:49 AM

The update item step is very laborious as well because it does not take account the current field values of the sharepoint list item for which the trigger runs. This means that all required fields within the update item action have to be mapped to the current equivalent item fields.

Mikael_Svenson
Advocate II
Advocate II
‎01-02-2018 06:32 AM

When triggering on a SharePoint list/lib for modifed items it would be nice to be able to update the triggered item in the Flow without the Flow re-triggering on the update. Much like a system-update.

Eric_Mases
Regular Visitor
‎01-02-2018 09:11 AM
Agree, a common usage example is a quality document management system when you want item properties updated after the approval.
ElenaN
Advocate IV
Advocate IV
‎01-11-2018 12:52 AM

As much as I'd love to see this feature, I doubt it will be implemented. This feature would be related to SharePoint team and not the Flow team. Since the beginning of the CSOM SP team was asked to implement it but never did, so I doubt they will change their minds now. 

McThrustin
Frequent Visitor
‎01-12-2018 08:16 AM

Yes, please either prevent Add/Update flows from triggering other flows, or make it an optional check box.

BMarsh4
Frequent Visitor
‎01-19-2018 08:46 AM

This would be a greatly appreciated feature; although putting conditions in place will stop multiple flows completing it feels like a hacky approach at best!