This is an admin task
The OpenForms SharePoint Connector lets authors connect forms to Microsoft SharePoint lists and document libraries.
When a response to a connected form is finalized (by entering a final step in a workflow, or upon submission for forms without workflows), response data and any packaged files are automatically pushed to SharePoint.
Response data in SharePoint lists can be distributed throughout your organization using Microsoft tools like PowerAutomate and PowerBI to automatically trigger events such as:
- Teams notifications
- Salesforce tickets
- Updates to manager-facing graphs
Your IT team will configure these downstream integrations.
Before you begin
To get the most out of the SharePoint connector, it's a good idea to complete the following tasks before you connect:
Prepare your SharePoint environment
Your SharePoint environment must contain at least one SharePoint site to receive OpenForms data.
In most cases, your environment will contain multiple sites used by different teams or departments to store and distribute relevant information.
Discuss with your OpenForms authors and IT team which sites are relevant to OpenForms, and whether additional sites need to be created to receive response data.
Discuss downstream integrations with your IT team
If you intend to use downstream integrations like PowerAutomate to distribute OpenForms response data throughout your organization, discuss this with your IT team.
The data your integrations use may influence which fields form authors map to SharePoint, as well as the folder structure of sites, lists, and document libraries.
Decide who will create SharePoint lists and libraries
In many cases, form authors will be responsible for creating SharePoint lists that receive response data through this connector.
Alternatively, your IT team might create lists for form authors, especially if they are also configuring downstream integrations using response data.
Refer the relevant staff to Configure your form to export response data to SharePoint. This article details what response data can and cannot be sent to SharePoint lists, how to format lists to receive OpenForms data, and how to create document libraries to receive packaged files.
Whoever you delegate list creation to, establish and communicate a consistent process to ensure your response data ends up where you expect it.
Set up the SharePoint connector
You will need the assistance of an Azure administrator to connect OpenForms to SharePoint. Make sure they are ready before you begin connection. Once you are ready to connect:
- Go to Integrations > Connectors > SharePoint.
- Select Connect.
- Copy the URL provided and send it to your Azure AD administrator.
If you are an Azure AD administrator, open this URL in a new tab and select Accept.
- Once your Azure AD administrator has granted OpenForms access to your SharePoint, select Next.
- Select Proceed to SharePoint connector admin screen.
- In the SharePoint connector admin screen, select which SharePoint sites are available to form authors.
- Select All sites to allow form authors to select from every SharePoint site in your Azure AD environment, including any sites added in the future.
- Select Specific sites to allow only the sites you specify.
Sites currently in use by active forms cannot be deselected.
- Save your changes.
Manage the SharePoint connector
Once you have completed initial setup of the the SharePoint connector, form authors can configure individual forms to export response data to SharePoint lists and document libraries hosted on the sites you have allowed.
To view which forms are using the connector, and a log of individual response exports, use the panels on the right of the SharePoint connector admin screen.
Forms using the connector
View which forms are using the connector by selecting See all in the connector's form tally, at the top right on the screen.
This will open a searchable list of every form currently using the SharePoint connector, including published, draft, deactivated, and archived forms.
Export logs
View a log of the exported responses by selecting See all in the export log panel, at the right on the screen.
This will open a searchable listing of exported responses.
Navigate between all exports, successful exports, and failed exports using the tabs at the top of the listing.
Successful exports are shown for 30 days. Failed exports are shown indefinitely.
Troubleshooting failed exports
Failed exports can be retried from the export log, however, in most cases, it's a good idea to investigate the cause of any failures before attempting a retry, as re-attempts can take a little while and may fail again. Here's the best way to deal with different types of errors:
- Failures across multiple forms indicate a connection error to your SharePoint Online environment. Discuss this with your IT team before retrying any exports.
- A string of failures for a particular form indicates an error in either the form's SharePoint settings, or the list itself. If you have author permissions for the form, select the form name to navigate to that form, then double check its SharePoint settings and the relevant SharePoint list.
If you don't have author permissions to a particular form, talk to an author in the appropriate workspace (listed in the export log) to delegate this task.
- Individual ad-hoc errors for a particular form response
What's next