Create Dataverse Table From SharePoint List [2 Best Ways]

Recently, one of my clients wanted to migrate their existing SharePoint-based solution to Dataverse, as they sought to create model-driven apps and gain better data control. They had already built a detailed SharePoint list and didn’t want to recreate everything manually in Dataverse.

That’s when I showed them a quick and easy way to create a Dataverse table directly from their SharePoint list using Power Apps.

In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to create a table from a SharePoint list in Dataverse using two different methods:

• Import a SharePoint list using Copilot
• Import the SharePoint list using Dataflow

Bonus: At the end of this post, I’ll also show you how to transfer data from the SharePoint list into the new Dataverse table.

Create Table from SharePoint List in Dataverse

Dataverse provides a rich and secure platform for storing and managing data for your Power Apps, Power Automate, and model-driven apps. While SharePoint lists are great for simple solutions, Dataverse offers more flexibility with relationships, advanced data types, and integration capabilities.

If you already have a SharePoint list and want to use that structure inside Dataverse, there’s no need to recreate every column manually. Power Apps offers two convenient methods for creating a Dataverse table from a SharePoint list, using Copilot or Dataflow.

Import a SharePoint list to Dataverse using Copilot in Power Apps

Let’s say we have a SharePoint list named “Project Tracker” that is used to manage internal projects. It includes important details like project owner, deadlines, and current status.

Here are the columns in the SharePoint list:

Column Name	Data Type
Project Name	Single line of text
Project ID	Single line of text
Start Date	Date and Time
End Date	Date and Time
Status	Choice
Budget	Currency
Approved	Yes/No
Progress (%)	Number
Project Site	Hyperlink or Picture
Priority	Choice
Description	Multiple lines of text

Now follow the steps below:

1. Open Power Apps and from the left-hand menu select Tables. Then, select
   “Create with SharePoint list”.

2. Then, in the pop-up that appears (see the screenshot below), enter the SharePoint site URL or choose from the recent sites and lists shown, and then click Import.

After clicking Import, Power Apps will automatically create a Dataverse table using the columns from your SharePoint list.

3. You’ll see the imported table (e.g., Project Tracker) displayed in the table designer, along with all its fields, such as Title, Project ID, Project Name, Start Date, Budget, and more.

You can view and edit the data directly from this interface.

You also have access to row ownership settings, which allow you to define who owns or can access specific records.

If needed, you can change the name of the table to something more meaningful or business-friendly.

Additionally, you can open the Properties panel to review and update key details such as the table name, description, and the primary column.

Edit the Data

In my case, a few fields needed their data types changed after the import. For example, I wanted to adjust the “Budget” field to use a different number format.

1. Click the three dots (⋯) next to the table. Select “View data“.

2. You’ll now see the imported SharePoint list data inside the Dataverse table view. Here, you can:
   • Review all rows and columns
   • Add or delete rows
   • Click on column headers to open column settings (to rename or change the data type)
3. Use the Properties or Full screen options from the top menu for a better editing experience.

4. Once you’ve made the necessary updates, click Save and Exit to finalize the table.

Once you’ve saved your changes, you can easily search for your table by its name in the Dataverse > Tables section.

Just go to the Tables menu in Power Apps, enter the table name (e.g., Project Tracker) in the search bar, and you’ll find it listed there.

From this point on, you can use the table in Canvas apps, model-driven apps, and Power Automate flows.

Import the SharePoint list using Dataflow in Power Apps

Imagine you manage a SharePoint list called Employee Onboarding Tracker. This list helps your HR team track new employee details, onboarding progress, and assigned equipment.

Now, your organization plans to move this data into Dataverse to build a model-driven app and automate onboarding workflows using Power Automate. You not only want to replicate the structure, but also import all existing data from the SharePoint list.

Additionally, you want to preserve the original creator of each record in SharePoint, so that it’s also reflected in the Dataverse table.

Column Name	Data Type
Employee Name	Single line of text
Employee ID	Single line of text
Email Address	Single line of text
Position	Choice
Date of Joining	Date and Time
Onboarding Status	Choice
Contact Number	Single line of text

Now follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to Power Apps, then go to the Dataverse section and click on Tables.
2. At the top of the page, click “Import” and then select “Import data.”

3. Choose “SharePoint Online List” as the data source from the list of connectors.

4. Paste the SharePoint site URL where the list is located, then click Next.

Note:

If you’re using it for the first time, just click the Sign in button and enter your Microsoft account details to connect to your SharePoint Online list.

5. From the available lists, choose Employee Onboarding Tracker, then click Next.

The Power Query Editor opens, where you can:

• Remove unwanted columns
• Rename columns
• Change data types
• Filter rows if needed

In the above requirement, I told you I want to be created by name. If you require the same, you can follow the steps below.

Under the Add column tab, click Custom column, and provide the following formula:

[Created By][title]

After that, change the name of the column and click OK. After that, you can see that the created name has been added.

6. After transformation, click Next.
7. Select “Load to new table“.
8. Provide a name like EmployeeOnboarding.
9. Define primary key if needed (or let Dataverse create one).

10. Choose whether you want this Dataflow to refresh on a schedule or keep it as a one-time import.

11. Click “Publish” to finish. Power Apps will now create the table and load the SharePoint data into Dataverse.
12. You can easily search for your table by its name in the Dataverse > Tables section.

Power Apps will create the new Dataverse table and import the SharePoint data along with metadata like Created By, dates, and more.

Add Data to Dataverse Table Using Power Automate

I’ve written a step-by-step guide with screenshots on how to Add Data to a Dataverse Table Using Power Automate. You can read it here: Power Automate: Dataverse Add New Row

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to create a Dataverse table from a SharePoint list using both Copilot and Dataflow in Power Apps. I also covered how to modify columns, manage data types, and, as a bonus, how to keep your Dataverse table updated using Power Automate.

Other Dataverse articles you may also like:

• Power Automate Dataverse Add New Row
• Calculate Days Between Dates in Power Apps
• Count Rows From Dataverse Table Using Power Automate
• Get Dataverse Created by in Power Automate
• Remove Commas From Dataverse Number Field
• Update a Row in Dataverse Using Power Automate