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Why is my Forms Spreadsheet not syncing until I open it?

Anonymous
2024-07-02T17:18:21+00:00

We created a simple MS Form about 2 months ago and it stores the Responses is a spreadsheet in Sharepoint. We then created a Power BI report using the Web as a source and mapping to the Form's Spreadsheet on Sharepoint. We do not have a Flow involved. The Power BI data suddenly stopped updating when refreshed. It would not recognize new Form Responses until we go into the Form and Open the Spreadsheet. Then it would magically work. I tried to Disconnect and Sync to New Workbook in the Form, but that did not fix the issue. I don't want to change the Form link since everyone in the company uses it. How do I fix this?

Microsoft 365 and Office | SharePoint | For business | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2025-03-17T20:26:06+00:00

    I have the same problem.
    In all honesty why would Microsoft do this? Everything was working perfectly.
    The workaround is so much work and if you are not familiar with Flows, this is a nightmare!!!!!

    Come on Microsoft, why fix it if it wasn't broken from the start.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-01-15T14:48:02+00:00

    But this is too much work to put on MS's customers who taught themselves how to make this all happen in the first place, paid for all the software, spent the hours to make it happen and then MS SIMPLY MAKES A CHANGE THAT INTERUPTS IMPORTANT DATA SHARING AND ANALYSIS FOR AN ENTIRE ORGANIZATION?!?!?

    Does MS not realize the time and effort it takes a user (and purchaser) to set up ITS various softwares so that they adequately communicate, and that changing one thing, for instance, synching from Forms to Excel, will CAUSE HOURS OF EXTRA TIME AND EFFORT AND TRAINING, organization-wise, to handle MS's unbelievably short-sighted approach?

    I was forced to update the synching and now I am sunk without a bunch of extra effort after paying MS for several different programs to make all of this work!

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-01-15T14:42:50+00:00

    Does MS not realize the time and effort it takes a user (and purchaser) to set up ITS various softwares so that they adequately communicate, and that changing one thing, for instance, synching from Forms to Excel, will CAUSE HOURS OF EXTRA TIME AND EFFORT AND TRAINING, organization-wise, to handle MS's unbelievably short-sighted approach?

    I was forced to update the synching and now I am sunk without a bunch of extra effort after paying MS for several different programs to make all of this work!

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-07-03T18:34:54+00:00

    Hi Darren,

    Thanks for posting back.

    Here is an example.

    1. Create a new workbook to store the responses.
    2. Open the original workbook and copy the entire table, paste it into the new workbook
    3. Create a Power Automate flow

    Image

    a. Go to https://make.powerautomate.com/, sign into your account, click "My flows" on the left sidebar, New flow, Automated cloud flow, choose the trigger "When a new response is submitted".

    b. In the trigger "When a new response is submitted", click the down arrow and choose your form.

    c. Add the action "Get response details", choose the form in Form Id and select "Response Id".

    Image

    d. Add the action "Add a row into a table", select the relevant group/location, library, select the new workbook and its table, in Advanced parameters, add the relevant parameters from "Get response details".

    ImageImage

    Also, you can view the YouTube videos to build such a flow.

    https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Power+Automate+Submit+MicroSoft+Forms+Responses+to+Excel+Online

    Disclaimer: Microsoft provides no assurances and/or warranties, implied or otherwise, and is not responsible for the information you receive from the third-party linked sites or any support related to technology.

    We look forward to your response. Thanks for your cooperation.

    Sincerely, 

    George | Microsoft Community Moderator

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  5. Anonymous
    2024-07-02T23:16:25+00:00

    Hi Darren,

    Thanks for posting back.

    Here is a thread where the member asked a similar question. He was using the same type of form. I suggest you view the workarounds in my reply.

    How do I force Forms and Excel to sync before my Flow runs?

    If you don't want to rebuild the form or move it to a group, then building a Power Automate flow (which takes data directly from the form and adds it to an Excel workbook) is a better solution.

    Sincerely,

    George | Microsoft Community Moderator

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