SharePoint List, Lookup Columns - Allow Add New Value

Question

I have a SharePoint List where people are entering data with contact information for various people from different firms - often these firms appear more than once but there is no way of knowing which firm names people will put on the list. I was thinking of creating a lookup field with a flow, so that every time a new value is added, it goes to a separate list, and that is used as the "lookup list". However, if it is a lookup column, then it looks like someone can't add a new value. Is there a way around that, or a different way I could approach this? Thank you!

Answer 1

@Elizabeth M. Carroll Please try having 2 different fields, one with the lookup to firm and other one with name like " Other firm" . this can be a radio button and users can toggle between selecting an existing firm or if its not present they can add their own in the others section. on submission take the value from others section if applicable and add /update in the lookup list. please let me know if you have any further questions or if you need any assistance .

Answer 2

Hello @Elizabeth M. Carroll ,

I suggest you use Choice column type instead of Lookup column type. What's most important, please enable "Allow Fill-in choice" option.

So you can customize the value of the field and automatically store the value in the options of this field.

Thanks,
Echo Du

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Answer 3

I went with the 2 fields method rather than choice because I didn't know any names of firms that were going to be added beyond just 2. So far it's only mildly confusing people, so I think it's working. Thank you!