I cannot change content type on List item using Modern forms after adding Calculated fields.

Question

I have a simple list with 3 custom content types. I want the user to be able to edit the items and change the content type, so that the form will show different fields. This normally works fine. However, I've added a few "calculated" fields to the list that pull values from other fields. When I click on an item in the list and edit using the Modern experience, I can change any value in the item EXCEPT the content type. When I try to change the content type, it just doesn't stick (or save). When you come back to the item, the content type is unchanged.

BUT... this works fine in the Classic experience. I can edit any item and change the content type, and it saves.

WHATs weirder is that I've been playing around with the calculated fields. If I remove them, then everything starts working again in the Modern experience. Also, if I add them back, the things work great until I refresh the screen... Basically, immediately after removing the calculated fields, things work fine. Then I add them back. The first time I come back to the List view and edit items (no matter how many), things work great. Then once I refresh the screen (F5), it stops working... I've done this with Chome and Edge and same result. Works great until you refresh the screen once.

Even once its broken for me, my teammate goes to the list, and it works for her. Then she refreshes her screen, and it stops working. We've both closed all our browsers, and restarted them, also cleared the cache... no luck... Once its broken, only way to fix is to remove the calculated fields, and add them back.

These calculated fields are not complicated... As an example, one which breaks it is a field named "CalcTitle", which has its formula as "=[Title]".

One more thing... Everytime I change the content type and Save it, I don't get a new version in Version History unless I change other fields... So if I only change the Content type, then nothing shows up in Version History after saving (although nothing errors out either). But if I change the Content Type AND something else and press Save, then the other fields gets updated, the Version history shows it, but the Content Type doesn't change.

Answer 1

I found so many postings for this issue w/o helpful tips!! I solved my version of this problem by going to the "edit column" settings (within the list I wanted to edit) and unchecking everything under the "more options" dropdown ("use enhanced rich text," "append changes," etc.). Then press enter/save. Finally, I was able to edit/change the content type to what I wanted.

Answer 2

My problem exactly! Clearly a bug of some kind, buried deep. Good to know that the Classic experience works as kind of a primitive band‐aid fix for this. Please fix, Microsoft.

Answer 3

Dear Craig Schaefer,

Good day!!

Apologies for the inconvenience caused and please don’t worry, let’s work together on your concern and move towards a resolution path.

I understand your concern and I would like to convey that I have tested the behavior at my end with the List added with different content types, and I have added the Calculated Column in the List, where I noticed the same behavior when changing the Content Type of the items in the List and removing the Calculated Column on the list works normally when changing the content type in the Modern Experience.

To my knowledge, the behavior we are observing is not an expected and I believe the problem should be further investigated by related development team via collecting HAR logs because there is not any related service incident reported at the Microsoft Service Health dashboard.

I do feel regret for not resolving the problem and redirecting you to the related development team but the fix to your concern can be find out through the HAR logs and suggest you raise a support ticket from the Office 365 admin center, where the related team will investigate the problem further by collecting the HAR logs.

Reference: Get support - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn

Note: To create a support ticket, you need to have admin privileges and if you aren’t admin of your Office 365 organization, please contact the admin of creating a new ticket.

Appreciate your patience and understanding. Have a great day!!

Best Regards,

Sophia