Microsoft Graph API returns stale data from Sharepoint Excel even after days. Tried 3 approaches as below to resolve the issue, but none worked

Question

Issue Summary

We are using Microsoft Graph API to read data from a Sharepoint Excel file that is populated by Microsoft Forms.

However:

• The latest form submissions are not returned by the Graph API even after days
• The latest data becomes visible only after manually opening the Sharepoint Excel file
• This indicates a potential data synchronization or materialization issue between Microsoft Forms, Excel, and the Graph API

Resolution Approaches Attempted

The three approaches attempted were as below but none returned the latest Microsoft Forms submissions:

• Reading data from the Excel table instead of usedRange
• Programmatically opening and recalculating the workbook using a Graph API session, and
• Forcing a refresh via a write operation

Approach 1: Read Table Instead of usedRange

Objective

Use table-based reads since Microsoft Forms writes into an Excel table.

Implementation

GET https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/xxx.sharepoint.com/xxx/workbook/tables

GET https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/xxx.sharepoint.com/xxx/workbook/tables('{table-id}')/rows

Outcome

Table detected successfully (OfficeForms.Table)

Historical data is returned correctly

Latest form submissions are not returned

Approach 2: Workbook Session and Recalculation

The Steps 1 and 2 below were to programatically open the Sharepoint Excel, which it did, as the screenshot below

Step 1: Create Session

This simi

POST https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/xxx.sharepoint.com/xxx/workbook/createSession Content-Type: application/json

Request Body: { "persistChanges": true }

Step 2: Refresh Session

POST https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/xxx.sharepoint.com/xxx/workbook/refreshSession Header: workbook-session-id: ${workbook-session-id}

Step 3: Force Recalculation

POST https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/xxx.sharepoint.com/xxx/workbook/application/calculate Header: workbook-session-id: ${workbook-session-id}

Step 4: Read Data

GET https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/xxx.sharepoint.com/xxx/workbook/worksheets('Sheet1')/usedRange Header: workbook-session-id: ${workbook-session-id}

Outcome

Session creation is successful

Recalculation executes without error

Data retrieval works

Latest Microsoft Forms submissions are still not returned

Approach 3: Force Workbook Update via Write Operation

Objective

Trigger Excel internal refresh by performing a write operation

The programatic write operation succeeded as the below screenshot:

 

Implementation

PATCH https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/sites/xxx.sharepoint.com/xxx/workbook/worksheets('Sheet1')/range(address='Z1') { "values": [["Id"]] }

Outcome

Write operation succeeds

Workbook updates correctly

Latest form submissions still not visible via Graph API

Observed Behaviour

Microsoft Forms shows latest submissions immediately

Excel displays latest data when opened manually

Graph API does not return latest data until Excel file is opened

Opening the Excel file manually appears to trigger synchronization or materialization, after which the Graph API starts returning the expected data.