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Multiple Lines of Text column value is blank in SPD Workflow

This is a strange behavior I observed recently.

Let's say you have a List with Multiple Lines of Text column. In the column setting, ensure "Append to existing values" is set to No.

Now create a SPD workflow on this List and try to access the column value (just log this value to the workflow history list). When you create an item and put some value to this column, you can see the workflow history displaying the correct value.

Now the not-so-cool part: Go to column settings, and change "Append to existing values" to Yes. Add a new item to the List. Go to the workflow history. Alas! The value is blank! In the SPD workflow, whether you set return value as "String" or "Plain Text", it always return blank!

Summary: If you are dependent on the value of Multiple Lines of Text column in SPD workflow, ensure you have not set "Append to existing values" to Yes.
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Comments

  1. UnknownJuly 12, 2017 at 2:13 AM

    It only works if the Multi lines text field contains below 255 chars

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SureshAugust 23, 2017 at 8:16 PM

      Thanks Maria for sharing your findings. Indeed, a strange behavior or bug!

      Delete
  2. Jegan BaskaranOctober 18, 2019 at 9:06 AM

    this is not working for me :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. SureshOctober 23, 2019 at 11:54 AM

      @Jegan, what's not working? Can you elaborate?

      Delete

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