Column Name Monitor

Someone renames a SharePoint column, and three flows break with no error anyone notices for a week. This flow calls the SharePoint REST API every hour, compares live display names against an expected map, and posts a diff table to Teams the moment they drift.

An hourly recurrence sends an HTTP request to SharePoint at _api/web/lists/getbytitle('List')/fields. A Compose holds the ExpectedColumns JSON map of internal name to display name. A loop over the returned fields compares each current title with the expected value, and any mismatch is appended to a diff table posted to Teams and written to a SharePoint audit log.

1. 1

   Create a Scheduled cloud flow with a Recurrence trigger, Frequency Hour, Interval 1.

2. 2

   Add Data Operation → Compose named 'ExpectedColumns' with a JSON object mapping internal names to expected display names, e.g. { "DueDate": "DueDate", "SAL": "SAL", "OwnerName": "Owner" }.

3. 3

   Add Initialize variable 'DiffRows' (String) at top level.

4. 4

   Add SharePoint → Send an HTTP request to SharePoint. Method GET, Uri: _api/web/lists/getbytitle('YourList')/fields?$select=InternalName,Title&$filter=Hidden eq false, Headers: Accept application/json;odata=nometadata.

5. 5

   Add Apply to each over body('Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint')['value'].

6. 6

   Inside the loop add a Condition: contains(outputs('ExpectedColumns'), item()?['InternalName']) is true AND not equals of outputs('ExpectedColumns')[item()?['InternalName']] and item()?['Title'].

7. 7

   In the If yes branch append a <tr> to DiffRows with the internal name, the expected value ('Was') and item()?['Title'] ('Now').

8. 8

   After the loop add a Condition on empty(variables('DiffRows')); if not empty, post a Teams message with the diff table 'Internal Name | Was | Now' and create an item in the SharePoint 'SchemaAuditLog' list recording the timestamp and the diff.

9. 9

   If nothing changed, Terminate as Succeeded so the run history stays readable.

10. 10

    Keep the ExpectedColumns map in source control alongside your flow documentation and update it whenever a rename is intentional.

Paste this into Power Automate Copilot to scaffold the flow.

Create a scheduled cloud flow that runs every hour. Compose a JSON object ExpectedColumns mapping SharePoint internal column names to their expected display names, initialize a string variable DiffRows, then use 'Send an HTTP request to SharePoint' with a GET to _api/web/lists/getbytitle('YourList')/fields selecting InternalName and Title. Loop the returned fields and, when the current Title differs from the expected display name, append a diff row. If any differences exist, post a Teams table with Internal Name, Was and Now, and log the change to a SharePoint audit list.

Captures are added as each step is published.

• Send an HTTP request to SharePoint
• SharePoint REST API fields endpoint
• Collection functions (contains)