# Graph API reference for SharePoint List items

Quick reference for the parts of the Microsoft Graph Lists API that this skill
relies on. Full docs: <https://learn.microsoft.com/graph/api/resources/listitem>.

## Internal vs. display column names

Graph reads and writes use a column's **internal name**, which is frequently NOT
the display name you see in the UI:

- Spaces and special characters are encoded: "Due Date" → `DueDate`; a column
  later renamed keeps its original internal name; some become `OData__x005f...`.
- Always discover internal names before writing:
  `node scripts/sp.mjs columns --site "<URL>" --list "<NAME>"`.
- In the `columns` output, the `name` field is the internal name; `displayName`
  is what the UI shows. Write to `name`.

`Title` is the built-in primary text column on most lists.

## Field value formats by column type

When creating/updating, `--fields` is a JSON object of internal name → value:

| Column type | JSON value | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single line / multi-line text | string | `{"Title":"Hello"}` |
| Number / Currency | number | `{"Estimate":3.5}` |
| Yes/No (boolean) | boolean | `{"Approved":true}` |
| Date / DateTime | ISO 8601 string (UTC) | `{"DueDate":"2026-07-01T00:00:00Z"}` |
| Choice (single) | the choice string | `{"Status":"In Progress"}` |
| Choice (multi) | needs an OData type hint (see below) | |
| Hyperlink | `{ "Url": "...", "Description": "..." }` | `{"Link":{"Url":"https://x","Description":"X"}}` |
| Lookup (single) | set `<Name>LookupId` to the target item id | `{"CategoryLookupId":7}` |
| Lookup (multi) | OData type hint + array of ids (see below) | |
| Person/Group (single) | set `<Name>LookupId` to the user's lookup id | `{"AssignedToLookupId":12}` |

### Multi-value fields need an `@odata.type` annotation

Graph requires you to declare the collection type alongside the value. Include
**both** keys in the fields object:

```json
{
  "Categories@odata.type": "Collection(Edm.String)",
  "Categories": ["Marketing", "Sales"],

  "RelatedItemsLookupId@odata.type": "Collection(Edm.Int32)",
  "RelatedItemsLookupId": [3, 9, 14]
}
```

### Person / Lookup ids

Person and lookup columns store an **integer id**, not a name/email. The internal
field name is usually `<DisplayInternalName>LookupId`. Getting the right id:

- **Lookup**: the id is the target list item's `id`. Query the source list to
  find it.
- **Person**: the id is the user's row id in the site's hidden *User Information
  List*. This is awkward to obtain via Graph alone; if you need to set people
  fields by email/name often, that's a good reason to add a resolver helper (or
  do it via the SharePoint REST `ensureUser` endpoint). Flag this to the user
  rather than guessing an id.

If a write returns `400 invalidRequest` or `400 generalException`, the field
name or one of these value formats is almost always the cause.

## Querying items (OData)

The CLI maps flags to OData query options on
`/sites/{site}/lists/{list}/items`:

- `--filter` → `$filter`. Filter on fields with the `fields/` prefix:
  - `fields/Status eq 'Open'`
  - `fields/Priority ge 2`
  - `fields/Title eq 'Exact'` (text is case-sensitive in eq)
  - `startswith(fields/Title,'Mig')`
  - combine with `and` / `or`: `fields/Status eq 'Open' and fields/Priority ge 2`
- `--orderby` → `$orderby`, e.g. `fields/DueDate asc` or `fields/Created desc`.
- `--select` → projects which fields come back: `Title,Status,DueDate`.
- `--top` → page size; `--all` follows `@odata.nextLink` to return every page.

### Non-indexed columns

SharePoint only allows server-side filter/sort on **indexed** columns unless you
opt into a best-effort mode. The client automatically sends
`Prefer: HonorNonIndexedQueriesWarningMayFailRandomly` whenever `--filter` or
`--orderby` is present, which lets queries on non-indexed columns run (they may
occasionally fail on very large lists — add a column index in SharePoint for
heavy use). If a filter intermittently errors on a big list, that's why.

### Escaping quotes

OData string literals use single quotes; a literal single quote is doubled:
`fields/Title eq 'O''Brien'`. In the shell, wrap the whole `--filter` value in
double quotes.

## Response shape

Reads return items simplified to:

```json
{
  "id": "42",
  "webUrl": "https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/.../DispForm.aspx?ID=42",
  "createdDateTime": "2026-06-01T10:00:00Z",
  "lastModifiedDateTime": "2026-06-10T12:30:00Z",
  "fields": { "Title": "...", "Status": "Open", "...": "..." }
}
```

`id` is the item id you pass to `get`, `update`, and `delete`.