Troubleshooting Html Output In Sharepoint Calculated Columns

What is Going Wrong with My HTML Output?

When HTML output in SharePoint calculated columns does not display as expected, there are a few common issues that tend to come up. Understanding the problems that can occur will help you diagnose and correct any malformed HTML that fails to properly render.

Common HTML Output Issues

No output shows at all – the column appears blank
Text formatting like bold or italics is missing
Alignment of text has no effect
Web page layout breaks with element overlapping
Random special characters or code appears
Output looks fine on desktop but not mobile

These rendering problems typically arise when the SharePoint calculated column formula uses HTML tags incorrectly. For example, forgetting a closing tag or nesting tags improperly often prevents the desired styling and alignment. Using disallowed dynamic attributes can also lead to unexpected output.

Examples of Malformed HTML in Formulas

Take a look at these examples of calculated column formulas with malformed HTML that would fail to output properly:

Title – Mismatched bold and italic tag
<a href="[URL]">Click here</a> – Disallowed dynamic link
<img src=""> – Missing image source attribute
Text – Invalid align attribute

By learning how to create valid HTML and allowed syntax in calculated columns, problems like this can be prevented. Keep reading for details on syntax validation and techniques for proper HTML formatting.

Validating Your HTML

Before rolling out a SharePoint calculated column with HTML output across your sites, it’s smart to validate the formula’s HTML syntax. Catching errors ahead of time can prevent unexpected results down the road.

Using the Column Validation Tool

SharePoint offers a simple column validation tool for checking your formulas. Here are the steps:

Navigate to List Settings > Click the calculated column > Validation Settings
Paste your formula HTML into the text box
Click Validate.

The validator will catch any issues with unmatched tags, improper nesting, or disallowed attributes. Make sure your formula passes validation before saving the column.

Example: Testing Column HTML Syntax

See the process to validate this sample calculated column HTML:

The validator shows the  tag is not permitted. To fix, replace  with allowed tags like  or  styled by CSS.

Allowed HTML Tags and Attributes

Knowing which HTML tags and attributes are officially supported in SharePoint calculated columns can further help you troubleshoot output. Using only allowed syntax ensures proper rendering.

Supported HTML Tags

The following HTML tags are fully supported in calculated columns:

– Bold text
– Italic text
– Underlined text
– Paragraph text
– Line break

In addition, other structural tags like , <table>, and <tr> have official approval. So do headings <h1> through <h6>.

Approved Attributes

Attributes for inline styling like font colors are allowed:

style
color
font-size
text-align

Just avoid dynamically set values, as outlined next.

Restricted Dynamic Attributes

Any attribute fetching values from other columns pose security risks. Examples like href, src, width, etc. with dynamic links/images cannot be validated upfront. Hence the following attributes have restrictions:

href
src
width
height

Keep all href links and image sources static for reliable performance.

Formatting Your HTML

Properly structuring HTML tags and CSS styles is key for SharePoint calculated columns to achieve desired text formatting and alignment.

Nesting Tags Correctly

Like other HTML uses, make sure opening and closing tags are matched. More importantly, neatly nest any inline styling inside the structural tags:

GOOD: Bolded Italics
BAD: Bolded Italics

Proper nesting prevents overlapping styles and confusion when applying additional CSS.

Styling Techniques

Use allowed style attributes for straightforward text styling:

Bolded text
Blue text
Right-aligned text

You can also combine multiple CSS properties within the same style attribute when needed.

Sample Calculated Columns

Study these examples of properly formatted HTML calculated column formulas displaying correctly:

The HTML syntax validity and structured nesting allows the styling, sizing, and alignment to work perfectly.

Troubleshooting Display Issues

When calculated column HTML problems slip through testing, here are some debugging tips for the resulting display issues:

Fixing Missing or Blank Output

If no output shows at all when formulas seem correct, check for these potential causes:

Typos in column references
Circular references looping formulas
Syntax errors breaking rendering

Use the column validation tool to catch bad HTML, validate circular references, and check for typos.

Handling Special Characters

Certain special characters can lead to broken display of HTML output. For example:

& – Output as “&” instead
< – Output as “<” instead
> – Output as “>” instead

Use HTML character entities for these special characters whenever needed.

Debugging Desktop vs. Mobile Issues

What renders well on desktop may break on mobile screens. To troubleshoot:

Test across devices during development
Use minimal required styling
Watch out for measurement unit conflicts
Vertical space often needs attention

Tweaking padding and overflow settings usually helps achieve seamless responsive output.

Best Practices

Keep these guidelines in mind when working with calculated columns for smooth HTML output every time:

Keep Formulas Simple

Avoid complexity with nested formulas that become difficult to manage and debug when issues arise. Stick to straightforward HTML.

Minimal Required HTML

Only use the HTML formatting needed to achieve the desired output – no more. Simpler is better for avoiding unintended effects.

Thorough Testing Process

Be sure to extensively test calculated column output under different conditions before finalizing formulas:

Test across desktop and mobile
Check different browser environments
Validate with realistic data variations
Stress test with invalid inputs

This helps confidently catch the majority of real-world issues.