Three Unexpected Ways to Utilise Microsoft Lists

I love Microsoft Lists! It's perfect for managing small to medium-sized data, tracking information, and organising work. However, its potential extends far beyond those basic functions. By incorporating formatted columns—which allow us to add some code and link to various tools like Microsoft Power Automate—Lists can transform into an incredibly robust, multipurpose tool. Today, I'm excited to share my top three favourite (and perhaps unexpected) uses for formatted columns in Microsoft Lists.

Oh, and I might not necessarily ever use all of these features within the same Microsoft List. However, for the sake of creating the guides and visuals below for you, it was simpler to showcase them all in one place. Enjoy!

Event Invite Emails

Imagine you’re organising an event and compiling a list of invitees. You have their names, email addresses, and perhaps even their business names neatly arranged in your Microsoft List. Why not enhance this process by incorporating an email button in each row? This button, when pressed, could automatically send a personalised email to the individual, utilising other data stored within that row. It’s akin to the mail merges we used to do in Microsoft Word, but digital! To streamline the process even further, consider adding additional columns that indicate when the email has been sent, preventing duplication down the line. This creates a seamless and efficient method for managing invitations.

Generate PDF's

You’ve set up your Microsoft List, but now you want to convert the data within the rows into PDFs. Perhaps you need to print these for your customers to sign, or store the information in a document library with easily identifiable file names. You can achieve this by leveraging a formatted column and Microsoft Power Automate to streamline the process. This allows you to treat your Microsoft List as a content repository, simplifying document management.

Like/Dislike Emojis 

At No More Bad Mondays, we enjoy incorporating emojis instead of words into our solutions. For instance, in our upcoming Lobby Visitor Management Solution, we feature a thumbs-up button within an adaptive card to notify staff of visitor arrivals. But why should Microsoft Lists miss out on the fun? You can easily integrate thumbs-up and thumbs-down emojis that tally the total number of likes or dislikes for each row. This feature is invaluable for gaining insights into interest levels for various aspects of your company, conducting staff voting for awards and recognition, or simply providing a quick gauge of your experiences with particular customers.

Conclusion

I hope you found this article enjoyable and packed with insights, offering valuable ideas for enhancing your Microsoft Lists experience. If you need support—whether it’s mentoring, consultancy, or assistance with a larger project—please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at support@nomorebadmondays.com.