Configure

Updating Multiline Text Field Properties in SharePoint

Reshmee AucklooUpdated May 7, 2025View on GitHub

Summary

Managing multiline text fields in SharePoint can be tricky, especially when certain field properties are not visible or editable at the library/list level, even though they are available at the site level.

For example, at the site level, you can configure properties such as:

Append Changes to Text
Number of Lines
Field Type: Plain Text, Rich Text, or Enhanced Rich Text

However, these settings may not appear at the library/list level

Example Screenshot

Prerequisites

The user account that runs the script must have access to the SharePoint Online site.

param (
    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [string]$Url,

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [string]$ListName,

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [string]$FieldName,

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [ValidateSet("EnhancedRichText", "PlainText", "RichText")]
    [string]$TextType = "EnhancedRichText",

    [Parameter(Mandatory = $true)]
    [ValidateSet("Yes", "No")]
    [string]$AppendOnly = "Yes"
)

# Connect to SharePoint site
Connect-PnPOnline -Url $Url

# Map the TextType to corresponding RichTextMode and RichText values
switch ($TextType) {
    "EnhancedRichText" {
        $RichTextMode = "FullHtml"
        $RichText = $true
    }
    "PlainText" {
        $RichTextMode = "Compatible"
        $RichText = $false
    }
    "RichText" {
        $RichTextMode = "Compatible"
        $RichText = $true
    }
}

# Convert AppendOnly parameter to boolean
$AppendOnlyValue = if ($AppendOnly -eq "Yes") { $true } else { $false }

# Update field properties
Set-PnPField -List $ListName -Identity $FieldName -Values @{
    AppendOnly = $AppendOnlyValue
    RichTextMode = $RichTextMode
    RichText = $RichText
    NumLines = "6"
    UnlimitedLengthInDocumentLibrary = $false
} -ErrorAction Stop

# Handle properties that cannot be updated directly
$Field = Get-PnPField -List $ListName -Identity $FieldName -ErrorAction Stop
$FieldSchemaXml = [xml]$Field.SchemaXml

if ($TextType -eq "EnhancedRichText" -or $TextType -eq "RichText") {
    $FieldSchemaXml.Field.SetAttribute("RichTextMode", $RichTextMode)
    $FieldSchemaXml.Field.SetAttribute("NumLines", "8")
}

Set-PnPField -List $ListName -Identity $FieldName -Values @{
    SchemaXml = $FieldSchemaXml.OuterXml
} -ErrorAction Stop

Source Credit

Sample first appeared on Updating Multiline Text Field Properties in SharePoint Using PowerShell

Contributors

Author(s)
Reshmee Auckloo

Disclaimer

THESE SAMPLES ARE PROVIDED AS IS WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.

Tool documentation & references

Want to learn more about PnP PowerShell and the cmdlets
Check out the PnP PowerShell site to get started and for the reference to the cmdlets.

Summary

Prerequisites

Source Credit

Contributors

Disclaimer

Tool documentation & references

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