Description

You are developing a form that pulls data from a SharePoint list and you would like to migrate the form into production, but how do you create the list in production so that SharePoint names all the list columns correctly?
If the column names do not match exactly, issues will arise when publishing or accessing the migrated form.

Applies To

Anyone who would like to migrate a SharePoint list from one environment to another and wants to make sure that the column names are all exactly the same.

Cause

Depending on how you create the SharePoint list columns, Quick Edit or List Settings, SharePoint may assign a different name on the back end.

Quick Edit Created Columns - Notice how the column was named Address, but SharePoint has named the column tupu on the back end.


Columns Created Using List Settings - Using this method will guarantee that the column names match with what SharePoint has on the back end.

Solution

The best practice in this case would be to make a List Template from the original list so that the list and all of it's data can be seamlessly migrated to the new environment with the exact same column names as the original list.

Export list as a list template

First, open the list you wish to export and navigate to list settings and click Save List as Template.

Then, give the template a name and check the Include Content box. Click OK. You should receive a message that your list template has been created and a link to the template.
 

For your reference, the link to the SharePoint list template gallery will be: http://<%YOUR SITE URL%>/_catalogs/lt/Forms/AllItems.aspx
If you wish to download the template for use in another environment, use the link in the List Template Gallery.

Create a new list from a list template

Once you have downloaded the list template, use this link to access the List Template Gallery in the destination environment http://<%YOUR SITE URL%>/_catalogs/lt/Forms/AllItems.aspx
Then, click on the Files tab in the ribbon.
 

Next, select Upload Document and navigate to your list template file.
Now that you have imported the list template, it is ready for use.
Navigate back to your forms site and select Lists from the left pane, then click Add an App.
Your list template will appear at the end of the "Apps You Can Add" section. All you need to do is click on the template to create a list.