Understanding Site Designs

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 47 views

Introduction

Applying a site design programmatically using the SharePoint REST API can be a complex task, especially when it comes to waiting for its completion. In this article, we will explore the process of applying a site design using a Power Automate flow and waiting for its completion.

Understanding Site Designs

Site designs in SharePoint are a powerful feature that allows you to create and apply a set of site templates, layouts, and configurations to a new site. This feature is particularly useful for organizations that need to create multiple sites with the same layout and configuration.

Applying a Site Design Programmatically

To apply a site design programmatically using the SharePoint REST API, you will need to use the POST method to create a new site and apply the site design. Here is an example of how you can do this using a Power Automate flow:

POST https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/_api/web/ApplySiteDesign Content-Type: application/json

"siteDesignId" "your-site-design-id", "siteUrl": "https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/sites/your-site-name"

Waiting for Site Design Completion

However, as you have observed, the number of actions is limited, and you cannot simply wait for the site design to complete using a simple Wait action in Power Automate. This is because the site design application process is asynchronous, and you need to poll the SharePoint REST API to check the status of the site design application.

Using Polling to Wait for Site Design Completion

To wait for the site design completion, you can use a polling mechanism to check the status of the site design application at regular intervals. Here is an example of how you can do this using a Power Automate flow:

GET https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/_api/web/GetSiteDesignStatus Content-Type: application/json

"siteDesignId" "your-site-design-id"

You can then use a Condition action in Power Automate to check the status of the site design application and wait for it to complete.

Power Automate Flow Example

Here is an example of a Power Automate flow that applies a site design programmatically and waits for its completion:

# Apply Site Design and Wait for Completion
Step 1: Apply Site Design

HTTP action:

Method: POST
URL: https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/_api/web/ApplySiteDesign
Headers:

Content-Type: application/json


Body:{
  &quot;siteDesignId&quot;: &quot;your-site-design-id&quot;,
  &quot;siteUrl&quot;: &quot;https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/sites/your-site-name&quot;
}





Step 2: Wait for Site Design Completion

HTTP action:

Method: GET
URL: https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/_api/web/GetSiteDesignStatus
Headers:

Content-Type: application/json


Query Parameters:

siteDesignId: your-site-design-id




Condition action:

Expression: @equals(outputs(&#39;Get_Site_Design_Status&#39;)?[&#39;d&#39;][&#39;Status&#39;], &#39;Completed&#39;)
Case: Yes
Next Step: End of flow
Case: No

Next Step: Wait action (wait for 1 minute and repeat)





Step 3: End of Flow

End of flow action

Conclusion

Q: What is a site design in SharePoint?

A: A site design in SharePoint is a set of site templates, layouts, and configurations that can be applied to a new site. This feature allows organizations to create multiple sites with the same layout and configuration.

Q: How do I apply a site design programmatically using the SharePoint REST API?

A: To apply a site design programmatically using the SharePoint REST API, you can use the POST method to create a new site and apply the site design. Here is an example of how you can do this using a Power Automate flow:

POST https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/_api/web/ApplySiteDesign Content-Type: application/json

"siteDesignId" "your-site-design-id", "siteUrl": "https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/sites/your-site-name"

Q: How do I wait for the site design completion using a Power Automate flow?

A: To wait for the site design completion using a Power Automate flow, you can use a polling mechanism to check the status of the site design application at regular intervals. Here is an example of how you can do this using a Power Automate flow:

GET https://your-sharepoint-site.sharepoint.com/_api/web/GetSiteDesignStatus Content-Type: application/json

"siteDesignId" "your-site-design-id"

You can then use a Condition action in Power Automate to check the status of the site design application and wait for it to complete.

Q: What is the difference between a site design and a site template?

A: A site design is a set of site templates, layouts, and configurations that can be applied to a new site, while a site template is a pre-configured site that can be used as a starting point for a new site.

Q: Can I apply a site design to an existing site?

A: No, you cannot apply a site design to an existing site. Site designs are only applicable to new sites.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with site design application?

A: To troubleshoot issues with site design application, you can check the SharePoint logs for any errors or warnings related to the site design application. You can also use the GET method to retrieve the site design status and check for any errors or warnings.

Q: Can I use a site design with a custom SharePoint framework (SPFx) solution?

A: Yes, you can use a site design with a custom SharePoint framework (SPFx) solution. However, you will need to ensure that the site design is compatible with the SPFx solution and that the site design is applied correctly.

Q: How do I update a site design after it has been applied?

A: To update a site design after it has been applied, you will need to create a new site design with the updated configuration and then apply the new site design to the existing site.

Q: Can I use a site design with a SharePoint Online (SPO) site?

A: Yes, you can use a site design with a SharePoint Online (SPO) site. However, you will need to ensure that the site design is compatible with the SPO site and that the site design is applied correctly.

Q: How do I delete a site design after it has been applied?

A: To delete a site design after it has been applied, you will need to delete the site design from the SharePoint site and then delete the site design from the SharePoint site collection.