Using renderListDataAsStream with SPFx

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 29 views

Introduction

When working with large lists in SharePoint Framework (SPFx) web parts, it's essential to be aware of the list view threshold. This threshold is a limit imposed by SharePoint to prevent excessive resource usage and ensure a smooth user experience. In this article, we'll explore how to use the renderListDataAsStream method to query a list with around 8000 items without hitting the list view threshold.

What is the List View Threshold?

The list view threshold is a limit imposed by SharePoint to prevent excessive resource usage. This threshold is typically set to 5000 items, but it can be adjusted by the SharePoint administrator. When a query exceeds this threshold, SharePoint throws a SPQueryThrottledException exception.

Using renderListDataAsStream with SPFx

The renderListDataAsStream method is a powerful tool for querying lists in SPFx web parts. It allows you to retrieve data from a list in a streaming fashion, which can be more efficient than retrieving the entire list at once. However, if you're not careful, you can still hit the list view threshold.

Code Review

Let's take a closer look at the code you provided:

<View Scope='RecursiveAll'>
  <ViewFields>
    <FieldRef Name='Title'/>
    <FieldRef Name='Region'/>
    <FieldRef Name='Organization'/>
    <FieldRef Name='FiscalYear'/>
    <FieldRef Name='MonthNumber'/>
    <FieldRef Name='Actual'/>
    <FieldRef Name='ID'/>
  </ViewFields>
  <Query>
    <Where>
      <Eq><FieldRef Name="FiscalYear" /><Value Type="Text">2024/2025</Value></Eq>
    </Where>
    <OrderBy>
      <FieldRef Name='FiscalYear' Ascending='False' />
      <FieldRef Name='MonthNumber' Ascending='False' />
    </OrderBy>
  </Query>
  <RowLimit Paged="TRUE">500</RowLimit>
</View>

let results: IReportActualCAML[] = [];

let reportActuals: IRenderListDataAsStreamResult  = await this._sp.web.lists.getByTitle(Constants.reportActualsListName).renderListDataAsStream({'ViewXml':xml, Paging: null});
    
results = results.concat(reportActuals.Row);
    
while (reportActuals.NextHref) {
   reportActuals = await this._sp.web.lists.getByTitle(Constants.reportActualsListName).renderListDataAsStream({'ViewXml':xml, Paging: reportActuals.NextHref.substring(1)});
   results = results.concat(reportActuals.Row);
}

What's Going Wrong?

The issue here is that you're not taking into account the list view threshold when using the renderListDataAsStream method. Even though you're setting the RowLimit to 500, SharePoint is still throwing a SPQueryThrottledException exception because the total number of items being retrieved exceeds the list view threshold.

Solution

To fix this issue, you need to adjust your code to take into account the list view threshold. One way to do this is to use the renderListDataAsStream method with a smaller RowLimit value, such as 1000 or 2000. This will allow you to retrieve the data in smaller chunks, which should help you avoid hitting the list view threshold.

Here's an updated version of the code:

<View Scope='RecursiveAll'>
  <ViewFields>
    <FieldRef Name='Title'/>
    <FieldRef Name='Region'/>
    <FieldRef Name='Organization'/>
    <FieldRef Name='FiscalYear'/>
    <FieldRef Name='MonthNumber'/>
    <FieldRef Name='Actual'/>
    <FieldRef Name='ID'/>
  </ViewFields>
  <Query>
    <Where>
      <Eq><FieldRef Name="FiscalYear" /><Value Type="Text">2024/2025</Value></Eq>
    </Where>
    <OrderBy>
      <FieldRef Name='FiscalYear' Ascending='False' />
      <FieldRef Name='MonthNumber' Ascending='False' />
    </OrderBy>
  </Query>
  <RowLimit Paged="TRUE">1000</RowLimit>
</View>

let results: IReportActualCAML[] = [];

let reportActuals: IRenderListDataAsStreamResult  = await this._sp.web.lists.getByTitle(Constants.reportActualsListName).renderListDataAsStream({'ViewXml':xml, Paging: null});
    
results = results.concat(reportActuals.Row);
    
while (reportActuals.NextHref) {
   reportActuals = await this._sp.web.lists.getByTitle(Constants.reportActualsListName).renderListDataAsStream({'ViewXml':xml, Paging: reportActuals.NextHref.substring(1)});
   results = results.concat(reportActuals.Row);
}

Best Practices

To avoid hitting the list view threshold when using the renderListDataAsStream method, follow these best practices:

Use a smaller RowLimit value, such as 1000 or 2000.
Use the renderListDataAsStream method with a smaller ViewXml value, such as only retrieving the necessary fields.
Use the renderListDataAsStream method with a smaller Query value, such as only retrieving the necessary data.
Consider using a different method, such as the getItems method, which can be more efficient for large lists.

Q: What is the list view threshold?

A: The list view threshold is a limit imposed by SharePoint to prevent excessive resource usage. This threshold is typically set to 5000 items, but it can be adjusted by the SharePoint administrator.

Q: Why am I hitting the list view threshold when using renderListDataAsStream?

A: There are several reasons why you might be hitting the list view threshold when using renderListDataAsStream. Some possible causes include:

Using a large RowLimit value, such as 5000 or more.
Using a large ViewXml value, such as retrieving all fields for a large list.
Using a large Query value, such as retrieving all items for a large list.
Not using the renderListDataAsStream method correctly, such as not setting the Paging parameter correctly.

Q: How can I avoid hitting the list view threshold when using renderListDataAsStream?

A: To avoid hitting the list view threshold when using renderListDataAsStream, follow these best practices:

Use a smaller RowLimit value, such as 1000 or 2000.
Use the renderListDataAsStream method with a smaller ViewXml value, such as only retrieving the necessary fields.
Use the renderListDataAsStream method with a smaller Query value, such as only retrieving the necessary data.
Consider using a different method, such as the getItems method, which can be more efficient for large lists.

Q: What is the difference between renderListDataAsStream and getItems?

A: The renderListDataAsStream method and the getItems method are both used to retrieve data from a list in SharePoint. However, they have some key differences:

The renderListDataAsStream method is used to retrieve data from a list in a streaming fashion, which can be more efficient for large lists.
The getItems method is used to retrieve data from a list in a single call, which can be more efficient for small lists.
The renderListDataAsStream method requires the Paging parameter to be set correctly, while the getItems method does not require this parameter.

Q: How do I use the renderListDataAsStream method correctly?

A: To use the renderListDataAsStream method correctly, follow these steps:

Set the ViewXml parameter to specify the fields you want to retrieve.
Set the Query parameter to specify the data you want to retrieve.
Set the RowLimit parameter to specify the number of items you want to retrieve.
Set the Paging parameter to specify how you want to retrieve the data.
Call the renderListDataAsStream method to retrieve the data.

Q: What are some common mistakes to avoid when using renderListDataAsStream?

A: Some common mistakes to avoid when using renderListDataAsStream include:

Not setting the Paging parameter correctly.
Using a large RowLimit value.
Using a large ViewXml value.
Using a large Query value.
Not using the renderListDataAsStream method correctly.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with renderListDataAsStream?

A: To troubleshoot issues with renderListDataAsStream, follow these steps:

Check the SharePoint logs for any errors.
Check the renderListDataAsStream method call to ensure it is correct.
Check the Paging parameter to ensure it is set correctly.
Check the RowLimit parameter to ensure it is set correctly.
Check the ViewXml parameter to ensure it is set correctly.
Check the Query parameter to ensure it is set correctly.

By following these best practices and troubleshooting steps, you should be able to avoid hitting the list view threshold when using the renderListDataAsStream method in your SharePoint web part.