cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
rnunley
Frequent Visitor

Change Name to Initials

I am using MS Forms to collect data and Power Automate to send that data to an Excel Workbook.  In the form I am collecting names as one of the fields.  I would like the flow to convert their name to their initials and write the initials to Excel.  There are only about six different names being input into the Form.  Example: John Smith = JS, Amy Johnson = AJ.  I tried using an IF expression but I cannot get that to work.

 

Thanks!

19 REPLIES 19
efialttes
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hi!
Let's assume you have "John Smith" stored in a variable called 'inputName'
If so you can convert by means of the following sequence:
Add an 'Initialize variable' name 'outputName', type string no value.
Add an 'Apply toEach' action block, assign as its input the following expression:
split(variables('inputName'),' '))
Inside the appy to each add 'Append to string' action block, name 'outputName' assign as its value the following expression:
first(item())
Finally, you can add a compose action block out of the 'Apply to eac' and assign as its input the following expression:
join(variable('outputName'),'')

There are other possible approaches, so instead an Apply to each you can use a Select action block and assign the following expression as its input
split(variables('inputName'),' '))
then assign the following expression as the mapping formula
first(item())
...and finally get the expected result by means of a Compose action block, assigning as its inpit the following expression:
join(body('Select'),'')

Hope this helps

Did I make your day? If so, mark my response as 'Solution' !!!

También escribo sobre Power Automate en este Blog y en Twitter

fchopo
Super User
Super User

Hi @rnunley 

I have used the following flow with some expressions to solve what you want to achieve:

forms.png

In this case, the field  body('Get_response_details')?['r9723f014ffc146debd7eeca108b84ad0'] is the Forms field with the Name.

Here are the expressions used on each step:

1) Get the blank position between the first name and the last name: 

indexOf(body('Get_response_details')?['r9723f014ffc146debd7eeca108b84ad0'],' ')
2) Get the First Initial:
substring(substring(body('Get_response_details')?['r9723f014ffc146debd7eeca108b84ad0'],0,variables('BlankPosition')),0,1)
3) Get the LastName length:
sub(sub(length(body('Get_response_details')?['r9723f014ffc146debd7eeca108b84ad0']),variables('BlankPosition')),1)
4) Get the last name Initial:
substring(substring(body('Get_response_details')?['r9723f014ffc146debd7eeca108b84ad0'],add(variables('BlankPosition'),1),variables('LastNameLength')),0,1)
 
Hope it helps!
Ferran
 
Did I answer your question? Please consider to mark my post as a solution to help others.
Proud to be a Flownaut!
rnunley
Frequent Visitor

I got it working.  I used the "Switch" step in Power Automate along with a variable.

alrez
Community Support
Community Support

Hi,

 

That's great that you got it working! Remember to set as resolved for however helped you.

 

Regards,

 

Alex

 

-------

 

Community Support Team _ Alex Rezac
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

wlyttle
Helper I
Helper I

I tried your solution but I'm having issues. At the Apply to each I'm getting an error - The execution of template action 'Apply_to_each' failed: the result of the evaluation of 'foreach' expression 'split(variables('@{variables('inputName')}'),' '))' is of type 'String'. The result must be a valid array.

wlyttle_0-1643832701598.png

 

 

I followed your steps but I still cannot get it to work.  Says I need an array not string. 

KvB1
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

You can use this much more elegantly:

 

concat(substring(split(variables('inputName'),' ')[0],0,1),substring(split(variables('inputName'),' ')[1],0,1))
KvB1
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

Also this assumes that the name only consists of 2 words, sepparated by a single space, so its important to adhere to that format, or else youd have to make things dynamic

Thank you for taking the time to post. I'm not sure on how to use your solution. If you could be so kind what are the steps needed to make this work? I want to use the Displayname from the user.

KvB1
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

Oh right, so this is a person/group field in SharePoint?

 

It would be good to know where the data is coming from that you want to use, and what kind of format it has

Yes, Its a sharepoint list that is a lookup for people only and displays the Name field.

KvB1
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

Okay, so that will return to you an object. From this object, you then have to select the name. If you show the output of the action, you can find what you have to write in the expression to grab the name

Sorry , I guess i need some hand holding here. Still new to MSFlow. In my flow I initialize the variable inputName, Type Object with no value. If I set the variable it give an error needs to be a string not object. I'm not doing it right...Can you tell me what I need to do in laymans terms. 🙂 

KvB1
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

Sure, basically, there are different kinds of variables, such as string, integer, boolean, array, object, etc

 

PowerAutomate handles them differently, and some actions you can only do with some, not with others. For example, if you would have a string that holds '1', you can not use it to do math, because you would need it to be an integer.

 

Then there is object, which is basically a bunch of strings (lines of text) that belong together. 

 

You are initializing a variable, and you are telling powerautomate that it will be an object. Then you are trying to set the variable, but you are using a string. So the flow is expecting that the variable will be set with an object, because you told it that this variable is an object. So when you then try to set it using a string, it will give an error.

 

In sharepoint, the people/group column is an object. In it is stuff like the mail address, and display name. IF this object is present and passed down your flow from some previous action, and you only want to get the display name, you have to tell the flow to do this. Just because sharepoint is showing you this displayname, does not mean that this is the information your flow is receiving.

 

In general, it is good to know what kind of data comes out of actions, so you can decide what you want to grab, how you want to grab it, or if you have to change the output of the action.

 

A good habit to develop is to check the output of an action in the run history

Great info. Thank you for that. I think you went beyond what I was asking but great info and helping me learn. I was hoping you could tell me what I need to do to convert the displayName to intitals - actual steps. I spent a few hours hacking away with no good results.

KvB1
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

Alright, it is still not clear to me what the type is of the data that you will use to convert to initials.

 

If it comes from the form, its most likely a string.

 

If it comes from a sharepoint column thats defined as a person/group its an object.

 

Could you maybe show what you have so far?

It is from a SharePoint list. Person or Group - People Only - All Users. In MS Flow i want to take that First Name/Last and convert to a variable that contains only their initails. I will use that in a Send Email. I need to Flow steps to do this. Maybe soon I'll understand this more. For now I need to bug people like you to help me. 🙂

 

KvB1
Solution Sage
Solution Sage

Yeah, so the info you get is an object, and holds other information such as the users email adress, etc. 

 

The info you need is 'DisplayName', so to get that, you add ?['DisplayName'] after the name of the column, in an expression.

 

For example, if I would run a get item action, and would want the display name of the author, i would use:

outputs('Get_item')?['body/value']?['Author']?['DisplayName']
 
You can then use that inside the expression posted earlier
Birdyaus
Frequent Visitor

concat(substring(split(variables('inputName'),' ')[0],0,1),substring(split(variables('inputName'),' ')[1],0,1))

 

Can you explain what the 0 and the 1 in bold mean in your function above?

I have tried the function but it doesn't work. 

Helpful resources

Announcements

Exclusive LIVE Community Event: Power Apps Copilot Coffee Chat with Copilot Studio Product Team

It's time for the SECOND Power Apps Copilot Coffee Chat featuring the Copilot Studio product team, which will be held LIVE on April 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).     This is an incredible opportunity to connect with members of the Copilot Studio product team and ask them anything about Copilot Studio. We'll share our special guests with you shortly--but we want to encourage to mark your calendars now because you will not want to miss the conversation.   This live event will give you the unique opportunity to learn more about Copilot Studio plans, where we’ll focus, and get insight into upcoming features. We’re looking forward to hearing from the community, so bring your questions!   TO GET ACCESS TO THIS EXCLUSIVE AMA: Kudo this post to reserve your spot! Reserve your spot now by kudoing this post.  Reservations will be prioritized on when your kudo for the post comes through, so don't wait! Click that "kudo button" today.   Invitations will be sent on April 2nd.Users posting Kudos after April 2nd at 9AM PDT may not receive an invitation but will be able to view the session online after conclusion of the event. Give your "kudo" today and mark your calendars for April 3, 2024 at 9:30 AM PDT and join us for an engaging and informative session!

Tuesday Tip: Unlocking Community Achievements and Earning Badges

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!     THIS WEEK'S TIP: Unlocking Achievements and Earning BadgesAcross the Communities, you'll see badges on users profile that recognize and reward their engagement and contributions. These badges each signify a different achievement--and all of those achievements are available to any Community member! If you're a seasoned pro or just getting started, you too can earn badges for the great work you do. Check out some details on Community badges below--and find out more in the detailed link at the end of the article!       A Diverse Range of Badges to Collect The badges you can earn in the Community cover a wide array of activities, including: Kudos Received: Acknowledges the number of times a user’s post has been appreciated with a “Kudo.”Kudos Given: Highlights the user’s generosity in recognizing others’ contributions.Topics Created: Tracks the number of discussions initiated by a user.Solutions Provided: Celebrates the instances where a user’s response is marked as the correct solution.Reply: Counts the number of times a user has engaged with community discussions.Blog Contributor: Honors those who contribute valuable content and are invited to write for the community blog.       A Community Evolving Together Badges are not only a great way to recognize outstanding contributions of our amazing Community members--they are also a way to continue fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. As you continue to share your knowledge and assist each other these badges serve as a visual representation of your valuable contributions.   Find out more about badges in these Community Support pages in each Community: All About Community Badges - Power Apps CommunityAll About Community Badges - Power Automate CommunityAll About Community Badges - Copilot Studio CommunityAll About Community Badges - Power Pages Community

Tuesday Tips: Powering Up Your Community Profile

TUESDAY TIPS are our way of communicating helpful things we've learned or shared that have helped members of the Community. Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned pro, Tuesday Tips will help you know where to go, what to look for, and navigate your way through the ever-growing--and ever-changing--world of the Power Platform Community! We cover basics about the Community, provide a few "insider tips" to make your experience even better, and share best practices gleaned from our most active community members and Super Users.   With so many new Community members joining us each week, we'll also review a few of our "best practices" so you know just "how" the Community works, so make sure to watch the News & Announcements each week for the latest and greatest Tuesday Tips!   This Week's Tip: Power Up Your Profile!  🚀 It's where every Community member gets their start, and it's essential that you keep it updated! Your Community User Profile is how you're able to get messages, post solutions, ask questions--and as you rank up, it's where your badges will appear and how you'll be known when you start blogging in the Community Blog. Your Community User Profile is how the Community knows you--so it's essential that it works the way you need it to! From changing your username to updating contact information, this Knowledge Base Article is your best resource for powering up your profile.     Password Puzzles? No Problem! Find out how to sync your Azure AD password with your community account, ensuring a seamless sign-in. No separate passwords to remember! Job Jumps & Email Swaps Changed jobs? Got a new email? Fear not! You'll find out how to link your shiny new email to your existing community account, keeping your contributions and connections intact. Username Uncertainties Unraveled Picking the perfect username is crucial--and sometimes the original choice you signed up with doesn't fit as well as you may have thought. There's a quick way to request an update here--but remember, your username is your community identity, so choose wisely. "Need Admin Approval" Warning Window? If you see this error message while using the community, don't worry. A simple process will help you get where you need to go. If you still need assistance, find out how to contact your Community Support team. Whatever you're looking for, when it comes to your profile, the Community Account Support Knowledge Base article is your treasure trove of tips as you navigate the nuances of your Community Profile. It’s the ultimate resource for keeping your digital identity in tip-top shape while engaging with the Power Platform Community. So, dive in and power up your profile today!  💪🚀   Community Account Support | Power Apps Community Account Support | Power AutomateCommunity Account Support | Copilot Studio  Community Account Support | Power Pages

Super User of the Month | Chris Piasecki

In our 2nd installment of this new ongoing feature in the Community, we're thrilled to announce that Chris Piasecki is our Super User of the Month for March 2024. If you've been in the Community for a while, we're sure you've seen a comment or marked one of Chris' helpful tips as a solution--he's been a Super User for SEVEN consecutive seasons!   Since authoring his first reply in April 2020 to his most recent achievement organizing the Canadian Power Platform Summit this month, Chris has helped countless Community members with his insights and expertise. In addition to being a Super User, Chris is also a User Group leader, Microsoft MVP, and a featured speaker at the Microsoft Power Platform Conference. His contributions to the new SUIT program, along with his joyous personality and willingness to jump in and help so many members has made Chris a fixture in the Power Platform Community.   When Chris isn't authoring solutions or organizing events, he's actively leading Piasecki Consulting, specializing in solution architecture, integration, DevOps, and more--helping clients discover how to strategize and implement Microsoft's technology platforms. We are grateful for Chris' insightful help in the Community and look forward to even more amazing milestones as he continues to assist so many with his great tips, solutions--always with a smile and a great sense of humor.You can find Chris in the Community and on LinkedIn. Thanks for being such a SUPER user, Chris! 💪 🌠  

Find Out What Makes Super Users So Super

We know many of you visit the Power Platform Communities to ask questions and receive answers. But do you know that many of our best answers and solutions come from Community members who are super active, helping anyone who needs a little help getting unstuck with Business Applications products? We call these dedicated Community members Super Users because they are the real heroes in the Community, willing to jump in whenever they can to help! Maybe you've encountered them yourself and they've solved some of your biggest questions. Have you ever wondered, "Why?"We interviewed several of our Super Users to understand what drives them to help in the Community--and discover the difference it has made in their lives as well! Take a look in our gallery today: What Motivates a Super User? - Power Platform Community (microsoft.com)

March User Group Update: New Groups and Upcoming Events!

  Welcome to this month’s celebration of our Community User Groups and exciting User Group events. We’re thrilled to introduce some brand-new user groups that have recently joined our vibrant community. Plus, we’ve got a lineup of engaging events you won’t want to miss. Let’s jump right in: New User Groups   Sacramento Power Platform GroupANZ Power Platform COE User GroupPower Platform MongoliaPower Platform User Group OmanPower Platform User Group Delta StateMid Michigan Power Platform Upcoming Events  DUG4MFG - Quarterly Meetup - Microsoft Demand PlanningDate: 19 Mar 2024 | 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM Central America Standard TimeDescription: Dive into the world of manufacturing with a focus on Demand Planning. Learn from industry experts and share your insights. Dynamics User Group HoustonDate: 07 Mar 2024 | 11:00 AM to 01:00 PM Central America Standard TimeDescription: Houston, get ready for an immersive session on Dynamics 365 and the Power Platform. Connect with fellow professionals and expand your knowledge. Reading Dynamics 365 & Power Platform User Group (Q1)Date: 05 Mar 2024 | 06:00 PM to 09:00 PM GMT Standard TimeDescription: Join our virtual meetup for insightful discussions, demos, and community updates. Let’s kick off Q1 with a bang! Leaders, Create Your Events!  Leaders of existing User Groups, don’t forget to create your events within the Community platform. By doing so, you’ll enable us to share them in future posts and newsletters. Let’s spread the word and make these gatherings even more impactful! Stay tuned for more updates, inspiring stories, and collaborative opportunities from and for our Community User Groups.   P.S. Have an event or success story to share? Reach out to us – we’d love to feature you!

Users online (5,856)