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Ajh
Advocate III
Advocate III

Data Collection Inside Flow

What is the best way to collect a large data set (250k-400k records) within MS Flow? I've built a loop that successfully gathers the data from SQL server that uses pagination and date looping to get the large data set, and currently I'm able to utilize it by first creating a file using filesystem connector and then appending to the file, however I would really like to be able to gather the entire dataset within flow, and THEN utilize it. This way I could do the file thing or insert all of the records into a sql DB or something else.

 

I recognize this is not the best way to handle large data sets, but it's basically going to be a poor man's ETLs that runs once a year or something. Your help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

7 REPLIES 7
Ajh
Advocate III
Advocate III

Quick update: So far I've been able to append the 'list of items' coming from the sql getrows portion to the array variable to act as my collection point. However, when I put that into a create CSV table I get something like the following:

image.png

What I'm wanting is a CSV that looks more like:

image.png

Any ideas how to transform that?

efialttes
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hi?
Which input did you assigned to your 'Create CSV table? Which outputs from previous steps are suggested in the dynamic content editor?
Can you share a screenshot from edit mode?
I think you almost got it

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

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I can't figure out how I addressed the input in the one that worked (kicking myself). The one that didn't work I am using the 'list of items' from the sql get rows, which when I hover is the body of the output.

 

image.png

I think what I need is the 'value', but when I do that I get an error that an array cannot be appended to an array:

image.png

efialttes
Community Champion
Community Champion

Hi!

So CSV problem solved, right?

If so, this new problem comes from the fact you are assigning an array as a new element to your 'QELarray' variable.

If you need all the SQL rows from your current array to be stored in QEL array, you will probable need to use an 'Apply to each' assigning as its input the dynamic content

body('QEL')

Then move 'Append to array' inside Apply to each, assign expression

item()

as its value

 

Please note this  Apply to each approach can be very time consuming, so if you need to add all the rows to 'QELarray' I would suggest a 'Set variable' and a expression based on union() function. You will probably need an aux array also, since 'SEt variable' cannot autorreference itself

 

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

Definitely need to avoid the apply to each rabbit hole, that is like the number one killer of all flow performance and this thing will likely run for DAYS with that.

 

But I think I finally got it!

image.png

Basically some of the stuff I tried before would've worked fine, except that I needed to populate the array in the first run through. So the first run through of the do until loop checks the current interation index of the loop, if it is 0 (the first run), then it sets the variable equal to the value of the records that were returned. If not, then it uses a compose action step with the following union expression to join the currently returned records with what is already in the array. 

union(variables('QELArray'),body('QEL')?['value'])

After that there is a set variable step that overwrites existing QEL array with the output of the union. 

 

Later on down the line, it does the CSV file thing and appears to work ok. I have it cranking on a large data set now instead of the test sample so we'll see how well it handles 250k records lol.

 

Thanks for your help!!!

efialttes
Community Champion
Community Champion

CONGRATS! 

IT WORKS!

 

Thanx for sharing all the details of current design!

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

También escribo sobre Power Automate en este Blog y en Twitter

I take it back, it failed out. Looks like the array variables are set to 100MB max. Boo.

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