ExpressionEvaluationFailed. The execution of template action 'Apply_to_each_4' failed: the result of the evaluation of 'foreach' expression '@outputs('Get_attachments_2')?['body']' is of type 'Null'. The result must be a valid array.

[jonengland]

This error started to happen as soon as i added a fork in the flow. This is if conditions are met for Sarah.

The flow runs fine if the conditions for Marc are met:

Thanks in advance 🙂

[annajhaveri]

@jonengland  it looks like what you are using "Select an output from previous steps" property of Apply to each 4 action, that is empty (null) that is why you are getting error, can you expand the apply to each 4 action and share the screenshot?

[jonengland]

@annajhaveri weird - i'm sure i had a base64 in here...

so i've now corrected that to:

and get:

ExpressionEvaluationFailed. The execution of template action 'Apply_to_each_4' failed: the result of the evaluation of 'foreach' expression '@outputs('Get_attachments_2')?['body']' is of type 'Null'. The result must be a valid array.

and have this in Get Attachments 2

[annajhaveri]

The body parameter as highlighted in below screenshot, where does that come from, that seems to be empty

[jonengland]

@annajhaveri I think that auto filled when Apply to Each appeared. 

[annajhaveri]

The body parameter seems to be from Get Attachments 2 action, what is done in Get Attachments 2 action, is Get Attachments 2  returning back the data? 

[jonengland]

I'm not sure how to check if it's returning back data

If I click on the Apply to each 4 section once the flow has run, all i can see is the error. 

.

[annajhaveri]

/So from screenshot you have shared, "Get Attachments 2" its not getting executed, as you have put it under Yes branch of Sarah condition which is evaluating to false. I think you need to see why you put get attachments 2 in yes branch of condition and then using output of get attachments 2  out of the condition, so get attachments 2  will not always execute because of the condition but apply to each 4 action will always execute and it is using get attachments 2 output.

[jonengland]

Thank you. Sorry i didn't really understand everything in your last message - but i did understand the bit about the false result from the Sarah condition. I've edited the condition and now i get the expected 'true' result.

and now i have this error in Apply to each 4:

InvalidTemplate. Unable to process template language expressions for action 'Apply_to_each_4' at line '1' and column '36931': 'The template language expression 'body('Get_attachments_2')?['body']' cannot be evaluated because property 'body' cannot be selected. Array elements can only be selected using an integer index. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions for usage details.'.

[annajhaveri]

@jonengland sorry if you didnt understand what i was trying to say, but it looks correct now as atleast the condition is evaluating to true, still we need to think what if condition evaluates to false, the flow will fail, but then we tackle that as next step, after resolve the current error that you are facing. So for me to figure out the cause of error, can you expand Get Attachments 2 action in flow run and then share the screenshot of flow run, i want to see what data does Get attachment 2 is returning. 

[jonengland]

hi @annajhaveri thanks for persevering!

i've run the flow again with the conditions to enable 'Get attachment content 2' as requested:

Not sure if this is where your thought process is going, so apologies if i'm confusing the issue here. There are 3 branches with a condition control which if true continues the flow. If false, it goes nowhere and fails, and i'm relying on the other branches to figure out if they can treat as true, which one eventually will.

[annajhaveri]

@jonengland , you provided the screenshot of Get Attachment content 2, i asked for Get Attachments 2. If you see the error you are getting closely, it saying that it has issue with getting data from Get Attachment 2 action

Can you try following solution. 

Instead of Apply to each 4 action, in that place can you configure actions as shown below, here you are check if attachments returned by Get Attachments 2 is only one or more, if its more than one, it will go to yes branch of condition and if its only one it will go to no branch of condition. The way to getting the attachment content is little different when you to get one attachment in result and when you get more than one attachment in result.

Expression used in condition action is as follows for you:

length(outputs('Get_attachments_2')?['body'])

Expression used in Get Attachment Content action under no branch is as follows

first(outputs('Get_attachments_2')?['body'])['Id']

[jonengland]

@annajhaveri Thank you! my apologies - i can see now where Get Attachments 2 is - here's a screen shot from an enabled Get attachments 2:

Am i right in my understanding that your suggestion is based around the Condition i'm using relates to the number of attachments?

I'm sorry if i've mislead you. The condition is designed to feed the approval to the correct manager based on selections chosen in the form:

As the form has required entry - the Yes condition for any one of the managers will always happen.

above you'll see that the conditions were met for Sarah, but not for Mike or Marc. (Sarah just needs to approve the request and the flow completes as expected). The email notifications work and everything is happy - except that is, Flows which returns this error (as expected):

I hope this is all helpful info!

[annajhaveri]

@jonengland , it is the same error that you were getting before but now with different action. So you are getting error in apply to each and apply to each 7 action. Both have same error that Get Attachments and Get Attachment 3 actions output is null.

Can you check in flow run whether Get Attachments and Get Attachments 3 actions are getting executed?

[jonengland]

Hi @annajhaveri 

Ahh OK! So in both 'Get attachments' (Marc) and 'Get Attachments 3' (Mike) - if the flow for Sarah is satisfied, I get:

 

[annajhaveri]

Okay if Sarah is satisfied, then "Apply to each action" under Marc and "Apply to each 7" action under Mike is getting executed. So not sure if logically that should get executed or not.  The  "Apply to each action" under Marc and "Apply to each 7" action under Mike are dependent on 'Get attachments' (Marc) and 'Get Attachments 3' (Mike). So you may need to put "Apply to each action" under Marc and "Apply to each 7" action under Mike under condition.

[jonengland]

Thanks @annajhaveri

when you say 'not sure if logically they should get executed or not' I guess a 'No' result from the Marc or Mike condition should stop the sequence before that point? At the moment a 'No' result does nothing:

and i rely on the 'Apply to each' above Marc, Sarah and Mike to continue the flow until an 'If yes' is met. I wonder if there was an action on 'if no' that didn't stop the flow - it would be a good solution? Even if it was a 'Terminate' would that be an idea?

Thank you - your help is really helping me to learn!

Jon

[annajhaveri]

@jonengland  As the apply to each action uses the Get attachment output so its dependent on Get Attachment, so ideally the apply to each should be added below the get attachments in the yes branch of the condition.

You can also add Terminate in the no branch where it determines the user, Mike, Sarah and Marc.

[jonengland]

Hi @annajhaveri 

The 'Apply to each' contains the 'Get attachment content' and 'Append to array variable' so that multiple files uploaded in the form can be attached to the email to the approver (Marc, Sarah or Mike). I have an 'Initialize variable' action before the 'Apply to each' which I think is needed to create the variable that is appended to in the 'Apply to each' action. There is one 'Initialize variable' for each approver (Marc, Sarah and Mike). The name for each variable is different (e.g. Multiple Attachments - Marc).

If i try to add 'Initalize variable' to the 'If yes' fork of the Marc condition i get:

I am therefore unable to add the 'Apply to each' below the 'Get attachments' in the 'If yes' branch of the condition.

I've tried the 'Terminate' in the 'If no' and the flow stops in a succeeded state if the conditions for Marc are not met.

[annajhaveri · Accepted solution]

@jonengland  okay you should be good now then? Yes Initialize Variable cant be used under condition, so it needs to be added above the condition and then use Set Variable action in the Condition Yes branch.