Timed out approval gives 'Null' response which causes the flow to stop and fail. Does anyone have a a solution?

[JFLOW2020]

Hello,

I hope someone can help. I’m using the configure run option and timing out the approvals. For some reason when I approve the first one (best case scenario) all is fine, however, when I go to approve the escalated item (after the first approval has timed out) I get the following error message:

The execution of template action 'Apply_to_each_5' failed: the result of the evaluation of 'foreach' expression '@outputs('Start_and_wait_for_an_approval_2')?['body/responses']' is of type 'Null'. The result must be a valid array.

So it looks as though as ‘condition 2’ (connected to the approval which timed out) doesn’t get ‘Approve’ or 'Reject' it states ‘Null’ and this is what causes the flow to fail? How can I stop this from happening? Can anyone help? Thanks in advance.

[tom_riha]

Hello @JFLOW2020 ,

it returns an error in the 'Apply to each 5' where you're trying to process the responses from the 'Start and wait for an approval'. Since the action timed out, the outcome is Null = nothing to process, nothing to loop through, error.

You should add a 'Condition' after the approval action and check if the 'Responses' outcome is equal to null, if it's null, you can't use the 'Responses' anywhere in the flow. You can use it only if the action didn't time out.

[JFLOW2020]

Hello, thanks so much for this. 

However when I try it this is what comes up for me. Any ideas?

[tom_riha · Accepted solution]

Hello @JFLOW2020 ,

you must simplify your flow. Power Automate supports only 8 levels of 'Condition' inside 'Condition' inside 'Condition'..., the error tells you that you just reached 9 of them.