cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
rts2308
New Member

Using condition to determine empty array or body for Get items

Hello,

 

Hoping someone can help, please.

 

I have a flow which does the following:

1. List rows present in a table (from excel file)

2. Apply to each row it Get Items from a sharepoint list. I have a filter query in the get items so that data from Customer ID in sharepoint list matches the Customer ID from excel table 

 

Step 1 and 2 work fine my problem is after that. I am having trouble with using the condition to determine if the output from the get item is empty or there is a value. If the output is empty then I want to create a new item and if returns a value then I want to update the existing item on sharepoint list - I know how to do these things, I am stuck with getting the flow to see if the output from Get items is empty or not. 

 

I have tried the expressions seen in previous posts and nothing seems to be working for me. I have tried the below:

 

empty('Get_items') is equal to True

length(body('Get_items')) is greater than 1

length(string(body('Get_items'))) is less than or equal to 2

 

When I run through the tests the condition is only initiated and therefore returns an expression when there is a value. When there is no value the condition is not even initiated and no true or false expression is returned.

 

Thanks in advance!

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
abm
Most Valuable Professional
Most Valuable Professional

Hi @rts2308 

 

Thanks for your quick reply. You need to check immediately after the list rows. Then add an IF condition to check if it's greater than zero or not. Then add the loop to iterate it. Please see below.

 

image.png



Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!

If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up


Proud to be a Flownaut!

Learn more from my blog
Power Automate Video Tutorials

View solution in original post

9 REPLIES 9
abm
Most Valuable Professional
Most Valuable Professional

Hi  @rts2308 

 

Try this

 

length(body('Get_items')?['value'])

 

Thanks



Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!

If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up


Proud to be a Flownaut!

Learn more from my blog
Power Automate Video Tutorials

Thanks @abm 

 

Unfortunately, that did not work. Similar to all my other attempts when there was a value from the output of get items the condition was initiated to return a true or false expression. But when there no value (i.e. empty) the condition was not initiated. When you look through the test run results when the output is empty under the condition it says "not specified"

 

But appreciate you taking the time to answer - thanks again!

 

abm
Most Valuable Professional
Most Valuable Professional

Hi @rts2308 

 

Please see below.

 

image.png

 

 

Run result:

 

image.png

Not sure why it's not working for you.

 

Is that going in your loop to iterate the blank values?

 

Thanks



Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!

If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up


Proud to be a Flownaut!

Learn more from my blog
Power Automate Video Tutorials

 I am not too sure why it isn't working either. 

 

So below is my overall flow

overall flow.png

 

Then I ran the test with the amended formula you suggested and if no value is returned from get items the condition is not initiated - screen show below:

value empty from get items.png

Compared with when there are values returned from get items

value not empty from get items.png

 

So I know the condition is working but can't get it too work when the output from 'Get Items' is empty.

abm
Most Valuable Professional
Most Valuable Professional

Hi @rts2308 

 

Thanks for your quick reply. You need to check immediately after the list rows. Then add an IF condition to check if it's greater than zero or not. Then add the loop to iterate it. Please see below.

 

image.png



Did I answer your question? Mark my post as a solution!

If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up


Proud to be a Flownaut!

Learn more from my blog
Power Automate Video Tutorials

@abm 

Thank you so much for that - got it working!

Been trying for a week - I would have never guessed that method!

 

Thanks again!

v-alzhan-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @rts2308 ,

 

Please refer to screenshot below to create the flow:

1.png

The expression in the Condition as below:

length(body('Get_items')?['value'])

 

Best regards,

Alice       

 

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

Anonymous
Not applicable

Hello @abm  ,

 

I have kind of simliar problem also i am new to MS Flows.

 

I have 2 lists:

- List 1 (Offers made : name, address, etc.)

- List 2 (Offers accepeted or not)

 

Each order has a paticular Offer number (not item ID of sharepoint) .

 

What i want is when a new item is created in List 2 and Offer number in list 2 (only the newly created Offer number not all) is equal to Offer number in list 1 (offer ID) then call data from List 1 (eg. name, adress, etc.) with same Offer number and send an email with all the details in List 1.

If possible please reply fast.

Thanks in advance,

Sanket

PowAuto
New Member

Just confirming the solution detailed here worked a treat, after many days trying to find a way to get a flow to match an empty array and coming up against error after error 😊

In my case the solution needed to check all registered 'Authors' and 'Owners' of documents in a Sharepoint library, find any users that were no longer working for the company, and then send alert emails so new Owners or Authors could be assigned the documents.

The challenge was getting a Compare function to match users that were not found in the O365 tenancy, as using the Search For User function simply returned an empty object, which I couldn't then get the Condition function to recognise.

The answer was to use Compose function with the Length expression first to render an output integer, which would then allow the Condition function to operate on it.

Solution

  1. Recurrence function - so the job runs weekly 
  2. Get Items (Sharepoint) function to call the Sharepoint Library
  3. Apply to Each function, using the 'value' from the Get Items step - @{outputs('Get_items')?['body/value']} 
    1. Search For User v2 (O365), searching with an an outputted User field value from the Get Items step (in my case, Document Author Display Name)
    2. Compose function, using a Length expression to output a number - @{length(body('Search_for_users_(V2)')?['value'])}
    3. Condition function, using the Outputs from the Compose step, Is Less Than, 1. This will answer True if a user is not found in O365 as the response body's  value is empty and has 0 length.
      1. If True: Send an Email function
      2. If False: do nothing
  4. Terminate

PowAuto_0-1634795649504.png

 

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 (4,735)