format a string with leading zeros in MS Flow

[livingstonep]

we have this formula in our MS Flow - Update Item task...

concat(items('Apply_to_each')['T_x002d_Code']
,'-'
,items('Apply_to_each')['BoxNo']
,'-'
,
items('Apply_to_each')['ID'])

but we need to add leading zeros to the BoxNo and ID so it ends up like this:

A02-00001-000235

How can we format those fields like that please?

[Harry_G · Accepted solution]

Hi @livingstonep,

I have Produce 5 digits leading zero base on your box number length for your box number you can flow these steps to produced other leading zero numbers.

Set some variablesUse Do Until loopCOmpose and update values of your Variable to update stringLast Compose give you final valueoutput Starting Value is 1OutPut End value is 00001

If you find this Helpful Please Accept it as Solution.

Thanks,

Harry_G

[livingstonep]

Hi,

thanks so much for your truly excellent and very detailed answer

I ended up doing it in a similar way, but I used Switch Case in the Apply to each, then concatenated zeros that way using pre-defined padding variables

[Hirsty2000]

Hi livingstoneP.

Would you mind sharing your solution with us.  I'm really struggling with getting this working at the moment.

Thank you in advance

[livingstonep]

Hi, we found an even better solution, and that is to use Substring and concat...

so we create the values we need in variables using substring and concat:

1. set a variable with the maximum leading zeros: variables('PaddingForBoxNo') = '00000'
2. PackedBoxNo = concat(variables('PaddingForBoxNo'),variables('BoxNo'))
3. get length of PackaedBoxNo: length(variables('packedBoxNo'))
4. set cut point for PackedBoxNo: sub(variables('lenPackedBoxNo'),variables('lenPaddingForBoxNo'))
5. generate formatted (packed) variable: substring(variables('packedBoxNo'),variables('startCutPackedBoxNo'),variables('lenPaddingForBoxNo'))

so basically we simulate the Right function using LEN and SUBSTRING in several steps...

and se end up with '00024' ...

the only alternative is to use a Switch case, or follow the answer above...

HTH

Philip

[Lam01007]

I got one more simple solution, only use 1 step:

Just put the Expression in the value of "Set Variable" step:

concat(substring('00000', 0, sub(5,length(variables('FormID')))), variables('FormID'))

Where the '00000' is pad left zero template, the length is the maximum number of digit.

And  '5' is the length of the above template

And replace 'FormID' to your variable name

Easy?

[Axal]

@Lam01007 This trick is so cool.

GBU ! 😁

[Meeh]

Just to clarify... 
First, I need to Initialize variable with name: FormID, string value: 1
...then Set variable name: FormID, ID (for me its the SP ID)
...then when I Update item, in the my running number field I use 

concat(substring('0000', 0, sub(4,length(variables('FormID')))), variables('FormID')) ... 

[teylyn1]

This can also be done with a simple formatNumber() function. Use the expression

formatNumber(variables('myVariable'),'000000')

Setup in the editorresult in the run window

[Murderbot]

Best value!

[kwilsson]

You can just use the "Format number" function this will return 0001 if the number 1 is inserted.

[Robyn_D]

You can also use the formatNumber function - 

concat(items('Apply_to_each')['T_x002d_Code']
,'-'
,formatNumber(items('Apply_to_each')['BoxNo'],'00000')
,'-'
,
formatNumber(items('Apply_to_each')['ID'],'000000')

[hung1993]

You can use format number