Converting OneDrive content to byte[] array

[sgraflund]

I need to convert a file to a byte array that's coming from one drive, i'm converting a word doc to a pdf using the onedrive converter, then using a PUT HTTP request to send it to rightsignature.  i've tried every other combination of file contents .. their old api (v3) allowed base64 .. now it wants a byte array .. i cannot find the right function to do it ... any help is appreciated!

[Jay-Encodian]

Hi,

The 'Get File Contents* 'actions return more than just the base64 string... see below as an example:

To obtain just the base64 string, use the following expresison:

body('Get_file_content_using_path')['$content']

Noting, 'Get_file_content_using_path' is specific to the action you've used to obtain the file contents data.

Here's an example:

Does this help answer your question?

[Jay-Encodian]

Sorry, just re-read this question... if I've correctly understood (2nd time lucky), the API you're now sending to requires the data to be sent as byte array and not base64 string?

If so, I'd contact the vendor for more details as you can't just send a byte array embedded in JSON or XML, it would have to be serialized into a Base64 string... is the endpoint expecting BSON? or is it an old school WCF type service?

If so you'd probably need an intermdeiary, for example you could post the payload from Flow to an Azure function which performs the data transformation and onward query, and provides the required HTTP response to flow on completion.

Food for thought? 

[sgraflund]

Thanks for the reply and yes it requires a byte[] array.

I am using the $content to get the base64 string and this doesn't work.  This is a new REST api, not old school .. their examples use CURL to upload the file.  It has 3 steps..

1: create sending request

2: upload file via a PUT to URL returned from sending request (file needs to be a byte[] array in the body content)

3: after file has been uploaded, call another function to generate the document template in right signature.

[Jay-Encodian]

Ok, well it's little difficult to comment without reviewing the documentation of the endpoint you're trying to integrate with, but if you're sending a JSON payload the file would have to be serilized... however, it its expecting a multipart/form then check this out - http://johnliu.net/blog/2017/7/building-non-json-webservices-with-flow

Can you elaborate on "I am using the $content to get the base64 string and this doesn't work."?

Can you share a screen shot of the configuraiton of your flow action?

[sgraflund]

now the call comes back successfull, the last http call .. but that's because the call is asyncronous .. you then call another function to get the upload status.. the body is body('Convert_file')['$content']

I've also tried every binary and base64 conversion there is .. it needs bytes[] .. i removed the last piece of code .. then executed the last call in a c# console application reading the bytes of the pdf .. and it worked fine.

The premise of this flow is the following:

Dynamics 365 Quote -> Button on the ribbon to send a contract to right signature for signing .. ribbon javascript executes an action that sends the word template to the notes of the quote .. from there i'm calling flow through javascript to get the .docx, convert the .docx to pdf for right signature, then creating a new sign request, uploading document, and finally sending document.

[Jay-Encodian]

Hey,

Thanks for info, but it doesn't really help with additional detail... let’s try and structure this a little:

1st issue: Obtain the file contents as a base64 string

Can you share the explicit configuration, showing the data returned from the parent action and then the child action configuration to extract just the $content parameter... we use this extensively and it certainly does work which would imply either the issues is with the parent action or the child action to extract the parameter. 

2nd issue: Send binary data to an HTTP endpoint

Did you review the previous article I linked to showing how to use multipart/form to post the binary data? I'm not sure this would help as it totally depends on what the endpoint is expecting to receive... but it does show you how to use the base64StringToBinary() expression to embed binary data in a request.

HTH

Jay

[sgraflund]

Sweet article there!

The compose action with base64ToBinary did the trick!

I tried just doing base64ToBinary(body('Convert_file')['content'] in the body of the HTML (PUT) method and that didn't work .. 

the compose action triggered the HTTP PUT method do do form/data instead of json.

Thank you very much!

[Jay-Encodian]

Good stuff, if this has worked for you please mark as a solution?

Cheers J