Invoke functions from Action Blocks

[efialtes]

Hi all

Microsoft Flow currently offers the possibility to invoke functions from Conditions blocks by clicking Advanced mode. This way we can access lots of useful staff defined in  Workflow Definition Language

Could it be possible to extend this option to Action blocks also?

This way we will be able to manipulate strings, add current date, etc.

[joewichowski]

Agreed.  Think of a Date coming in from a File from SharePoint - now I would like to create a Follow-up Task for a Salesman in CRM based on the creation of that File.

(In this case the File is a proposal, and I want to have the sales guy reminded to follow-up 5 days later). 

In addition, I would like to be able to create a corresponding Opportunity and set the estimated close date to FileCreationDate + 30 days.

[Raymond]

I agree - functions or something like them would be incredibly useful

• string manipulation
• string builder from a collection - for example when rows are returned from SQL
• working with dates
• working with identiy objects (for instance, get a person from AAD / SharePoint / any other service and get access to user properties like email, etc)

Are you planning on adding any of these "utility functions" or would you instead rely on a utility service that could make these kinds of actions availble?

[yoshihirok]

Hi,

I want to use "Workflow Definition Language" in my Actions.

For string manipulate, date caliculation, etc.

Just like, in "Condition - Advanced mode".

Without "Workflow Definition Language" in Action,

I need to use Azure Fuctions or developing new API or etc,

for add two strings, get first charactor ...

Regards,

Yoshihiro Kawabata

[mk]

I am "upvoting" this as well.  Flow is great, but I can't do what I need to do with it without access to the functions.

[JRitmeijer]

I find it hard to believe this is not yet possible (but you are right, it doesn't work). We cannot even do something as simple as change a file name to '*.pdf' when converting a file via Flow.

[kchauhan]

I am "up-voting" this too. This is a must have feature for the flow. It will open all kinds of possibilities using Flow.

[scottrenz]

I find that if I place a space character before the @ character, I can get the function to work properly when placed in the Name box in an action. For example:

 @{replace(item()?['Name'],'%','(per cent)')}

It fails if I start off with the @ but if I type a space before typing the @ it works.

[Stephen]

Thanks for the feedback, we plan on adding this.

[scottrenz]

Planned? But it already works if I place a space character before the  "@" character. So, no need to be Planned. Just tell everybody to put a space character before the "@". Thanks.

[Anonymous]

As of today it appears that you need the space-@ syntax as well as the @{}, just using @func() doesn't work.  So if you do something like " @{concat('xyz','123')" you will the the result you're looking for.

The only problem now is that, once you save your flow, you can't ever update that field in the action again.  The Flow web UI gets confused and won't let you edit it any more.  I tried both IE 11 and Chrome, same result.  It's really troublesome when you reference that action's results later, because you have to reauthor the entire flow.