Replace Newline in Flow Expression

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Posted on 20 Sep 2017 00:55:48 by FlowNick

111

I have a flow that is parsing a plain text email and creating an item in a SharePoint list.

Everything works great except for when a user enters data with a newline or carriage return (which I don't want in the SP list). I can not figure out how to replace a new line (\n) or any other non-printable character.

I have tried the obvious...

replace(body('Html_to_text'), '\n', '')

I have tried what others claim to be the only solution...

replace(body('Html_to_text'), '
', '')

As well as several other options (e.g.; character codes)...

replace(body('Html_to_text'), Char(13), '')

And nothing works (even when the run doesn't generate an error, the new lines are not replaced). I am able to replace printable characters without issue, it's just the non-printable characters.

So, am I missing something or is it impossible to do what I'm trying to do?

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Foxman 3 on 04 Dec 2024 at 18:07:44

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Replace Newline in Flow Expression

You can initialize a string variable and just put a line break for the initial value. Then use the variable as your search text in the replace function.
MWals 2 on 19 Apr 2024 at 20:03:38

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

In my case I needed to replace \r\n so it was
%0D%0A
PraveenMdl 2 on 05 May 2023 at 07:39:54

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

Hi,

I am trying to export a SharePoint list into a CSV file. One of the columns has got \n (linefeed) and it is causing the breaking of the rows.

I tried to use the following expression in compose before creating csv file
uriComponentToString(replace(uriComponent(body('select')), '%0A', ''))
I am getting following error, can someone direct me to right place or help .. thank you.
racherpeg_859 3 on 21 Jan 2022 at 23:45:47

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

I've been working on this for weeks! Converting an HTML table into a Sharepoint list item then to email. This was the piece I couldn't fix. It works great!
KaiTang 5 on 09 Apr 2021 at 16:17:42

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

That is great, I have been trying to fix the seemingly random addition of non printable characters for ages. Agree it isn't pretty but definitely did the job. Thanks FlowNick!
manvinder277 21 on 01 Jun 2020 at 18:07:54

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

use concat and {" \n\n"} ... yes with double quotes
example >>> concat('string 1',{" \n\n"},'String 2')

This will output
string1
string2
degvalentine 193 on 01 May 2020 at 22:33:13

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

I tried reversing the solution - using decodeUriComponent to get the newline for the split. Works as well.

replace(body('Html_to_text'), decodeUriComponent('%0A'), '')
DennisKuhn1 33 on 19 Jan 2020 at 23:33:02

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

Thanks @Megasween thanks works perfect. A recap for others:
Initialize a variable of type string, e.g. named NewLine
In the Value field hit Enter, you should see the field growing vertical
Use replace( 'your text with newlines in it', variables('NewLine'), '')
stephenJames 286 on 17 Jul 2019 at 18:31:28

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

@FlowNick wrote:
Thanks Michael.

Here's what I'm currently using as a workaround:

uriComponentToString(replace(uriComponent(body('Html_to_text')), '%0A', ''))
I figured, since I can replace printable characters, I'd just temporarily convert the string to all printable characters, replace them, then convert it back. It's hack-ish and inefficient but working.

I look forward to seeing your results.
I hate to Necro, so sorry in advance.

I am using a similar bit of code to remove line breaks and apostrophes.
uriComponentToString(replace(replace(uriComponent(body('Html_to_text')), '%0A', ''), '%27',''))
This works to put evrything on a single line and removes the characters i dont need. However i cannot seem to get my substrings to run as i keep getting the following message

@FlowNick mentioned that he " temporarily convert the string to all printable characters, replace them, then convert it back." . Is there a step to convert it back that i am missing?
TitoValle 3 on 19 Apr 2018 at 05:09:52

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Re: Replace Newline in Flow Expression

It works!! You saved me a lot of time and I'm really thankful