The template language function 'empty' expects its parameter to be an object, an array or a string. The provided value is of type 'Float'.

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Posted on by johnjohn123

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I have this expression to check if a SharePoint field of type number is empty, but i am getting this eror:-

The template language function 'empty' expects its parameter to be an object, an array or a string. The provided value is of type 'Float'.

if(empty(first(outputs('Get_items_Grant_2')?['body']?['value'])?['FirstInstallmentPercentage']),'Not Applicable',mul(variables('varBudget'),first(outputs('Get_items_Grant_2')?['body']?['value'])?['FirstInstallmentPercentage']))

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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I thought there was something wrong with the expression from the previous post but I couldn't really tell.

Can you show a screenshot of your flow steps? I can get you the correct expression if I see what you are doing.

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johnjohn123 3,506 on at

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@wskinnermctc this is inside a populate word template action, where i have a SharePoint field of type number named FirstInstallmentPercentage and a variable of type float named varBudget and i want to mutiply the 2 values together, as follow:-

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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Yes, I want to see more of the flow, like the source "Get Items Grant 2" and if there is an Apply to Each.

Is there a reason you are using Get Items instead of the single Get Item action?

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johnjohn123 3,506 on at

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@wskinnermctc yes i am using "Get Item" because i am querying an custom field and not the Id, but i can be sure that the query will only return one item, here is my Get Items action:-

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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Ok I think I have it, you need to use the string() expression on the first empty check that way it is checking a string value instead of a number.

if(empty(string(first(outputs('Get_items_Grant_2')?['body']?['value'])?['FirstInstallmentPercentage'])),'Not Applicable', mul(float(variables('varBudget')),float(first(outputs('Get_items_Grant_2')?['body']?['value'])?['FirstInstallmentPercentage'])))

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johnjohn123 3,506 on at

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@wskinnermctc still same error:-

The template language function 'empty' expects its parameter to be an object, an array or a string. The provided value is of type 'Float'.

could be that empty only work on arrays not on single values?

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johnjohn123 3,506 on at

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@wskinnermctc ok worked , thanks. but what caused the error ? and why string() fixed it?

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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I don't know why empty() doesn't work for number/integer/float type values. The message says The template language function 'empty' expects its parameter to be an object, an array or a string. So if you wrap the float value with string() then it is turned into a string which empty() will accept.

It is kind of tricking the empty() expression to work by saying its not a float/number, its a string/text.

I made an example of a number/decimal output from a SharePoint column. Without any changes you can see that the value output is Green signifying that it is a number type value. However, if I wrap it with the string() expression it shows the value output as Black color showing that it is a text/string value.

Compare Number Value to String Value

if(empty(string(first(outputs('Get_items_Grant_2')?['body']?['value'])?['FirstInstallmentPercentage'])),'Not Applicable', mul(float(variables('varBudget')),float(first(outputs('Get_items_Grant_2')?['body']?['value'])?['FirstInstallmentPercentage'])))

Hope this helps, I put the expression that works here so you can mark it as the solution,

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JimSInAz 17 on at

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Genius.

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