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Power Automate - General Discussion
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Compose or use variable?

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Posted on 20 Oct 2017 06:32:19 by 6,949

I am relatively new to Flow, can anyone clarify when one should use variables or when instead one should use Compose?
I am paricularly confused about Compose, not sure what it is and how it is different from a variable.

Many thanks!

 

PS I think @v-micsh-msft@MikeInCairns or @ArtSys may be interested

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  • Verified answer
    Meneghino Profile Picture
    6,949 on 25 Oct 2017 at 07:13:28
    Re: Compose or use variable?

    Hi @v-micsh-msft

    Thank you for following up.  In any case I have now found this documentation:

    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/logic-apps/logic-apps-workflow-actions-triggers#compose-action

    It is not too clear, but also gives some indications.

  • Verified answer
    v-micsh-msft Profile Picture
    on 25 Oct 2017 at 02:52:33
    Re: Compose or use variable?

    Hi @Meneghino,

     

    Compose should be able to handle any kind of data Input.

    Besides, I don't think Compose is similar to Collect() function.

    I will try to explain from my own understanding.

    Compare the whole Flow to math equation, then Compose Action should be considered as operators like +, -, *, /,

    I think you have noticed that under Compose action in running details, there is only Outputs available,

    Through the Compose Action, we could only get the result from the value input, but we can't change the Input, which means there is no way to modify the original input of the same compose,

     

    For Variables, it should be the X parameter in the equation, which we could substitute with values,

    Under the the running details, you should also noticed that it only contains Inputs, and it has the corresponding action to "Update" the X (original input) value.

     

    Regards,

    Michael

     

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