Array to Strings with different numbers of items

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Posted on by polo1604

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Hello,

I try to convert an array to strings, each array item has to become a separate string.

The array comes from a multiple choice field (max 4 items) in sharepoint. The selected items of this choice field should be stored as a string depending on the ID of the item. I have 4 strings with pre defined value (text0, text1, text2 and text3).

Example: only ID 0 + 1 + 3 have been selected, so that I want string text2 to be empty. It is also possible that only one item has been selected (so 3 strings have to become empty), or even none (with all strings empty).

[
 {
 "@odata.type": "#Microsoft.Azure.Connectors.SharePoint.SPListExpandedReference",
 "Id": 0,
 "Value": "text0"
 },
 {
 "@odata.type": "#Microsoft.Azure.Connectors.SharePoint.SPListExpandedReference",
 "Id": 1,
 "Value": "text1"
 },
 {
 "@odata.type": "#Microsoft.Azure.Connectors.SharePoint.SPListExpandedReference",
 "Id": 3,
 "Value": "text3"
 }
]

Maybe there is a simple way to solve this, but I cannot find the forest due to too many trees...

Thanks for your help

Paul

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Rhiassuring 8,690 Moderator on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

Hi there,

So if the text is pre-defined, and it's 4 items only, I'd probably just use a switch.

Parse JSON, get the value, a "case" for each of the 4 values, and then (instead of Compose, which is what I show here), set the variable to whatever is appropriate for that text.

Btw, if you get issues with your @OData, escape it using @@.

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grantjenkins 11,059 Moderator on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

Can you explain exactly what you are trying to achieve as an end result? Are you retrieving items from a list and wanted to output the multi-choice selected values for each item in the list as a comma separated string? Just wondering why you would want to output the values to multiple variables.

Maybe if you show what you currently have in your flow and exactly where you are having the issue, that would help.

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Chriddle 8,319 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

From:

range(0, 4)

Map:

coalesce( first( xpath( xml(json(concat('{"Root":{"Item":', outputs('Compose'),'}}'))), concat('//Item[Id="', item(),'"]/Value/text()') ) ), '' )

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polo1604 160 on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

Hi,
thanks for your quick reply. I get this error after the select action:

The execution of template action 'Select' failed: The evaluation of 'query' action 'where' expression '@coalesce( first( xpath( xml(json(concat('{"Root":{"Item":', outputs('Compose'),'}}'))), concat('//Item[Id="', item(),'"]/Value/text()') ) ), '' )' failed: 'The template language function 'json' parameter is not valid. The provided value '{"Root":{"Item":}}' cannot be parsed: 'Unexpected character encountered while parsing value: }. Path 'Root.Item', line 1, position 16.'

Probably due to the fact that my input contains the "@odata.type...." ?

best regards
Paul

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Chriddle 8,319 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

Yes, remove these with a Select.

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polo1604 160 on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

Hi,

I cannot show my flow because all what I tried failed 🙂

I need as a result from zero to 4 separate strings, (text0, text1, text2 and text 3), depending of which items has been selected in the multiple choice field in my sharepoint list.

Sometimes no items selected, than 4 empty strings

but also 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 items selected, and then the according text : ID=0 -> text0, ID=1 -> text1 and so on. If item 0 + 1 + 3 is selected, I want to get text0 + text1 + text3, and text2 needs to be empty.

I hope I could explain it better.

Best regards
Paul

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polo1604 160 on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

how can I do this?

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Chriddle 8,319 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

From: Your original array

Map Id: item()['Id']

Map Value: item()['Value']

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polo1604 160 on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

Hi @Chriddle
thanks for all your time an patience, something goes wrong:

[ { "ID": "0", "Value": "text0" }, { "ID": "1", "Value": "text1" }, { "ID": "3", "Value": "text3" } ]

So I get this in the select action:

[ "", "", "", "" ]

How can I get integer instead of string in the Id ?
best regards
Paul

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Chriddle 8,319 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Re: Array to Strings with different numbers of items

"Id" is case sensitive.

To convert back to Integer use function int(<value>)

Map Id:

int(item()['Id'])

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