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Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Automate - Building Flows / Can't Set Variable in ...
Power Automate - Building Flows
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Can't Set Variable in New Designer

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Posted on by GD-16081559-0 36
I initialized a variable at the beginning of my flow. Further down, I want to "Set Variable". 
But in the "Set variable" NAME box, the drop down arrow on the right does nothing. I do not get a list of variables to choose.
And I cannot manually type in the variable name.
 
I would prefer to use "Old" Designer, but a "compose" bug there forced me to use "New".
I am using the Cloud version, not desktop. Any thoughts ?
 
 
Categories:
Business Process Flows
  • Suggested answer
    ArjunManchala23 Profile Picture
    ArjunManchala23 2 on at
    Can't Set Variable in New Designer
    You have to first initialize the variable (action), there you can enter names, once then, it will be listed out in Names dropdown here.
  • Michael E. Gernaey Profile Picture
    Michael E. Gernaey 43,378 Super User 2025 Season 1 on at
    Can't Set Variable in New Designer
    Ty for sharing the solution, its definitely nice to know and sorry you had this issue.
  • GD-16081559-0 Profile Picture
    GD-16081559-0 36 on at
    Can't Set Variable in New Designer
    In "old" designer, I used Compose on a field from AI Hub. It was set up correctly, but when I ran the flow, the compose did not show the "Input" or "output" section. I have a PA consultant expert who suggested I try adding the compose in "New" designer, and it worked perfectly.
    But it seems in "New" designer that actions can not have '#' in the name, so carry-over names from "old" designer may need to be changed.
     
  • Verified answer
    GD-16081559-0 Profile Picture
    GD-16081559-0 36 on at
    Can't Set Variable in New Designer
    "Solution"
    Another variable had a '#' in the name, which apparently is not allowed in "New Designer", but the variable name was originally created in "Old" designer.

    So a variable in New Designer called "Newest Item #" should be changed to "Newest Item Number"

    I removed the # from the other variable name, saved the flow, re-opened it, and now I can see a list of variables.
    Crazy bugs and quirks in both "Old" and "New" designer. Frustrating waste of time.
  • Michael E. Gernaey Profile Picture
    Michael E. Gernaey 43,378 Super User 2025 Season 1 on at
    Can't Set Variable in New Designer
    Hi,
     
    Can you please show us the flow so we can verify please. Also, what bug were you facing? I wasn't aware of any bugs in the Old UI for a compose that wouldn't be there for the new.
     
     

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