Skip to main content

Notifications

Community site session details

Community site session details

Session Id :
Power Automate - Building Flows
Unanswered

Instant flows fail when you don't fill out all fields including Optional fields. Why?

(0) ShareShare
ReportReport
Posted on by 164

I created an instant flow on a SharePoint list.  I made some fields not mandatory.  The flow failed when a user did not fill out ALL fields.  What is going wrong?  I intentionally did not fill out the column called "Number" that's why the data in that field doesn't exist.  Its not a mandatory field. 

SharonS_2-1719263398353.png

When all fields are filled out, then the flow runs successfully.

  • SharonS Profile Picture
    164 on at
    Re: Instant flows fail when you don't fill out all fields including Optional fields. Why?

    @WillPage  Thank you.  I will try that.

  • WillPage Profile Picture
    1,919 on at
    Re: Instant flows fail when you don't fill out all fields including Optional fields. Why?

    Yes, but you can refine the expression using the coalese() function:

    coalesce(triggerBody()?['text'],'')

    This will convert the null value of triggerBody()?['text'] to an empty string otherwise leave triggerBody()?['text'] as is if it's not null

  • SharonS Profile Picture
    164 on at
    Re: Instant flows fail when you don't fill out all fields including Optional fields. Why?

    Here is the expression that I am using for a text field.  

     

    if(empty(triggerBody()['text'],'',triggerBody()['text']))
     
    Its an if then statement.   
     
    Do I put the question mark here (see below)?
    if(empty(triggerBody()?['text'],'',triggerBody()['text']))
  • WillPage Profile Picture
    1,919 on at
    Re: Instant flows fail when you don't fill out all fields including Optional fields. Why?

    Put a question mark in your expression to make it nullable e.g triggerBody()?['number']

    When a property is null it's often omitted from the JSON object so doing this will make the value null whether it exists with a null value or it's simply not there.

Under review

Thank you for your reply! To ensure a great experience for everyone, your content is awaiting approval by our Community Managers. Please check back later.

Helpful resources

Quick Links

Michael Gernaey – Community Spotlight

We are honored to recognize Michael Gernaey as our June 2025 Community…

Congratulations to the May Top 10 Community Leaders!

These are the community rock stars!

Announcing the Engage with the Community forum!

This forum is your space to connect, share, and grow!

Leaderboard > Power Automate

#1
Michael E. Gernaey Profile Picture

Michael E. Gernaey 566 Super User 2025 Season 1

#2
David_MA Profile Picture

David_MA 516 Super User 2025 Season 1

#3
stampcoin Profile Picture

stampcoin 492