Update Item SP Error - Property selection is not supported on values of type 'String'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions for usage details.

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Posted on by bradt30h

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Hi All, This error keeps bugging me. Something is wrong with my expression.

When I try the expression separately using Compose action to test it, it works. (Expression shared below)

However, when I use it in SharePoint 'Update Item', it failed. Reason being:

Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Update_Status_after_approved_by_manager_or_partner' inputs at line '1' and column '3335':

'The template language expression <EXPRESSION> cannot be evaluated because property 'approverResponse' cannot be selected. Property selection is not supported on values of type 'String'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions for usage details."

Basically, my expression is trying to populate the value of the first item and second item of the array (AllResponses) to my 'Approval History' column, with IF function to make it error-proof:

The expression below for pulling the first respondent result,

if(empty(variables('AllResponses')?[0]),'',
concat(
 If(equals(variables('AllResponses')?[0]?['approverResponse'],'Approve'),'‌‌ Approved by - ','‌‌ 
 Need more information by - '),
 variables('AllResponses')?[0]?['responder']?['displayName'],
 ', ',
 convertFromUtc(variables('AllResponses')?[0]?['responseDate'],'Singapore Standard Time','M/dd/yyyy h:mm:tt'),
 ': ',
 variables('AllResponses')?[0]?['comments']))

Result of my expression will be:

Since the error stated: property 'approverResponse' cannot be selected.

Therefore, I tried to parse my variable('AllResponses') and notice that the item type for 'approverResponse' is string

{
 "type": "array",
 "items": {
 "type": "object",
 "properties": {
 "responder": {
 "type": "object",
 "properties": {
 "id": {
 "type": "string"
 },
 "displayName": {
 "type": "string"
 },
 "email": {
 "type": "string"
 },
 "tenantId": {
 "type": "string"
 },
 "userPrincipalName": {
 "type": "string"
 }
 }
 },
 "requestDate": {
 "type": "string"
 },
 "responseDate": {
 "type": "string"
 },
 "approverResponse": {
 "type": "string"
 },
 "comments": {
 "type": "string"
 }
 },
 "required": [
 "responder",
 "requestDate",
 "responseDate",
 "approverResponse",
 "comments"
 ]
 }
}

Is this the reason why I wasn't able to call/select the JSON child? As the parent the has a different type

parent = 'object'

child ie approverResponse = 'string'

I haven't been able to find a solution to handle this. Appreciate it so much if you can give me some clue!

Thanks for reading!

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Using flows

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DAllen365 446 on at

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It would be very helpful to see your flow. Depending on how your actions are grouped (in a for each loop, inside a scope, a do-until), you may not be able to access the output of those actions. Did you try leaving the Compose and putting the output of that into your Update item? What column type are you trying to paste it into?

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bradt30h 134 on at

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I have no clue how to debug this...

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bradt30h 134 on at

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Hi DAllen,
This is my testing, my expression is fine.
This is the actual flow, trigger when new SP list created, multiple variables to store value for later and select to store array. Then, I use do until as I am creating State Machine Approval Workflows.
This is the part where the issue came in if I am using that similar expression in my testing above. I used it in the approval history SP column. The Approval History Column is multiple lines of text.

Here is the failed image:
Sorry, the flow is a little bit lengthy. Let me know if you can't see clearly 🙂 Thanks!

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bradt30h 134 on at

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Bump

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DamoBird365 8,942 Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @bradt30h

I appreciate you reaching out on my YT, albeit it's removed the message bizarrely, I can see it in my email 😉

I note you have the expression working in a compose, in the first instance, can you insert that into your main flow (in the yes branch) and insert it prior to the action that is failing (this is our attempt to debug). You might have to insert below the failing action and then drag the update status below the compose. Then run the flow and report back with details on the compose output (image of the history).

The next step, which I think has been suggested is to then use the compose in your update status action (if it works) and then if all of that works we try and understand why it's failing when typed directly into the update status action.

I've looked at your expression and it seems valid and there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to select the string from the array that I can see.

It might also be useful to get a copy of the array history output, as I could load that into a compose and attempt the same thing - something to try later on if you are still stuck.

Damien

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bradt30h 134 on at

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Hi Damien,

Thank you so much for putting effort into reviewing my issue!

However, the error remains.

I also tried to parse JSON earlier, but fail as well. Notice the Json array being covered with [ ] and turn my variable into string, as below.

Could this be the issue?

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DamoBird365 8,942 Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @bradt30h

I would agree that it's your array that is at fault. I am guessing that in your test, you copied the array? But with your live, you are appending? Can you copy and paste the output of the append to array variable in full? The very fact that the parse json is escaping values, means that it too is treating the whole value supplied as input as a string. I don't use variables myself personally, more of a compose fan but I would have thought that a variable of type array would error first.

You can wrap a string in json() to remove escaped characters but I think it would be worth seeing the output as a copy/paste of the text, rather than image, so that it can be looked at in a beautifier. Something you see in my video 😉

Damien

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bradt30h 134 on at

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Hi Damien,
You are absolutely right, I copied the array in my test.
The reason I use the variable is to consolidate multiple "start and approval" actions responses (multiple approvals for error handling purposes).

This is the output from the Append array variable:
[{"responder":{"id":"22584fd1-0b70-481b-b5c6-59070aedf863","displayName":"Bradley Teoh","email":"bradleytest@gmail.com","tenantId":"5b973f99-77df-4beb-b27d-aa0c70b8482c","userPrincipalName":"bradleytest@gmail.com"},"requestDate":"2021-09-16T06:43:38Z","responseDate":"2021-09-16T06:44:33Z","approverResponse":"Approve","comments":"well done"}]

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bradt30h 134 on at

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As I use parse json, i got the error, my input content is:
[
"[{\"responder\":{\"id\":\"22584fd1-0b70-481b-b5c6-59070aedf863\",\"displayName\":\"Bradley Teoh\",\"email\":\"bradleytest@gmail.com\",\"tenantId\":\"5b973f99-77df-4beb-b27d-aa0c70b8482c\",\"userPrincipalName\":\"bradleytest@gmail.com\"},\"requestDate\":\"2021-09-16T07:35:48Z\",\"responseDate\":\"2021-09-16T07:35:55Z\",\"approverResponse\":\"Approve\",\"comments\":\"welldone\"}]"
]
Thus, I wrap it up with json,
But the error persists,
Am I using the correct formula?

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DamoBird365 8,942 Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @bradt30h

An observation at my end is that if I paste your sample array into a variable array, it parses ok, the history output is neatly formatted/beautified and your if expression works fine from a compose. I’ve tried this myself.

looking at your screenshots, the history of the array is not formatted correctly. I don’t grasp what you are doing with your append array action. A select would allow you to select the keys values from the responses and if you have two approvals, potentially union would help you bring those two arrays together. I can’t help but think you’ve created an odd array. Very hard for me to diagnose.

You need to walk through the history and check to see where the format goes wrong.

Damien

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