Unanswered

Null Value in Apply to Each Control when updating SharePoint list with Microsoft Forms output

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by ConnieMaldonado

Hello - I have a Microsoft Form to retrieve data from technicians in the field and save it to a SharePoint list. To save the responses to the SharePoint list, I am using the "Record form responses in SharePoint template".

The form has branching logic, and photos are required for one branch. To save the photos to the list as well as the responses, I am using the "Apply to each" control. In the form, there is a second question to include additional photos. The second item is not required and is applicable to all branches.

When I execute a form path where photos aren't required, I believe the value in the control is null which causes a problem. I have issues when photos are not uploaded in the required field (because photos are only required for one of the paths). Geez! A lot of explanation, sorry.

Here is the overview of the flow, and I provided the details of the area where I'm getting stuck (failure message). Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

Error message: The execution of template action 'Apply_to_each_attachment' failed: the result of the evaluation of 'foreach' expression '@json(outputs('Get_response_details')?['body/r63a3dee2e10048d2afc5fc9e83944418'])' is of type 'Null'. The result must be a valid array.

Flow Overview:

Flow Overview.png

Detail for Apply to Each control:

Flow 1.png

Error:

Flow failed.PNG

Categories:

Building flows

I have the same question (0)

All responses (5)

Answers (1)

Pstork1 68,697 Most Valuable Professional on at

Like (0)

Report
The easiest fix is to probably add a Coalesce() function around the array argument in the apply to each. That way if attachments is null you can substitute an empty array so the loop just bypasses instead of erroring out. Something like this

coalesce(triggerOutputs()?['body/attachments'],variables('varArray'))

Where varArray is an array variable that was initialized as an empty array.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
ConnieMaldonado 59 on at

Like (0)

Report

I'm trying to implement your suggestion, and thanks so much for it! I'm new to flows, so I'm not sure where to put the coalesce statement. Do I put it in the json statement. Can I have multiple lines in the statement, and how do I initialize varArray as an empty array? Thanks!!

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Verified answer

Pstork1 68,697 Most Valuable Professional on at

Like (1)

Report

That's the right place to put it, but why are you using a JSON() function? The attachments outputs are already JSON and so is the empty array created by Create array. I also don't see the Coalesce() function I specified. You don't need the JSON(), but you do need the Coalesce().

To initialize the empty array, just use an Initialize Variable action set for an array, but don't supply any values.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
ConnieMaldonado 59 on at

Like (0)

Report

Aha! I got it finally. Your input was invaluable. I didn't realize that to initialize an array as empty, simply leave the value blank. Duh. My first one, so ... thanks again! 😀

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Rebekah278 30 on at

Like (0)

Report

Hello,
I am in a similar situation. I have added the Coalesce to my expression but now I am getting this error:
"Unable to process template language expressions for action 'Apply_to_each_attachment' at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'triggeroutputs' must not have any parameters.'."

This is my expression:
coalesce(triggeroutputs('Get_response_details')?['body/r8e7db9481b264488abadd0387c75ce9c'],variables('varArray'))
If someone could help me with this, it would be much appreciated!

Was this reply helpful? Yes No