using array as input for the action 'Update Item'

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Posted on by emulder

Hi all,

I'm trying to use an array to fill in a item in the 'Update Item' action, but it is not working.

I'm checking if a mail has been send using a MSList column with a multiple choice with lets say 5 values,

The first thing i do in my flow is run a for each loop to fill an array with all the values that the item has for that column.

(so that i can use them in the 'Update Item' action later, so that i wont lose the value's)

for each mail loop.png

After that i check another column to see what actions i need to take,

(Case will be chosen depending on the column name that the item is placed on),

What i'm stuck at now is that i want to add the new choice to the column,

together with the array i made to make sure the mails that were already sent wont be sent again.

Column Switch.png

(names of the Case's are the names of the columns)

I was hoping 'v' this 'v' might work but the flow will be stuck running on the 'Update Item' action.

Update item parameters.png

Does anybody have an idea on how i can make this work,
Feel free to ask me for more information if my explanation is vague.

Thanks for the help.

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Building flows

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Andrew_J 1,962 Moderator on at

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@emulder

I think your trigger condition is when an item is updated in a sharepoint list. The item of concern to you is if the email has been sent. So what does that colum contain, is it simple yes or no. I assume that this item is written to the list using a different flow.

If I can understand this we can work through the rest of the flow with you.

Regards,

Andrew

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emulder 20 on at

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Hello @Andrew_J , thanks for the help.
I am indeed using the trigger 'when an item is created or modified' in SharePoint, sorry for not clarifying earlier.
I'm using more than 1 column let me label them for a better clarification.

The column{A} is a multiple choice with each value representing a mail, all the values that were already present gets stored in the array{mailArray} at the start of the flow.
(to add them back in later, because the action 'Update Item' overwrites the value's).

I'm already checking if the mail was send in the switch using the 'check if not send' conditions.
The way i'm using the condition is checking if the array{mailsArray} i made at the start does not contain the value representing the mail for that Case(will send mail if it doesn't, and add the value for that mail to the array{mailsArray}).

Correct this flow assumes that the items are already on the board, and does not 'create' any new items,
It does however update the item by adding the value representing the mail from the array{mailsArray}.

The current problem is that i don't know how to use this array of values in the 'Update Item' action,
You can see my attempt in screenshot 3, (here is the screenshot again for a better reverence).
(You can also see the name for column{A} here is 'Mails for Power Automate item').

When an item moves thru the board view (looks similar to a Kanban) and an item gets moved to a specific column value the flow runs, and checks if it needs to send a mail on that step using column{A}.

English is not my native language,
hopefully you understand what i'm trying to say in my writings.
feel free to ask more questions.

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Andrew_J 1,962 Moderator on at

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@emulder,

Not an issue with english, i think you are from the NL or a dutch speaking region. I know my Dutch is very limited so will not try to speak it. If you are from the NL then I visited your country many times. I will try and get through this for you.

So your orginal statement "I'm trying to use an array to fill in a item in the 'Update Item' action, but it is not working". I might need to take this slowly to understand what you are trying to do.

I have read the last responce but getting back to the images in the orignal post I can see the following:

I have done some translation and understand that "in bewerking" means "in progress" in english and also "first check" plus I assume other selection not shown. These are the cases you talk about I assume and i assume there is a muliple choice column to select which route the flow follows.

Then I can see the following where you are checking if an email has been sent:

If it has you do some work on an ARRAY, UPDATE ITEM and the post in TEAMS.

As you say you want to update the item with information in the array. I am wondering if the following would help:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/Update-Item-gt-Keep-current-array-value/td-p/2415471

I do hope I am helping but I think it would be good to understand the start of the flow and the array can you share images of the list and the flow that show this. As this may help in trying to uderstand this further.

Regards,

Andrew

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emulder 20 on at

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@Andrew_J ,
(i worked on a response yesterday but it did not save the draft.)

Here are the values of the array 'MailsArray'.
Note that this array{mailsArray} is dynamically filled, And the values of this array depend on what mails were already send for that item. (this is at the start of the flow), (i placed a 'Compose' action directly under the for each loop).

I looked at the linked question i didn't directly see an answer, the 'answer' still had the same issue in my eyes.

After thinking for an idea I tested the 'Select' action (I want to split the values of the array, so that hopefully the array is in a readable format for the 'Update Item'),
I came closer to solving the problem but this action comes with a weird empty thing at the front of each value.
(is there a way to remove this?, it would probably solve my issue if it can).

Again thanks for the help @Andrew_J ,
Hopefully this cleared your questions.

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Andrew_J 1,962 Moderator on at

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@emulder

I am still not understanding this. I think this is all around the start of the flow and what starts it. I am assuming the start is all working and you are getting a lot of green ticks but when it gets to the mail array this is where it does not work.

Looking at "in bewerking" or "in progress", and having gone and translated the rest I see this as being the status of the list item. But without looking at the flow from the start I am unable to advise and therfore resolve.

I am wondering if the flow needs to be changed to a different structure to allow the input of the status in the update items. As if it is a status type list and flow this should be off the shelf.

If you do send an image of the flow can you please send it in the classic view but I need to see the start and if you can share some of the list that would be great too.

Regards,

Andrew

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emulder 20 on at

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@Andrew_J,
My apologies for not being clear in my previous reply's,

I tested around with the 'Select' action and found a working solution.
At that start of the flow i initialize the variable{mailsArray} as an 'Array' (i leave the contents empty)
After that I use a for each loop to populate the variable{mailsArray},
with each value that is already present in the column 'Mails voor Power Automate'.

[flow continues inside of a Case of a switch].

after appending the new column value to the array{mailsArray},
I use the 'Select' action to separate the array this also adds the "Value: " at the start of each item which is what the action 'Update Item' needs to be a valid array. (for the right side of the 'Select' I use the expression "item()" )

After that i add the output of the 'Select' action as input for the right column of the 'Update Item' action.
(make sure to click this button, so that you can use an array as input).
the new Array from the 'Select' action looks like this:
(last value in this array was added by the 'append to mailsArray' action),
(array can be longer if the item contains more value's).

This seems to be able to dynamically populate the column so that the value's are not lost (using an array),
and than being able to add value's of you own.
Hopefully this helps others with the same issue that i had.

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Andrew_J 1,962 Moderator on at

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@emulder

I assume we are complete now?

Regards,

Andrew

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emulder 20 on at

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@Andrew_J
Yes,
unless you have some question remaining for the workings of this flow,
or i missed something in my last reply.

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