@mp117
Manual Trigger
I'd recommend using a Manual trigger while you build and test your flow. You can replace it with the Automated trigger once you've confirmed your flow works and you are ready to go live.
Select your Form Id and insert a response id to use for testing purposes. Also, I always keep a copy of a manually triggered flow when it comes to MS Forms—this way I can easily troubleshoot the flow if I run into issues as well as make any modifications and test them first before adjusting the automated flow.
List Channels
Add a List channels action to your flow.
In my Team I have a couple of channels with strings of text that match my choice fields in my form. In my demo I've purposely placed the strings of text inconsistently in each channel name as we'll be using the Filter Array action and it won't matter if the string of text is at the beginning, middle or end of the channel name.
For reference, I'll be using the output from this MS Form choice question to match it to a channel name from above.
Filter Array
The List Channels action will return an array of Channels from the selected Team. Add a Filter Array action to your flow to filter out the list of Channel names where the string of text from your MS Form (in my case it's a Choice field) is contained in the Channel name.
In the From field, insert the Channel List dynamic content. In the first value field, insert the Channel Name. Change the operator to contains and in the second value field insert the dynamic content from the Get response details action that contains the string of text you want to search—in my case it's the Single Choice question.
Return Item Count
Whenever I use a Filter Array action, I always like to return the count of items returned in a Compose action. This is helpful when building a flow and can also be used to troubleshoot your flow. Insert a Compose action. Tip: Don't forget to rename your actions to keep your flow organized!
Add an Expression. Use the length() function.
Select the Dynamic content tab and insert the body dynamic content from the Filter Array action into the length() function.
Run a test. Review the outputs. My test response has Choice 1 selected.
The Filter Array action has filtered out the Channel where the Channel name contains Choice 1.
If your Filter Array action isn't returning any results you will need to troubleshoot. Keep in mind the values in the filter array action are case sensitive and will look for a string match. The choice options in the MS Form include a space after the word Choice.
For demo purposes—I've added two more channels one with Choice 1 in lower case, the other where there aren't any spaces in the channel name.
I've run another test. The Compose action still outputs 1.
Condition Check
Add a Condition action to your flow. If items have returned (aka there is number stored in the Compose action—that is not equal to 0), add the rest of your actions to the Yes branch. If not, do nothing.
... more to come. In the meantime, you might find these YT Tutorials helpful:
To learn more about how to use the Filter Array action, please refer to this YT Tutorial: Are you using the Microsoft Power Automate Filter Array Action wrong?
In this video tutorial I’ll show you 3 practical ways to use the Filter Array action and how to use it properly.
1️⃣ Cross-Referencing Data
2️⃣ Filtering by Key
3️⃣ Substring Matching
Did you know that the Condition action has a limit of 10 conditions? Although it might look like the Filter Array action can only accept one condition—this is not true. By using the advanced mode you can enter multiple conditions into a Filter Array action with an expression.
IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ 3 Ways to Use the Filter Array Action
✅ How to use the Scope Action to Group Actions
✅ How to Check the Number of Items returned from a Filter Array Action
✅ How to Cross-Reference Data in Excel with a SharePoint List
✅ How the Filter Array Action Works
✅ How to Access the Dynamic Content from a Filter Array Action
✅ How to Filter Items by a Key
✅ How to Filter Items by Matching a Substring
✅ How to Use Multiple Conditions in a Filter Array Action
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3 Mistakes YOU 🫵 are Making with the Apply to Each Action in your Microsoft Power Automate Flow
In this video tutorial I’ll go over how to avoid these common mistakes when using the Apply to Each action in a Power Automate flow:
1️⃣ Looping through a Single Item
2️⃣ Creating Unnecessary Nested Loops
3️⃣ Looping through an Unfiltered Array
At the end of the video I share a few helpful insights when it comes to using the Apply to Each action in your flow.
IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ How to avoid the Apply to Each action with a single item array
✅ How to use the item() function to access dynamic content in an array
✅ How to prevent unnecessary nested Apply to Each action loops
✅ How to use the Select action
✅ How to convert an array to a string with the Select action
✅How to use the Filter Query field
✅ How to count the number of items in an array
✅ How to use a condition control
✅ How to use the concurrency control
✅ How to set a top count
✅ How to use Compose actions for troubleshooting
Hope this helps!
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