Approval Action Flow unable to display Attachments

(1) Share

Report

Posted on by DA-08040337-0

Hi there,

I have built a Power Automate flow that utilizes Microsoft Forms for user submissions, storing the submitted data in a SharePoint List. The form includes two 'Upload File' questions, allowing users to attach files. After submission, the flow sends a confirmation email to the user, including the submitted details and the attached files.

Here is the issue which I am facing, I have successfully retrieved the uploaded attachments in the 'Send an email' action using the varEmailAttachment variable. However, I am encountering an error in the 'Start and wait for an approval' action when attempting to include these attachments.

The error message is: "The request content was invalid and could not be deserialized: 'Could not find member 'contentBytes' on object of type 'ApprovalsConnectorFileAttachment'. Path 'attachments[0].contentBytes', line 1, position 1283.'"

Appreciate the kind assistance and advice on this.

Categories:

Building flows

I have the same question (0)

All responses (9)

Answers (0)

Sort by

Suggested answer

Michael E. Gernaey 53,963 Moderator on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi @DA-08040337-0

I apologize as its late for me or early for like Europe lol. I believe you are handling the attachments incorrectly.

I am a bit confused as I do not see any send emails, nor do I see any Approvals etc.

You said these are problem / not problem areas but I do not se them.

1. However, you are NOT required to use Base64 and I would not do that, just put the content.

2. Also I would not use that varFiles thing you are doing, I would simply grab the json(questionanswer) and loop through that.

Can you you please share your email (which makes sense sort of why you are using base64) but in SharePOint its not required, nor is it required and can cause problems in your Start Approval.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
DA-08040337-0 6 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Apologies on this, please refer the below screenshot for the Send an Email and Approval action.

1) I have replaced the base64 into Get_File_Content. The error still persists

2) For your suggestion "I would not use that varFiles thing you are doing, I would simply grab the json(questionanswer) and loop through that."..Could you guide me this?

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Suggested answer

Ellis Karim 12,059 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi @DA-08040337-0

When you are sending attachments with the Approvals action, the attachments array needs to use the "content" property, not "contentBytes":

Use two arrays, one for email attachments (varEmailAttachments), and one for the Approvals action (varApprovalsAttachments).

For more info, please see: Power Automate: How to Send Microsoft Forms File Uploads to an Approval Workflow – Ellis Karim's Blog

Ellis Karim
Blog | LinkedIn | Bluesky

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
DA-08040337-0 6 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi Ellis,

Appreciate on the assist on this. Shall I add "Append to array variable - Approval" action like this or do i need to add the action another way?

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Michael E. Gernaey 53,963 Moderator on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi @DA-08040337-0

Here is what you do.

Steps

1. Trigger

2. Get Response details

3. Create your Array

4. Add an Apply to each

ALL NEXT LETTER STEPS ARE INSIDE APPLY TO EACH.

a) you want to type the expression json() --

and inbetween the () you want to add the Dynamic Question with the Files uploaded in between so mine looks like this

Where the guid just gets filled in when you pick the question

b) Add get file content

Where in the File you want to type the expression item()?['id']

Remember its an expression not a string

c) add the append array

And for name you use expression item()?['name']

again that an expression not a string as such

Now you are done collecting them.

d) To add them to your Approval

click to go to advanced mode for attachments

Then in the attachments just put

Cheers

Please let me know if you have further questions.

If this helps you, please help me by marking as Such and maybe a like also :-)

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
MMcCloud 393 Moderator on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@Michael E. Gernaey Your post is correct except for what Ellis Karim said. For some reason the array format for attachments is different between emails and approvals.

Emails : ContentBytes

Approval : Content

If your solution isn't working that is the issue.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Michael E. Gernaey 53,963 Moderator on at

Like (1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@MMcCloud

Actually no you are incorrect.

To have a solution for both, they need a none base64 option first, if its transposed into base64 initially it wont work for both.

Its not even required for Email either.

The approval just wants the bytes, not base64.

What gets used in email depends on if they are looking at GMail or other mail clients. If they are using OUtlook they do not need base64 at all.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
DA-08040337-0 6 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi @Michael E. Gernaey ,

Apologies on this as i forgot to mention in the issue is that in my Microsoft Form, there includes two 'Upload File' questions.

That would be the reason why i add "varfiles" instead of json() in Apply to Each action.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
MMcCloud 393 Moderator on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@Michael E. Gernaey Not to highjack the post but, what is dictating which form they are coming in? like for example I have a few flows that I am pulling files from SharePoint Document Libraries or a SharePoint list and in that case you have to use:

ContentBytes for Outlook 365 Send an Email action but, for Approvals in the same flow you have to use Content? Is it because of the format being pulled in the first place?

Sorry, that is a belligerent number of questions I just didn't know the difference and I am sure this will be something I run into again.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No