Create different types of variables

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by HellitonWoo

Hi fellows,

Is it possible to create the following types of variables or as inputs?

data table
JSON
dictionary

Thanks!

Hellitonwoo

Categories:

Power Automate Desktop

I have the same question (0)

All responses (15)

Answers (0)

Sort by

adijain Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hello @HellitonWoo ,

Power Automate Desktop supports creation of DataTable and JSON variables but not dictionaries. Although, a RowTable can be accessed from a DataTable which has similar functionality as of a dictionary where column names can be used as dict keys.

Hope it makes sense.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
HellitonWoo 39 on at

Like
a
(0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@adijain
Could you further explain where can I create a "Datatable" or "JSON" type of variable?

I don't think I can change the type when creating an "Input".
All inputs are accepted as "String". Thus it takes quite a lot of work to "deserialize" a JSON (from Power Automate web) and re-packaging it into a "list", then feed it to the "UI flow". And to use that Input, I have to split it again, so forth...

Also, when creating a "Variable", there's no option to choose the type

it would be great if you can further assist here

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
adijain Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hello @HellitonWoo,

Apologies for the confusion. But, input/output variables in PAD currently only supports creating string data type to get/send data from Power Automate portal. Other data types will be added in the future.

Additionally, for variables within a PAD flow, datatables are created as an output of several PAD Actions, like "Read from Excel", "Read from CSV", "Extract data from web page", "Extract data from window". And a data row can accessed by targeting any one of its row (e.g %DataTable[0]% is a data row) or you can iterate a datatable using "For each" loop. Creating the datatables from scratch with just one action is not yet available in PAD preview, but part of our roadmap.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

To create a datatable you can use the set variable action and programming array notation: %{['Product1', '10 USD'], ['Product2', '20 USD']}%
You similarly create a custom object by using the following notation:%{ 'Property1': 'Value1', 'Property2': 'Value2', 'Property3': 'Value2' }%, you can also create lists this way, and even put lists as property values. A custom object can be converted to at json-string with the convert to json action.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

This is not true. You can create datatables from scratch using the array programming notation, as described on this site.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

You can also create a Datatable which has specific column name:
%{ ^['Name', 'Phone', 'State'], ['Alice', '1234', 'AA'], ['Bob', '2345', 'BB'], ['Cindy', '3456', 'CC'] }%

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

@Anonymous I have a list with me , after I performed actions like 'Remove duplicate items in the list'. I have to change the list values(generic value type) to data table (with data rows), the data coming from this action 'remove duplicate items in the list'. As i need to write the data back to a excel file. And as you mentioned above %{ ^['Name', 'Phone', 'State'], ['Alice', '1234', 'AA'], ['Bob', '2345', 'BB'], ['Cindy', '3456', 'CC'] }%.

My list contains dynamic values , as every time it will be changing. not specific one's . So kindly suggest what format to use for dynamic values , not fixed values.

Kindly look into this .Thanks in advance.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(2)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!
Hello @Anonymous,

As far as I know, you do not need to convert a List to a Datatable to write data to an Excel worksheet.
Just use variable %List% for 'Value to write' field of "Wite to Excel worksheet" action.

If you dare to convert from List to Datatable, please refer below sample flow.
POINT: You can join a List to a Datatable only if the number of columns in the Datatable and the List is the same.

Variables.CreateNewList List=> List Variables.AddItemToList Item: $'''Alice''' List: List NewList=> List Variables.AddItemToList Item: $'''Bob''' List: List NewList=> List Variables.AddItemToList Item: $'''Cindy''' List: List NewList=> List Variables.AddItemToList Item: $'''Bob''' List: List NewList=> List Variables.AddItemToList Item: $'''Bob''' List: List NewList=> List Variables.RemoveDuplicateItemsFromList List: List IgnoreCase: False NewList=> List SET Count TO List.Count SET Datatable TO { ^['FirstName'] } LOOP LoopIndex FROM 0 TO Count - 1 STEP 1 Variables.CreateNewList List=> ListForCurrentItem Variables.AddItemToList Item: List[LoopIndex] List: ListForCurrentItem NewList=> ListForCurrentItem SET Datatable TO Datatable + ListForCurrentItem END Excel.Launch Visible: True LoadAddInsAndMacros: False Instance=> ExcelInstance Excel.WriteCell Instance: ExcelInstance Value: List Column: 1 Row: 1 Excel.WriteCell Instance: ExcelInstance Value: Datatable Column: 2 Row: 1

Thank you.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Thank you @Anonymous for your response. The main aim is to remove the repeated items( overwrite the present data with new data) in my excel file. As I have a database filtering all the duplicates with (primary key as ID column), but as I have only 1 database storing all the data & have to apply some filters on the data. So this flow is triggered by cloud flow (when an file is created) & then stores in DB & then applying filters.

The main issue here is , as filter( The query to DB) applies on all the data in DB , I get the previous data along with new data . So the data in excel is written twice along with new one's. So it has to over write the old data , with new one's.

Attaching screenshot for reference(overwriting existing content), as we have for a text file , I couldn't find out for excel actions, so trying the above workaround you mentioned.
Kindly look into the same. Expecting quick response please.
overwriting existing content in a file

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like
a
(1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hello @Anonymous,

I am not sure if I understand your explanation correctly...

But if your main problem is the OLD data which has been retrieved everytime the flow is executed, then you should write to Excel the whole data from begin to end, I think. For example, create a new Excel file which contains every data, and replace the old Excel file with the new Excel file, everytime the flow execute. It's simpler and easier to implement.

I think your problem is not related to the Variables discussed here in this topic. So, please create a new thread and post your own question there. 😉

Was this reply helpful? Yes No