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Allow to pass an array to a child flow

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Posted on by testasdfasfsafa

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It's frustrating that we can't pass a simple array to a child flow. Please allow such data to be passed without having to convert to string and rebuild an array in the child flow.

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CFernandes 8,402 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hey @Mate @testasdfasfsafa

True, as of now the recipe is to Convert array to string -> Parent Flow ->

string(variables('ArrVar'))

In Child Flow -> Convert string to array ->

split(triggerBody()['text'],',')

Personally - I think Microsoft should allow array variables in child Flow - I have created an Idea at -

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Automate-Ideas/Allow-to-pass-an-array-to-a-Child-Flow/idi-p/1373868#M27285

In future if you have any awesome idea please submit it at https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Power-Automate-Ideas/idb-p/MPAIdeas

Please Vote - Up.

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AlexLindberg 87 on at

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I have the same issue. One suggested solution was to use string(array_data) in the parent flow then use split(passed_string, ',') in the child flow. This did not work for me.

Example - Source Array:

[ { "Title": "Title Line 11", "Field_x0020_1": "Text Field 1 xxxx", "Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2": 12345 }, { "Title": "Title Line 2", "Field_x0020_1": "Text Field 21 yyy", "Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2": 545331 }, { "Title": "Title Line 3", "Field_x0020_1": "Text Field 3 zzzz", "Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2": 44.55 }, { "Title": "This is a new line", "Field_x0020_1": "Updated Row abcd", "Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2": 1112233 } ]

The result of string()

[{"Title":"Title Line 11","Field_x0020_1":"Text Field 1 xxxx","Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2":12345},{"Title":"Title Line 2","Field_x0020_1":"Text Field 21 yyy","Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2":545331},{"Title":"Title Line 3","Field_x0020_1":"Text Field 3 zzzz","Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2":44.55},{"Title":"This is a new line","Field_x0020_1":"Updated Row abcd","Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2":1112233}]

So far so go.

This data then looks like this when passed to the child flow as text:

[{"Title":"Title Line 11","Field_x0020_1":"Text Field 1 xxxx","Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2":12345},{"Title":"Title Line 2","Field_x0020_1":"Text Field 21 yyy","Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2":545331},{"Title":"Title Line 3","Field_x0020_1":"Text Field 3 zzzz","Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2":44.55},{"Title":"This is a new line","Field_x0020_1":"Updated Row abcd","Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2":1112233}]

Still good.

Now split(string data,',')

[ "[{\"Title\":\"Title Line 11\"", "\"Field_x0020_1\":\"Text Field 1 xxxx\"", "\"Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2\":12345}", "{\"Title\":\"Title Line 2\"", "\"Field_x0020_1\":\"Text Field 21 yyy\"", "\"Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2\":545331}", "{\"Title\":\"Title Line 3\"", "\"Field_x0020_1\":\"Text Field 3 zzzz\"", "\"Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2\":44.55}", "{\"Title\":\"This is a new line\"", "\"Field_x0020_1\":\"Updated Row abcd\"", "\"Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2\":1112233}]" ]

Yep - Not so good...

The same data when the parent flow - base64(string(DataToPass)) then child flow json(base64tostring(passed_Data)). - Suggestion found in Reddit posed by https://www.reddit.com/user/ItsOtisTime/
String passed to child flow:

"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"

String received in child flow:

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

Decoded string in child flow (as seen in a variable)

{ "variables": [ { "name": "v_SourceDataArray", "type": "Array", "value": [ { "Title": "Title Line 11", "Field_x0020_1": "Text Field 1 xxxx", "Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2": 12345 }, { "Title": "Title Line 2", "Field_x0020_1": "Text Field 21 yyy", "Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2": 545331 }, { "Title": "Title Line 3", "Field_x0020_1": "Text Field 3 zzzz", "Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2": 44.55 }, { "Title": "This is a new line", "Field_x0020_1": "Updated Row abcd", "Number_x0020_Field_x0020_2": 1112233 } ] } ] }

Success!!!

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Chriddle 8,436 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Just use functions string() and json() to convert objects or arrays to a (JSON) string and back to an object.

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jogram 129 on at

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Explain

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AlexLindberg 87 on at

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I tried to write a parent/child flow in which the parent passed a JSON array to be used in a select to build an HTTP body. There are two issues,
1) only strings are acceptable as a variable type (there are ways to fix this)
2) I can seem to pass dynamic values like @{item()?['Title']}. The intent is to have the child's select statement use the passed JSON array.

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jogram 129 on at

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I think I'm just going to take the logic out of my child flow.

Low code rapid application development my big toe!

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Chriddle 8,436 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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OK, an example:

Left side: the parent flow

The Select creates an array of objects.

The "Run a Child Flow"s input takes this object and stringifies it:

string(body('Select'))

Right side: the child flow

The Compose's input:

json(triggerBody()['text'])

The flow runs look like this:

As you can see in the child flow's Compose, the array of objects is transferred to the child flow.

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jogram 129 on at

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Can it then be cast to the type Array?

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Chriddle 8,436 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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That's basically my example 😉

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jogram 129 on at

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That's a String formatted like an Array. I need an object of type Array.

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