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Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Automate / Use Get Item, without ...
Power Automate
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Use Get Item, without a non integer column as ID

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Posted on by 123

Hi everyone,

So i have two Sharepoint lists.
I manually set up primary/foreign key (as Sharepoint lists are no relational db) with a column called Event_ID that is of string type (example of a value: EV-123456)
The relation between both tables (lets say table A and B) are from one-to-many. 
Example:
Table A has got a unique event called EV-123456, in table B there are several Milestones of this event. The key is Event_ID as said before.

My objective is the following:
I am creating a flow that triggers when something changes in table B (Milestone table).
Then i want to write an Email that contains both information of table B AND of Table A.
For example:
"The following Milestone has been rescheduled.

Information of Milestone:

(data from table B)

Information from main event:

(data from table A)"


My issue:

I know that there is only ONE main event (one record in table A) that is associated to the Milestone that is updated.

Nevertheless, i see myself using GET ITEMS because Power Automats because in the ID input of GET ITEM, it does not allow me to put my primary/foreign key (Event_ID). 
It bothers me to use GET ITEMS because, afterwards, when sending a mail, Power automate inserts the apply to each function. I understand why it does that but i know that there will always only be one record for that Event_ID.

 

I tried using a variable that take the Event_ID from Table B and use it as the ID in GET ITEM but it must be an integer..

Is there a way around this? i would hate to create a second key that is numerical only so that Power Automate allows me to apply GET ITEM..

Thank you in advance!

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  • Verified answer
    creativeopinion Profile Picture
    10,508 Moderator on at

    @Lino You can avoid the Apply to Each action when using dynamic content from the Get Items action if you are only expecting a single result. You'll need to use an expression.

     

    I cover how to do that in this YT Tutorial: 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!

    If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution .
    Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

    👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
    👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok and Instagram
  • ScottShearer Profile Picture
    25,290 Most Valuable Professional on at

    @Lino 

    If I understand your issue correctly, you want to bring in data from the one side of your one to many relationship.  If so, use a filter query in your Get items action - only 1 item should be returned.

    Here is a link for more info

    Please let me know if you need more help.

     

     

     

  • Lino Profile Picture
    123 on at

    Yes, that is what i have been doing for the moment, but, in that case, the apply each is mandatory (in a useless way), i would like to erase that useless apply to each.

  • Verified answer
    ScottShearer Profile Picture
    25,290 Most Valuable Professional on at

    @Lino 

    See my example below.  I am referring to the first element (zero) that was returned by Get items.  Get items will always put you into a loop unless you use the syntax in my example.  The column names are the internal column names.  Please let me know if you need more help.

    image.png

  • Lino Profile Picture
    123 on at

    Thank you so much @creativeopinion !

    Great video, it helped me a lot! Still need some time to digest some of it hehe
    I think i might have some follow up questions but its for another post 🙂 

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