Append to array variable using expressions is not creating an array in correct format

[Janddy]

Hi,

I am trying to build a flow that will automatically get contacts from a google account, and then create the same contact in a Microsoft account on a schedule.

The part that I am stuck on is getting the different types of phone numbers into a usable form from the Google contact data.

The data from Google looks like this:

I am trying to use the "value" and "type" from each of those arrays.

My attempt so far is below:

I initialise an array variable

And then make an apply to each for each contact, and another apply to each for each type of phone number, and append the array with the type and value of that phone number.

The expressions are:

type: items('Apply_to_each_type_of_phone_number')?['type']

value: items('Apply_to_each_type_of_phone_number')?['value']

What I was trying to do after that was use a compose for each type of phone number which I can then use in the Create Contact (V2) action.

However, the compose gives me the below error:

I think the issue is that the Phone Numbers variable isn't formatting the array properly. This is what the Phone Numbers variable looks like:

which I don't think is proper JSON format.

I feel like there should be a simple solution but I am stuck with what else to try.
I tried entering double quotes around the expressions when appending the array variable, but that made it worse.

What do I need to change to make this work? Or is there a better way to do what I'm trying to do?

Thanks

[Amit_Sharma]

Hi @Janddy,

You Can Not Select Mobile Number Using This Expression Variable('Phone Numbers')?['Mobile'] In Compose Mobile Action Where You are getting error Because it is not in JSON format It is array So You Can Use Variables('Phone Numbers')?[0] In Compose Mobile Action Because in Your Array Output It's Index Position Is 0. After this I guess you are good to go.

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[Janddy]

Hi @Amit_Sharma, thank you for helping.

That's good information - I didn't know it had to be in JSON format to be able to select with the key like that.

However I'm not sure that it solves my problem.

One issue is that the data can be in different sizes. So for example, a contact might have a home number, a work number, and a mobile number, or a contact might only have a mobile number.

This means the Phone Numbers variable could look like this:

which means when selecting the first element, it will select the work number, not the mobile number.

The other issue is that selecting the number in that way selects the whole line ie. the mobile number will be imported as 'mobile: 0425 632 589' whereas I only want to import '0425 632 589'.

Is it possible to convert the array into JSON format so that I can select using keyword rather than position? Or is there a better way?

[Janddy]

Hi @Amit_Sharma, thanks for your help.

That's useful information - I didn't know you had to select using position when you're dealing with arrays.

I have made the changes, but I don't think it fully fixes the problem.

One issue is that the phone number data can be in different sizes. For example, a contact might have a mobile number, a work number and a home number, or they might only have a mobile number. This means the Phone Number Array could look like this:

which means when the first position is selected it will select it as the mobile number, whereas it should be the work number.

The other issue is that when selecting from the array by position, it selects the whole line, not just the number. For example, the phone number will be imported as 'mobile: 0425 632 589', but it should only be '0425 632 589'.

Is there a way to convert the array into a JSON, or perhaps append the array in a more useful way, so that I can select using keyword instead of position? Or is there another way I haven't thought of?

[Amit_Sharma · Accepted solution]

Hi @Janddy 

Sorry for late reply.

I have created sample for you to convert your Array in JSON format.

1. After Compose 4 Action initialize one variable select type is object and set value {}

2. Then Use One Select Action and provide value which return by Compose 4 Action.

split(item(), ':')[0]

split(item(), ':')[1]

3. After that use one apply to each and provide value which return by select Action.

4. Then Use One Compose (Get Variable) Action and get value which return by variable.

5. Then Use set variable action and value in variable using union function.

Note Use Correct name of apply to each in expression according to your flow

union(outputs('Get_Variable'),items('Apply_to_each_3'))

6. Then you can simply select It anywhere any value if value is not return by Compose 4 and you want to select you have getting blank value only.

Home:

variables('Testjson')?['Home']

Mobile:

variables('Testjson')?['Mobile']

Work:

variables('Testjson')?['Work']

Home:

variables('Testjson')?['Home']

Complete Flow

Output:

After this I guess you are good to go.

Best Regards.

[Janddy]

Hi @Amit_Sharma,

I followed your steps and it works perfectly and does exactly what I wanted.

Thank you so much for taking the time to help!

Regards,

Janddy

P.S. Sorry for the double reply earlier - my first reply was flagged and deleted as spam so I replied again, and that reply was also flagged as spam. Then both replies were unflagged and posted.