Array variable outputting as string

[JesseV]

I have a variable that is constructing Update plannerTaskDetails api call with a plannerChecklistItems resource type . However when I look at how the variable is put in the api call it is a string instead of an array and I'm not sure why.

• I attempted to outpit it within a json()  command but this gave the error that json() cannot handle an array value.

Below the relevant steps in creating the variable

Initialising;

because there is a for each loop running through plan the variable gets emptied each time it loops using a set variable;

each checklist item is appended to the matrix

Then the variable is used in the body of an API call 

{
"previewType": "checklist",
"checklist": @{variables('Subtakenmatrix')}
}

When I look at the actual body it is generated as below, where instead of JSOn objects ;

    "body": {
        "previewType": "checklist",
        "checklist": [
            "613f9ed0-8a19-4222-af66-a326e838c8f1:{\n  \"@odata.type\": \"microsoft.graph.checklistItem\",\n  \"orderHint\": \"11056\",\n  \"title\": \"Installatie(s) aangemaakt\",\n  \"isChecked\": False\n}",
            "9854b267-23d7-4cc8-bf35-0782940271e2:{\n  \"@odata.type\": \"microsoft.graph.checklistItem\",\n  \"orderHint\": \"35845\",\n  \"title\": \"Object aangemaakt\",\n  \"isChecked\": False\n}"
        ]
    }

Resulting in  400 

 "error": {

    "code": "BadRequest",

    "message": "Property checklist in payload has a value that does not match schema.",

}

• When I put the array variable in the api call as @{json(variables('Subtakenmatrix'))}  I get the  "The template language function 'json' expects its parameter to be a string or an XML. The provided value is of type 'Array'. "error;

Any idea how to get the correct json syntax in the API call? 

Thank you in advance

[v-mengmli-msft]

Hi @JesseV ,

Have you tried add {} in "Append to variable" action?

Best regards,

Rimmon

[Chriddle]

Your "checklist" is an array of strings.

These strings are similar to JSON but have some errors. Have you done any string manipulations to it?

To convert these strings back to JSON, the following repairs are required:

json(
	concat(
		'{"',
		replace(
			replace(
				item(), ':{', '":{'
			),
			'False', 'false'
		),
		'}'
	)
)

This is just an indication of what to look out for.

I don't recommend adding this to your flow, but fixing the creation of this array in your flow 😉

[JesseV]

Hey rimmon, thanks for the reply and suggestion!

When I attempt to use {}  I get an error which translates to; 

The input parameters of the Apply_to_each_bucket_from_the_template operation contained one or more invalid expressions. Correct the invalid expressions for the input parameters of the Apply_to_each_bucket_from_template operation.

However I can put a [  ]   in the same positions as you marked it will still convert the whole variable into a string i.e.

        "checklist": [
            "[ \"27125c36-ec19-45ec-acd5-ce0dd0a01570\" : {\n  \"@odata.type\": \"microsoft.graph.checklistItem\",\n  \"orderHint\": \"18401\",\n  \"title\": \"Pand van voor \",\n  \"isChecked\": False\n}]",
            "[ \"daa1ea2f-9b5d-41a3-bb76-8b40dfcdd5e0\" : {\n  \"@odata.type\": \"microsoft.graph.checklistItem\",\n  \"orderHint\": \"59252\",\n  \"title\": \"Asbestinventarisatierapport\",\n  \"isChecked\": False\n}]"
        ]

[JesseV]

Hey @Chriddle , thanks for the reply!

I came to the same conclusion, I'm very much trying to fix the variable so that it stays JSON! .. I dont do any string manipulations in the flow (all steps are shared in the original post). I find it so odd that when I put the variable in a JSON  it says the variable type is an Array but when I input the variable it outputs as a string. 

My current concern is the part where I 'wipe' the array using a set array variable  with the value []  that this somehow breaks the variable type?

 .. I cant set it to {}  howver..

I saw another post that suggested updating it with a different empty array variable but that seems like even more steps for something that should be straightforward

[Chriddle · Accepted solution]

@v-mengmli-msft is right!

I should have had a closer look at your flow 😔

The issue is, that you have an @ in your property name "@odata.type" this has a special meaning in the action's input and therefore must be hidden.

Try with an expression:

string('@odata.type')

[JesseV]

Oh fantastic, this was very helpfull indeed, thank you very much @Chriddle  -  I've seen the @{output}  variables and shouldve guessed.. I will remember this lesson well!

I have one final issue to contend with, the array is no longer being shown as a giant string, however it is still outputting between [ ] , see:

    "body": {
        "previewType": "checklist",
        "checklist": [
            {
                "1701011f-1100-41b6-9c68-26319260a6fe": {
                    "orderHint": "18401",
                    "title": "Pand van voor ",
                    "isChecked": false,
                    "@odata.type": "microsoft.graph.checklistItem"
                }
            },
            {
                "792e1dd2-6d86-4908-a81d-97ffc16b4535": {
                    "orderHint": "59252",
                    "title": "Asbestinventarisatierapport",
                    "isChecked": false,
                    "@odata.type": "microsoft.graph.checklistItem"
                }
            }
        ]
    }

Now I tried to work around this by calling the variable with a [0] but it will only output the first object of the array then (without the [ ] though!) 

Any ideas how to get all the objects in the array without the [ ]  output into the body? 

I'm fairly certain it has something to do with how i'm 'resetting' to an empty array at each loop (set variable to [ ] ) 

but I'm unsure how else to reset to an empty array (Note: it wont accept { } ) 

[Chriddle]

This expression can do the conversion:

first(
	json(
		replace(
			string(variables('Subtakenmatrix')),
			'},{',
			','
		)
	)
)

and the result should look like this:

{
  "1701011f-1100-41b6-9c68-26319260a6fe": {
    "orderHint": "18401",
    "title": "Pand van voor ",
    "isChecked": false,
    "@odata.type": "microsoft.graph.checklistItem"
  },
  "792e1dd2-6d86-4908-a81d-97ffc16b4535": {
    "orderHint": "59252",
    "title": "Asbestinventarisatierapport",
    "isChecked": false,
    "@odata.type": "microsoft.graph.checklistItem"
  }
}

However, a probably cleaner way to achieve this would be not to use an array variable, but an empty object and addProperty().

[Chriddle]

I just learned that there is a better way:

[JesseV]

Hey @Chriddle , your earlier json() replace() function indeed works, thanks a bunch!

And I like the double @!  Thanks for updating me with your find .. I think also prefer that escape over the string function (I'm learning tremendously from both!)

I'm also intrigued by your object variable mention and have questions about using the object() variable

1: what step would one use to invoke the addProperty() function? Is this where the compose step would be used? 

2; In the case of the plannerchecklistItem where there object is a value (the guid) holding multiple values, would you addProperty() that in a single run or would you do it in multiple steps? and use the output of the first addPropert();

assuming the object variable is x for a single run you'd do?

addProperty(x, "guid()", {

    string('@odata.type'): "microsoft.graph.plannerChecklistItem",
    "title": "body('blabla)?['Title']",
    "isChecked": @if(items('Toepassen_op_elke_checklistitem')['value']['isChecked'], true, false)

})

 

Thank you once more for your time and responses, it's most appreciated

[Chriddle · Accepted solution]

Here the actual data comes from the parse JSON (in your case items('Toepassen_op_elke_checklistitem'))

[
  {
    "id": "123",
    "title": "Just a test 1",
    "isChecked": true
  },
  {
    "id": "234",
    "title": "Just a test 2",
    "isChecked": false
  }
]

Compose creates the object to add

Compose 2 creates the new complete object

Set variable set the variable to this new object

Compose 2

addProperty(
	variables('SubtakenMatrix'),
	guid(),
	outputs('Compose')
)

Output of Compose 2

[JesseV]

I'm learning a lot from you @Chriddle , thank you once more for taking the time!

Really appreciate it. I ended up having to redo the whole flow due to there being a difference between the planner tasklist and the project tasklist (also in the new Task management in teams..  

But it's going a lot easier this time around (I like to think I'm getting the hang of it! 😉 ) 

Have a great weekend!