BadRequest. The 'from' property value in the 'select' action inputs is of type 'Null'. The value must be an array

[HughSo]

I know there are other questions with this issue, but I can't find any relevant answers, so please forgive. I'm also not very techy, so please assume that I know nothing or very little...

I'm taking data from MS Forms (a volunteer application form for our charity) and converting it to a Word Document using the Encodian tool. The form allows applicants to volunteer for different activities on different days. This created a few problems in getting these multiple selection questions to appear in the final document with all their values - with Encodian's help, I learned how to create arrays.

I tested the volunteer form filling in all sections and selecting options among the various opportunities, which returns a complete form once converted. Great. However if the applicant does not want to volunteer for a particular range of activities and moves on to the next section presenting a different range, the flow fails with the error message: "BadRequest. The 'from' property value in the 'select' action inputs is of type 'Null'. The value must be an array".

I have tried ticking all the "configure run after [action] has failed/is skipped/has timed out" boxes in the action options) and the flow succeeds but the resulting Word document then does not pick up all the token information after the skipped question.

Any help would be gratefully received. 

[David_MA]

It would be very helpful if you take screen shots of your flow and post them with your questions. That will give people an idea of how you have it configured.

[HughSo]

Hi David,

Thanks for your message. I've got six screen shots, so I'll need to do it over two replies.

Here is a link, too, to the Volunteer Application Form. 

Coventry Resource Centre for the Blind Volunteer Application Form (office.com)

Once the data has been retrieved, for those questions (four of them) where there are multiple responses possible, the data is converted to an array. 

On the form, they get they are asked initially a yes/no question if they would like to volunteer for a certain range of activities (eg groups) before being taken to the multiple option question following. It seems if they answer no, a null value is generated for that multiple option question, which upsets it all.  

As I say I'm not techy, so if there's anything else you think would help, please let me know. 

Cheers

Hugh

[HughSo]

Here are the remaining screenshots for the flow.

[David_MA]

I see several Select actions in your images. Since you have several, I would suggest running your flow and look at the action before the one that failed to make sure the action before it returns data, and that the data is an array. The following is an example of array data:

[ { "FirstName": "Eugenia", "FamilyName": "Lopez", "FullName": "Eugenia Lopez" }, { "FirstName": "Elizabeth", "FamilyName": "Moore", "FullName": "Elizabeth Moore" } ]

If the compose actions that you use for the select statement are empty or are not generating something in this format (an array), this is the reason for your error. If it is normal that sometimes the compose action will not generate any data, then you will want to add a Condition before your Select action. You would set the condition to check that the Compose action contains data, and if it does, you would add the Select on the yes side of the condition.

[HughSo]

Hi David, 

Thanks for that - and apologies for the delay in coming back to you: other work gets in the way.

What you're saying seems entirely logical - you're right that fairly often the Compose action will not produce any data. But I'm running up against my own ignorance in how to express what you're suggesting.

I've attached a screenshot of that part of the flow. I can get a condition into the flow at the right point and I'm assuming that the subsequent related actions then follow on on the Yes side.

The things I'm struggling with are:  

1. I don't know what expression to use in the Condition to get it to check whether the output of the Compse action contains data (I have looked and tried but am just getting v confused!) 

2. Having copied the subsequent Select and Compose (here my Select GpAct and Output GpAct) actions to the Yes side of the condition, it won't let me delete the ones in the main flow. 

3. Do I need to add anything to the No side of the condition, or will it just follow on to the next action automatically?

Again I really appreciate your input. 

Cheers

Hugh