Creating individual variables from individual JSON elements

[silaman]

I have experimented using all of the available built-in data operations in power automate.

However, I can't seem to figure out how to make JSON elements into individual variables that I can use later in a flow.

I can extract elements from a large JSON set and make them into one array or string, but never just make one or sequence each one into their own variables.

With the below select output, I'd like to be able to make each one of those something like varURL1 then varURL2 and so on, so I can use them to populate fields somewhere else, like being able to put varURL3 somewhere as dynamic content, so it outputs just https://websitelink3.jpg Without it trying to dump the entire array or string syntax everywhere.

[
  {
    "https://websitelink1.jpg": ""
  },
  {
    "https://websitelink2.jpg": ""
  },
  {
    "https://websitelink3.jpg": ""
  }
]

All I can seem to do is create arrays and tables and more strings but never actually extract one particular element formally.

I'd rather not have to use extensive string manipulation formulas, what do I do if I have 10 or 50 links?

I am quite new to this, and it doesn't seem straight forward.

Thankyou.

[Heartholme · Accepted solution]

Hi @silaman, 

You can really only select specific array values by using an integer index. Like this: 

Then use it further as dynamic content: 

Not 100% sure this is what you're asking for, but let me know if you have any further questions. 

{ If my post answered your question, please Accept it as a solution ✔ }
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Best Regards
Heartholme

[silaman]

This is good

However I still get some of the arrays syntax rather than just the value. i.e

{"https://websitelink1.jpg": ""}

At least I can select through, and considering the syntax is consistent I can then use formulas to clean it up

Looks like I'll still have to do some 'String Cleaning' 

Thankyou

[Heartholme · Accepted solution]

Hi @silaman ,

The easy way is to use this expression in the compose, instead of the one i put over: 

split(string(outputs('Array')[0]), '"')[1]

The more intricate way to do it, is by converting it to XML and then using Xpath: 

http://johnliu.net/blog/2017/11/foreach-property-in-microsoftflow-json-with-xpath-microblog

{ If my post answered your question, please Accept it as a solution ✔ }
{ This will in turn help others find solutions to similar questions }

Best Regards
Heartholme

[silaman]

@Heartholme Thanks for your additional response, I know it's a been a few weeks, but I thought I'd try refining using your suggestion here, however I get this error.

Here is the output of BeforePhotosArray

[
  {
    "https://websitelink1.jpg": ""
  },
  {
    "https://websitelink2.jpg": ""
  },
  {
    "https://websitelink3.jpg": ""
  }
]

Here is the Compose to split

split(string(outputs('BeforePhotosArray')[0]), '"')[1]

 
Here is the error I get

InvalidTemplate. Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Compose_2' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language expression 'split(string(outputs('BeforePhotosArray')[0]), '"')[1]' cannot be evaluated because property '0' cannot be selected. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions for usage details.'.

[grantjenkins]

Just thought I'd jump in here as looks interesting. Is that JSON you provided something you get from another system, or something you made just for this example? Just curious as it's not your general JSON - you have the name as the actual value, and the value is an empty string.

[
  {
    "https://websitelink1.jpg": ""
  },
  {
    "https://websitelink2.jpg": ""
  },
  {
    "https://websitelink3.jpg": ""
  }
]

Is what you are after more around how to take a general JSON object (similar to below) and convert each email to a variable: email1, email2, etc. or did you need it to work with the JSON you provided?

[
    {
        "email": "https://websitelink1.jpg",
    },
    {
        "email": "https://websitelink2.jpg",
    },
    {
        "email": "https://websitelink3.jpg"
    }
]

[Heartholme]

@silaman , 

I wasn't able to reproduce the issue you had, even though I copied your exact information. 

Which action is BeforePhotosArray from? Try to put it into a compose by dynamic content and then reference the compose. 

Best of luck! 

Br

Heartholme

[silaman]

It's from Microsoft forms from the beginning.

I extract the "link": {"type": "string"} from a Schema into their own array, then try to extract from the array, I want to make each one their own variable that I can dump elsewhere without syntax all over it.

Its for a checklist where members take 3 photos before and after, I want to gather the links to the saved photos from the Microsoft Forms JSON, then send the links to columns on an excel, its rudimentary for a department that doesn't use dataverse directly, they only need to see an excel record. There is a lot of other information aswell but I've covered all of that, it's just getting these links out.

I can get it to output the links array entirely, but I realised excel can't have 3 hyperlinks in one cell either, so I used this to separate based on the array

variables('varBeforeArray')[0]

I have one for each up to [3]

It outputs something that looks like this

{
  "https:websitelink.jpg": ""
}

I can use that to go anywhere, but I want to get the syntax off it too without having to use extensive formulas, I will have to apply an excel formula to make it a hyperlink in excel

It was the only way I could find it out in the beginning, mostly through forum posts, seems like getting variable data out of a JSON sequentially for independent use in places is quite difficult and I'm quite new to this.

Here is the first part to the first url extraction I have been able find out so far.

I also am yet set conditions so that if a user only uploads 1 photo, that it ignores the missing 2 as well when it can't find them, without crashing.

[Heartholme]

Hi again @silaman ,

You should write "link" for example in the left column and then put the value in the right column. This is the correct way to do it when working with arrays, and will make it infinetly easier to work with the information. 

Then you can choose the value like this from the array; put the expression into a compose. 

outputs('beforephotosjsonselect')[0]['link'] to take the first value for example, or 

outputs('beforephotosjsonselect')[1]['link'] for the second value. 

Br 

Heartholme

[grantjenkins · Accepted solution]

I'm unsure how you can get each email into an individual variable, but if you wanted to get each one into a simple array you can do the following:

If you change your Select (BeforePhotosJSONselect) to the following, you'll end up with an array of emails. Note the expression is:

item()?['link']

[
  "https://websitelink1.jpg",
  "https://websitelink2.jpg",
  "https://websitelink3.jpg"
]

You can then access them using:

body('Select')[0]
body('Select')[1]
body('Select')[2]

If you wanted to join the emails separated by a comma (might be useful when adding to Excel) you can use a Join passing in the output from your Select.

The output would be:

https://websitelink1.jpg,https://websitelink2.jpg,https://websitelink3.jpg

[silaman]

This looks good, 

However when I try this, I get that same error again 😞

This is the config for that section

The new BeforePhotosJsonSelect output is below

[
  {
    "link": "https:/websitelink1.jpg"
  },
  {
    "link": "https:/websitelink2.jpg"
  },
  {
    "link": "https:/websitelink3.jpg"
  }
]

So that first part is working, but the compose won't work 

outputs('beforephotosjsonselect')[0]['link']

I will try playing around with it some more

[silaman]

This works good, I can separate each one for the link as it is, and then set initialise variable as the 

body('Select')[0]

and so on to make 3 of them

and then put each one into their own excel columns

Awesome.