Error in variable initialization: String variable must be initialized before it can be used inside action Set variable

[akg1421]

1- Initialize a 'string' variable to "email@domain.com",

2- Append to variable with dynamic column email

3- Extract substring from created string to eliminate last extra comma ','  e.g.

"email1@xyz.com","email2@xyz.com","email3@xyz.com",

Even though the variable is initialized in first step why then on save it gives error

"Flow save failed with code 'InvalidVariableOperation' and message 'The inputs of workflow run action 'Set_EmailRcptTo_variable' of type 'SetVariable' are not valid. The variable '{EmailRcptTo}' must be initialized before it can be used inside action 'Set_EmailRcptTo_variable'.'."

Please note I am doing following:

1- Initialize string variable

2- Append to string variable

3- Set string variable

Requirement:

1- Create a string initialize it with a sample email all quotes and comma separated "abc@xyz.com",

2- Add to the string dynamic email values from SP column, all enclosed values with quotes "" and a comma e.g. "email1@xyz.com","email2@xyz.com","email3@xyz.com",

3- Remove the last extra comma character

@trice602 @ManishSolanki @creativeopinion @wskinnermctc @Expiscornovus @abm @rzaneti @Pstork1 @Nived_Nambiar @Chriddle @Matthy79 @AlexEncodian @LinnZawWin @Ryan_B @ChristianAbata @SudeepGhatakNZ @Tim19943 @annetoal @tom_riha @Robotech12 @lbendlin 

[Pstork1]

I suspect the problem is the use of double quotes in the first initialization.  You are embedding quotes inside a string variable without escaping them.  Try doing the same thing but without the double quotes.

[efialttes]

@akg1421
Please also note just in case you have two 'Apply to each' nested (une inside the other), you cannot initialize variable inside an 'Apply to each'; you should initialize it before
Hope this helps
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[akg1421]

@Pstork1 @efialttes Double quotes are absolutely required in first initialization, the string must contain a value like "email1@xyz.com","email2@xyz.com","email3@xyz.com", 

How should I escape the quote character?

Please note I am doing following:

1- Initialize string variable

2- Append to string variable

3- Set string variable

Requirement:

1- Create a string initialize it with a sample email all quotes and comma separated "abc@xyz.com",

2- Add to the string dynamic email values from SP column, all enclosed values with quotes "" and a comma e.g. "email1@xyz.com","email2@xyz.com","email3@xyz.com",

3- Remove the last extra comma character

Any other way to achieve the same?

[lbendlin]

I got a nicer error message:

Flow save failed with code 'WorkflowRunActionInputsInvalidProperty' and message 'The inputs of workflow run action 'Set_variable' of type 'SetVariable' are not valid. Self reference is not supported when updating the value of variable 'Variable00'.'.

Use a second variable.

[akg1421]

@lbendlin So I tried using second variable but it still gives the same error. Issue seems to be because the Initialized variable is getting used in substring function in Set Action

substring(variables('{EmailRcptTo}'), 0, sub(length(variables('{EmailRcptTo}')),1))

[trice602]

Hi @akg1421 ,

I didn't see any extra ","s and here is my test flow.  Please review.

Let me know if this helps you resolve this please!  I threw this in a compose at the end so you can see the format.

[lbendlin]

I seem to be able to do this

Also with init/set

[Pstork1]

The point is that the double quotes are allready there around the value you put in the field because its a string.  What you are trying to define in the variable is the equvalent of this.

""email1@xyz.com","email2@xyz.com","email3@xyz.com""

That's not a valid string and that's why you are getting the error.  Why do you need the quotes?  If you want to use the list of email addresses in something like the To: field of a mail action the quotes can't be there anyway.

If you insist on having the quotes then use a Compose and append to it using Conact().  The Compose won't strong type the value as a string.

[Chriddle]

{EmailRcptTo} is not the name of your variable, it's EmailRcptTo

Therefore try variables('EmailRcptTo')

But you might have already noticed, that - since self referencing is not allowed - you can't use that in the Set variable action.

To circumvent this, you may put this into a Compose action and use that output in the Set variable.

However, I would try completely a different aprroach by using a Select action to create the array of emails and simply join its values.

[Matthy79]

@akg1421 

First of all. It’s not ok to tag the half community during topic creation.

You already got your reply why this can’t work (self reference)

What I don’t understand is why nobody mentioned the flow setup. Why do you need a variable? Why an apply to each. As far as I understand you have an array and want to use this array to create one single string. This is a classic requirement that can be solved by using select and join.

@Chriddle already mentioned it and that’s the way to go.

[akg1421 · Accepted solution]

@Pstork1 The quotes are escaped and managed by the flow and the 'compose' seems to strong type the quotes. Output is a valid string - to be used in HTTP request to SharePoint action. Thanks!

@lbendlin Using the second variable too gives the same error. The issues seems to appear due to the variable 'EmailRcptTo' being referenced twice in 'substring' function. 

substring(variables('{EmailRcptTo}'), 0, sub(length(variables('{EmailRcptTo}')),1))

Once we separate these 2 functions 'substring' and 'sub' via second variable / compose the issue is resolved. Thanks!

@trice602 The extra ","s is at the end of string, the very last character. Thanks for digging deep. Appreciate!

@Chriddle Nice! 'Select' does the job but I find difficult to add character (quotes) in Select>Map so as to 'Join' up the output with a single comma , Tried 'concat' but it didn't work. 

Problem was resolved by separating the functions 'substring' and 'sub' via second variable or 'Compose'

[Chriddle]

Sorry, but Compose didn't solve your problem.

Your problem no longer occurs because you replaced variables('{EmailRcptTo}') with variables('EmailRcptTo').

Related to this:

'Select' does the job but I find difficult to add character (quotes) in Select>Map so as to 'Join' up the output with a single comma , Tried 'concat' but it didn't work. 

Use the Select action to map the "Manager" objects to the "Manager Email"s.

Then you simply need to join this array of emails in a Compose action:

join(body('Select'), ',')

or even write this expression into the Send an email action