Failing to Filter an Array

[JELMDX]

Hi,

New to PA so seeking some assistance.
My requirements is when a new item is created in the list below e.g. 'ggbgb', to update the 'NextManNo' for this record based on the previous record (fadvadv) 'NextManNo'+1, so 'ggbgb' 'NextManNo' should be '381'. 

There may be a simpler way to do this....

but so far I am retrieving the last two records in the SP List to be able to retrieve the 'NextManNo' from the previous record to pass this to a variable that I can then used to add '1' too.
I have added the results into a JSON object and parsed this to a Select Variable which returns the two 'NextManNo' as an array,

I am trying to filter this array to exclude the '0' value (But we could have this value as 'null' if it helps) so I only have the single '380' value in the array to pass to a variable.

my Flow fails to run with the following error...

Any ideas?

Thank you

[creativeopinion · Accepted solution]

@JELMDX You can use a Get Items action in your flow to grab the last NextManNo and increment it by 1. I took a slightly different approach. 

Get Last Created Item

For demo purposes, I'm using a manually triggered flow. If you'd like to gain a better understanding of how this works. I'd recommend doing the same. You can then build your flow for your scenario off of this one. 

Press Show Advanced options and Order your list by the Created column in descending order by inserting this inot the Order by field.

Created desc

Limit the Top Count to 1 as you only want to return the last created item.

Note: If your list has more than 100 items, you'll need to turn on pagination and set a threshold in the settings of the Get Items action.

Get the NextManNo

Add a Compose action and insert the dynamic content for the NextManNo.

Because you are using the Get Items action, that action will always return an array of values even if you've limited the top count to 1, it will still be an array with a single item. This will for your Compose action to nest inside an Apply to Each action (which isn't necessary).

Refer to this section of a recent YT Tutorial I uploaded on how you can avoid the Apply to Each action when you have a single item array. 

Click on the three dots of the Compose action and select Peek code.

Highlight the text from the question mark to the closing square bracket. Copy it to your clipboard.

Remove the dynamic content label from the Compose action and drag it outside of the Apply to Each action. Delete the Apply to Each action. 

In the Compose action, add an expression. Paste the content from your clipboard and add a [0] between square brackets after the question mark. The [0] will return the first item in an array. 

Go to the start of the expression by pressing the UP arrow key and click on the dynamic content tab. Insert the value dynamic content from the Get Items action. 

Run a test. This Compose action should return the last item created in your List. Note: We'll adjust this expression later so that we get the second last item—since your flow is triggered when a new item is created.

Edit your expression and wrap the expression with the add() function. At the start of the expression enter add with an opening bracket (parentheses).

Press the DOWN arrow key to go to the end of the expression and add a comma and the number 1. This will add 1 to the number.

Run a test.

Adjusting your Trigger

Delete the Manual Trigger and replace it with the When a New Item is Created Trigger.

Adjust the Get Items Action

In the Get Items action, adjust the Top Count to 2. This will return the last two created items.

Alternatively, you could also add a filter query to only return items where the NextManNo eq null. If you do this, then adjusting the top count and the compose action isn't necessary. Either way works.

Adjust the Compose Expression

Because we originally used [0] to return the first item. Change the 0 to 1. This will return the second item. Since the Get Items action is returning the items by Created date in descending order, it will return the second last item.

Update Item

Add an Update Item action. You'll need to ensure you are inserting the correct ID dynamic content. Make sure it's the one from the flow trigger and not the Get Items action. 

In the NextManNo field, insert the outputs from the Compose action. 

Run a test. 

You should see that the newly created item has incremented by 1. 

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉Watch my tutorials on YouTube
👉Tips and Tricks on TikTok