Filter Array is geting error when taking the contain output from compose FormatDateTime

[RR_177]

Hi Everyone Here,

I'm currently trying to build a flow to automate the email based on the date in excel column. However, I'm stuck in the mid of flow journey when I'm creating filter array to create a condition using "contains".

When I run a test, it is giving me the error:

I intent to pull the table, selecting the column (birthday date) then match it with the compose output that I have converted to MM-dd. Do I need to add another step to change the type of output? kindly advice.

[Chriddle]

You somehow managed to make "Compose Changing the format..." an array.
Why this happened cannot be evaluated without seeing the expression in this Compose.

[grantjenkins]

It looks like you're trying to get a list of the people who's birthday is today and send them a Happy Birthday email. Below is how I'd likely build it.

For this example, I'm using the following Excel Table.

See full flow below. I'll go into each of the actions.

Recurrence is set to run daily.

List rows present in a table will return the Excel rows. Note that you should set DateTime Format to ISO 8601 so it brings back the actual date and not the serial date.

Convert time zone will get the current date/time and convert it to my time zone then format it as MM-dd. The expression to get todays date/time is below.

utcNow()

Filter array will filter the rows where the birthday is today. It uses the following expression.

//Note that you would need to put the column name for your birthday column

formatDateTime(item()?['Birthday'], 'MM-dd')

Apply to each will iterate over each of the rows from Filter array (the birthdays on today).

Send an email will send an email to each person wishing them a Happy Birthday. It uses the following expressions (you may have different columns to me).

//Email
item()?['Email']

//Name
item()?['Name']

[RR17]

Hi @grantjenkins , thank you for your detail explanation.

I have the error at Apply to each action where it says (unable to process template language for action 'apply_to_each' at line '0' and column '0')

Do you know how to make this action start to read the line and column 1?

[grantjenkins]

Can you try switching back to the classic designer and see if it works then. The new designer still has a few bugs.

[Chriddle]

I assume you want body('Filter_array'), not outputs('Filter_array')['body/value']

[grantjenkins]

@Chriddle the reason I mentioned trying the Classic designer is because the new designer still has a lot of bugs including what they are facing here where when you add the Body of a Filter Array it changes it to body/value. Also happens with a lot of other scenarios. In addition, the new designer is having issues with auto-wrapping file content inside base64 expressions and throwing errors, etc. among other issues.

I'd suggest using the Classic designer until Microsoft resolve some of the new designer issues, otherwise you won't know if the issue is caused by something you got wrong, or just one of the many existing bugs.

[Chriddle]

I'll stick with the old designer until all these flaws are fixed 😏

[RR17]

Hi @grantjenkins, thank you. Yes, upon checking again the flow and changed it to classic, it is currently working.