Formatting csv file from SharePoint list 'multi choice columns'

[shelleyb]

Hello,

I have an 'flow' to create a CSV file and send to distribution list based on the values within a SharePoint list. It works to a point. The issue is the format of the CSV file; the majority of the columns are formatted like (see below); there is 11+ multi choice columns on the SharePoint list.

{"@odata.type":"#Microsoft.Azure.Connectors.SharePoint.SPListExpandedReference","Id":2,"Value":"New"} 

I've attempted to format using the following articles with no luck; I'm obviously missing something:-

• https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/Flow-get-multiple-values-from-sharepoint-column-f...
• https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/Flow-get-multiple-values-from-sharepoint-column-f... 

EDIT: 

@Paulie78 @Hardesh15 I've tried the 'Select' option to format as suggested its there that the below error message appears stating logic is invalid and flow is exceeding the limited of 'Apply to Each'. I'm selecting the 'Value' options for the columns required and Power Automote automatically applies the 'Apply to Each' container.

[Hardesh15]

@shelleyb You are not selecting correct column name from dynamic content. Pls elaborate more.

Please 'Thumbs Up' the posts that helped you and 'Mark as Solution' if my post answered your question.

@Hardesh

[Paulie78]

Probably the easiest thing to do is use a "select" action after the get items action to reformat the output from sharepoint to be just how you want it. You can then use the output of the select action in your create CSV action.

[Paulie78]

Could you do me a favour and then I will help you out. Could you post the complete output (JSON) for your get items action on pastebin.com. Then I will bring that into a flow on my end and put you something together that will do what you want.

[shelleyb]

shouldn't be a problem... how do I get the (JSON) output? 

[Paulie78]

In the run history, click on the "Get Items" step, and copy the contents of the "outputs" section. It might say click to download if it is over a certain size.

[shelleyb]

@Paulie78It should be in here 

https://pastebin.com/a1azLTHh

[Paulie78]

ok, I had a look, it isn't as straightforward as I imagined. The choice fields are no problem and the values can be retrieved with a select query. The problem comes when you get to the field named "Front_x0020_End". This is because this is an array within an array (it can have many choices).

So how would that be represented in CSV? (It would have to be a single column separated by something other than a comma).

Example CSV output of the fields up to that point is like this:

Title,ID,storeNumber,storeName,project,newExistingStore,newExistingStoreID,goLiveDate,eftRequiredDate,submittedWithinSLA,outsideSLA
Sainsburys,889,0,Test6,New Store,New,2,2021-02-01,2021-02-01,Yes,Project Late Request

Do you know what I mean?

[shelleyb]

yeah that would be perfect: single column with the multi choice separated by ;

[Paulie78 · Accepted solution]

Hi Shelly,

This is a little complicated due to the way you have the arrays within your array, but I have tried to make it as simple as possible. This is how it works...

1. Each SharePoint Row is loaded into an apply/each loop.
2. Within that apply/each loop each array within the record is transformed to a flat array of values.
3. Still within the apply/each loop a JSON is created within a compose action.
4. Within the compose action the new arrays are joined with a semi-colon in order to work with the CSV.

Outside of the apply to each all of the unique rows are combined into an array and then fed into the input of the create csv action. 

Here is an image of the flow: https://ibb.co/vhpGrsR

Now there is probably quite a bit here you are not familiar with. To make it easier for you I have exported my flow and uploaded so you can download it and import it into your environment, to copy each step:

https://www.tachytelic.net/wp-content/uploads/SharePointToCSV2_20210202174524.zip

Note that my first action "Get items" is actually a OneDrive get file content action. But I named it "Get items" so that the code produced would be the same as what you need. You need to delete the "Get items" step and replace it with your SharePoint Get Items action.

I have not done every field for you, I have done enough fields so that you can copy the example and produce exactly what you need.

[tom_riha]

Hello @shelleyb ,

I think these two posts in the topic you linked show the solution:

• Solved: Re: Flow: get multiple values from sharepoint colu... - Power Platform Community (microsoft....
• Solved: Re: Flow: get multiple values from sharepoint colu... - Power Platform Community (microsoft....

I'd just extend the expression by adding join(...) to display the choices not as an array ["choice1","choice2"] but as a semicolon separated string.

join(xpath(xml(json(concat('{"body":{"value":', item()?['COLUMN_NAME'] , '}}'))), '/body/value/Value/text()'), '; ')

[shelleyb]

@Paulie78 Thank you! I'm now getting the following error message

[Paulie78]

Hi @shelleyb ,

This means that the output of the compose step "completeJSON" is empty. If you go into the run history you can verify if this is the case. If it is empty, please check if the apply to each section ran. If it did, check there was some output in rowJSON compose step. If that didn't run, ensure that "Get items" actually returned some data.

[shelleyb]

Cool … it looks like the connection between rowJSON and completeJSON isn't working.

And the outputs from rowJSON aren't showing for completeJSON

[Paulie78]

Try putting in the expression:

outputs('rowJSON')

in the completeJSON step. It seems to be empty right now.

[shelleyb]

its still coming up with the error. The output from rowJSON is empty

[Paulie78]

My guess is that your apply to each never ran. Look into the run history and see how many iterations of the apply/each loop ran please.

[MULLOI]

Hi, can i check how you created the Get items under Data Ops?