Joining a parallel action to an already existing flow

[swseelam]

I am trying to join a parallel action to an already existing flow. I do not see an option to do this in the UI.

For example : I created Action5 in an already existing flow. I am trying to join Action5 to Action4. I do not see an option to do this.

                                                          Action1

                                             ____________|__________________________________

                                             |                                       |                             |

                                       Action2                            Action3                 Action5

                                            |__________________________|

                                                                |

                                                           Action4

[ScottShearer]

@swseelam 

Please try the following:

1. Copy Action 5 to the Flow clipboard (click on the three dots and select copy to clipboard)
2. Click on the plus sign above Action 4  and select Add a parallel branch
3. In the dialog box that appears asking you to select an action, Click on My clipboard and select the copy of Action 5
4. Delete the original Action 5

Please let me know if this works for you or if you need additional help.

[swseelam]

@ScottShearer I do not see "Add parallel branch" option above Action 4. 

[ScottShearer]

@swseelam 

The fact that you don't see the option for a parallel brach probably has to do with where the action is located.  Please post a screen shot of your Flow in edit mode and I'll try to assist.

[Pstork1]

Since the action is already part of a set of Parallel branches, based on your screenshot, you have to click above the intersection rather than below.  That's why you don't see the add parallel branch.

[swseelam]

@ScottShearer @Pstork1 

I want to join Action1 to Action2. Plus under Action1 just shows "Add an Action".

[Pstork1]

You can't go from one set of parallel branches directly to another set.  Add some action, I would use a simple compose, above action 2.  After that you should see add a parallel branch between that action and action 2.

[Anonymous]

Hi @swseelam.

I'm in a similar boat and still terribly confused. I notice you haven't marked any response as the accepted solution. Were you able to join the parallel branch? If so, how did you do this?

Thanks,
Carla

[swseelam]

@Anonymous  No, I could not add an additional parallel branch. I had to delete the part below parallel actions and reconstruct it again. 

[AndreyBear]

I think he is trying to terminate that parallel with the Action 5 into the same Action 4. I.e., add another parallel branch to the two existing branches, ending with the already existing intersection.

[tchay34]

Still appears outside UI is only way. If helpful to others looking at this, how I solved for my situation:

Download the flow as a .zip file

Within the .zip file, navigate “Microsoft.Flow” --> “flows” --> (folder with numbers) --> definition.json

Open the definition as a text file. In this case, I wanted to connect the branch before “Filter array 9”. So I searched for Filter Array 9’s run after property, which is currently after “num_pers_req”

I then modified the run after by adding an additional requirement within the curly braces, by adding the requirement for “Compose_69” to be completed

Save the and update this as the definition.json within your zip folder

In power automate, go to import, and upload the .zip folder

Before importing, you could have also modified the file name within the zip file, or you can do it here. Select config

If you want to replace an existing flow, select the flow to be replaced, click save, and then import

Alternately, select “Create as new” from the dropdown, save, and import

Result:

[O354-admin]

I have a flow with 85 action items and was experiencing similar issues.

I was able to use Scope to consolidate all action items and then drag all the actions in one long path. 

Original:

                                                          Action1

                                                          Action1.2

                                                          Action1.3

                                             ____________|__________________________________

                                             |                                       |                             |

                                       Action2                            Action3                 Action5

                                       Action2.1                         Action3.1

                                            |__________________________|

                                                                |

                                                           Action4

                                                           Action4.1

                                                           Action4.2

                                                           Action4.3

Use scope to consolidate all the action items like below:

                                                          Scope1

                                             ____________|__________________________________

                                             |                                       |                             |

                                       Scope2                            Scope3                 Action5

                                            |__________________________|

                                                                |

                                                           Scope 4

Organize all the Scope items in one column:

                                                          Scope1

                                                               |

                                                          Scope2

                                                               |

                                                          Scope3

                                                               |

                                                          Scope5

                                                               |

                                                          Scope4
                                                               (+) <-- add parallel tasks here. Drag and drop the scopes as planned.

Then you can start adding parallel actions below Scope 4.

[Anonymous]

This is the way I add a new parallel action to an existing flow:

1) Copy the action you want to join (It will include those dependent actions below)

2) Add 'New Step' using the copied one

3) Then you will see those parallel actions are now joined to the new step

4) Delete the old one and DONE!

[davidmckenzie]

I have found a way that seems to work for me, whether it is useful depends on how many actions you have below the join (action 4 in this case).

• Click on "Add an action" or "New Step" below action 4, which one depends on whether you are at the end of a loop or at the end of the flow.
• Add a compose action, this will cause actions 5 and 4 to join at this compose:
                               Act1
                                  |
    ---------------------------------
    |                   |                          |
  Act2            Act3                    Act5
    |                   |                          |
    --------------                          |
             |                                    |
           Act4                                |
             |                                    |
             --------------------------
                             |
                      Compose1
• Add another compose below Compose1 (next step only allows drop between steps)
• Drag and drop Act 4 between Compose1 and Compose2. This should now give you:
                               Act1
                                  |
    ---------------------------------
    |                   |                          |
  Act2            Act3                    Act5
    |                   |                          |
    -------------- ------------------
                               |
                      Compose1
                               |
                            Act4
                               |
                      Compose2
• Then delete Compose 1 and Compose 2.

Not something I'd want to do if Act4 was more than a handful of actions since you need to drag and drop each. Unless you follow a previous reply and use Scope to group actions.

[xsg13]

This really seems like a bug, there should be an option to just add items to the Run After to reconnect parallel branches.  This would be a much simpler process.

[swseelam]

Yup, I totally agree with that. We are just trying to find hacks to work around the problem.

[cnevs]

I had the same problem.  I have a branch with 2 actions that reconnects to a long list of individual actions below.  Its crazy you cant just drag and drop the lines of the flow, they have this feature in Project and it makes way more sense. 

You need to start from the bottom and work the branch back up.  

1. Use the 'New Step' button at the bottom.  This should link between the bottom of your existing flow ('Action 4'), and the parallel branch that doesnt lead to anything ('Action 5').  

2. Drag and drop everything under the original parallel branch to come after the new step you just created, then delete the fake step. This should leave the 'Action 5' linked to the 2 and 3 branch. 

[asd2525]

Alright here is my solution:

We start out with this:

We want compose 7 to go into Compose 5.

Create a Scope action and pull Compose 2 into it.

Then drag Compose 3 and Compose 4 into the Scope as well. Add a parallel branch between Compose 3 and Compose 2 (it doesn't matter what action you add since you will delete it).

Then drag Compose 7 into the scope under the action that you created in the parallel branch.

Then delete the action you created and you will have your parallel branches joined to a single action.

ALL HAIL THE POWER OF SCOPE!

I hope this helps everyone. I did think of this on the fly and haven't used it yet so if you come across an issue please let me know. I only found this post since I was trying to do something similar.

[Anonymous]

Hi. Unfortunately this does not work for me. When i add a parallel function above branch 4, all i get is a parallel function to branch 4, not to branch 3 and branch 2. What am I doing incorrectly?

[Garrana]

Hi there @swseelam!

This thread is quite old for Internet standards, but since you haven't flagged any solutions so far, and @Anonymous is still suffering from this, sharing what worked for me.

After creating your now orphan parallel flow like above, go to the very bottom of your flow and click on the +New Action button (don't click on the plus sign on the flow, it won't work):

Add any action, like Compose, and it should automagically unite the current end of your flow and the end of your orphan branch.

Move the items from the former end of your flow directly above the compose action you created. If you want to join to some point in the middle of other parallels branches, just reorganize them as they were above the compose.

Now you should be able to Power Automate the way you intended to.

HTH!