'Null' expression not working for condition

[cb23]

Hi there, 

For this flow I want to check whether there is a value within a cell before sending an email. 

The email is a reminder so if there is already an outcome (not from an approvals email) there would be no need to send it. I've tried putting in that the value is equal to null (as expression) but when I've tested this it still sends the email. 

Should I be writing something else in there instead?

The process repeats after 14 days before sending the final reminder so I need to get it right! I hope it's a minor tweak 🙂 

 

[creativeopinion]

@cb23 Have you tried leaving the value field empty?

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

[yashag2255]

Hi @cb23 

You can also try 

empty(excelCell) is equal to true

Hope this Helps!

If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!

[cb23]

Thanks @creativeopinion but that didn't work for me!

[cb23]

Hi @yashag2255, this didn't work for me. I'm still getting both emails (see screenshot)

 

In the condition I put 

empty(body('Add_a_row_into_a_table')?['Outcome'])

Is this correct?

I tested it with the second condition after a 2 minute delay so I could put something in the cell in between the actions but the second email still came through.

[Gericom]

hi @cb23 

Did you try outcome is equal to ""

if you have any questions feel free to ask 

Please click Accept as solution if my post helped you solve your issue. This will help others find it more readily. It also closes the item. If the content was useful in other ways, please consider giving it Thumbs Up.

[cb23]

@Gericom just tried this and it returned a false result for me (even though the cell was empty)

[creativeopinion]

@cb23 Can you please add a Compose action into the YES branch above the Send an email action and store the dynamic content on your condition? 

Please upload a screenshot of the output to the compose action.

[cb23]

Is this what you mean?

[creativeopinion]

@cb23 Yes. Just to confirm the outputs of the dynamic content. Confirming that you tried the condition with the second value field without a value. Leaving it empty? And it still comes back true?

[cb23]

When I leave it blank (see screenshot) it comes back as false?!

[creativeopinion]

@cb23 EDIT:

When you tested it earlier—comparing it to a null value, it came back to true. When you tested it with a blank value, it came back to false. 

You need to adjust your operator. Or move your Send an email condition to the right branch. What your condition is telling you is correct. You are checking if there is a NULL value (and it's returning) true. Meaning there is nothing in the cell. 

You can change the operator to is NOT equal to, and leave your Send an Email action in the YES branch. If the cell has a value—send the email.

---OR---

Keep the operator to is equal to and move the Send an Email action to the NO branch.

It al depends on how you read the condition and how you want it to read. 

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

[cb23]

Okay, good to know. Any suggestions on what to do now?

[creativeopinion]

@cb23 Please see my previous post. I made an edit. I just realized what you were having an issue with (I think). Hopefully that helps.

[Chriddle]

if you use the function coalesce, it does not matter if your value is null or empty. In both cases it will return ''.

(Of course it returns the value, if not null)

coalesce(your_value, '')

[cb23]

I am getting so frazzled with this flow, but I think I have just had a slight breakthrough, or at least realisation.

I thought maybe the issue was the blank so created a formula in the excel column to check if it was blank or not and used that as the condition instead ('validation2'). If it's not blank it now shows as 'Complete'. 

Then I wondered if perhaps I needed to get the row again between the delays - I thought maybe it needs to look it up again instead of referring to the original values earlier on in the flow. The idea is that the 'Outcome' column will be changed manually if needed between the 7 and 14 days (which will now change the validation column). 

So I tested with these new actions and it came back true, but it picked up the first row in the table which had the value 'Complete' rather than the row that was added from the trigger. Is it something to do with the way the flow is organised that's stopping it getting the value from where I need it? 

[creativeopinion]

@cb23 A key column should store a unique value (key)... You can't use the Validation2 column as a key column as it won't be unique. Are you looking to return all rows that have Complete in the Validation2 column? 

If so, you will need to use a Filter Array action. Or filter the rows returned from the List Rows present in a table action. To learn more about how to use the Filter Array action, please refer to this recent YT Tutorial I uploaded.

[cb23]

Ah okay, I didn’t realise that. I’ll get rid of that then!

No I still just want to check the same row that was created as part of the trigger - when a new email with certain conditions is received.

[cb23]

Thanks @creativeopinion. I only want to send an email if (after the delay) the cell is still blank. My colleague will be adding something here manually if anything progresses with the people involved (i.e. accepted, denied, on hold, etc). I only want an email to be sent if that value is still blank after each of the different time delays. 

[creativeopinion]

@cb23 If this is the case you still need a key value in your table. When you Add a row to a table, you are doing just that. Adding a row of data. When you add a delay, That's all you are doing. Adding a delay. You aren't actually getting the data of the row you just added. There isn't currently an action in your flow to do this.

Create a flow as a test (similar to what I've done below)—it will help you to understand what is going on.

In my test, I've added a row to my table with a blank cell in the Status column.  After the flow ran, I added a Status of Complete. The Status dynamic content is still blank (even though I added a value). 

Why? This is because the only action in my flow is Add a row into a table. In your flow, you have a List Rows present in a table action—however this happens BEFORE you add the row. 

You need to add a List Row present in a table action AFTER the delay to return the row that you just added. This is why you need a key. Without a key you aren't able to return that row. 

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