Trigger flow when only one field in list is modified

[Anonymous]

Hello - I have a flow that triggers an automated email when a list field, "Status" changes from 'Open' to closed. However, the email triggers whenever any field is changed. Is there a way to fine tune so that this will only trigger on the desired field and no other field?

 

[Antiwa]

@anilrambhajan 

Well you don't actually need to create 8 flows in such scenarios.

Here's a simple approach to deal with that situation:

1. Add all the 8 Status value to initiate and trigger the flow[settings->trigger conditions].

2. Within the flow, either use 'If condition' branching or 'switch' case to perform different task on different status value.

Job done in a single flow!

[anilrambhajan]

Ok, understood. I see what you are saying. Thank you for your response.

[Anonymous]

Can you share the logic to run when only status field is changed from open to close

[shawn_fielding]

Here's how I do it.  Not saying it's the best way, but it works.

1. On the list, create a status field and an previous status field, and set both to the same when created.

2.  I assume someone else changes the status from open to closed.  On change, if the status and previous status.  If the statuses are different.  If so, do whatever action you wanted to happen.

3.  Change the previous status to closed using the flow.  

[GLaDOS_Lives]

There is a template I do not remember seeing in the past regarding this subject entitled "Send a push notification when a column is changed in a SharePoint list".  I know it doesn't specify a column within a specific item but the description "check the previous version and compare the status indicator"... However, when looking at the template to determine what it is actually doing, I get lost pretty quick because my  coding background is rather limited.  Just thought I would point it out and someone with more knowledge could take a look and see if anything in that template could potentially help solve this particular issue. 

[Anonymous]

GLaDOS_Lives  that template is getting the 2 most recent versions of the list item (using HTTP request).  Then the condition compares the Status indicator of each version.  This method can be used to make comparisons to previous values once the flow has been triggered.  If you do not care what the values has changed to (or from) you can use the "Get changes for an item or a file (properties only)" action that will return True for any column that has changed.  

But for the original question posted, the key is to use a Trigger condition to run the flow only if a column value has a specific value.   This would be to run only when the Status column and a different column named OldStatus are not equal.  As long as they are equal, the flow would never even trigger.

[guanel1]

In your List, create a new column called "Flow Status". Make the column a Choice column with letters as the choices. (A, B, C, D, etc). You should create enough choices for each new flow that is related to the changes. Make this column default to "A" when a new line is added. You can hide this column as well if it is confusing for others to see. It is only here to help with the flow. 

in Power Automate, after you create the Send Email flow, add an "Update Item" step. 

Add the List associated to this flow. In the column called "Flow Status" have the choice now be changed to B. 

And above the email, in the condition, add a condition that the Flow Status = A. 

So when this is triggered, it will initially send an email for the first time it runs. Then, the flow will update the "Flow Status" column to "B". And then the email will not be triggered again. See below for an example of how i used this previously. highlighted in Yellow is the change to this Flow Status column. 

[sachindevgupta]

Is there any better approach available than this after these many years?  

[anilrambhajan]

Hello,

I have not worked much on flows since this but I used a boolean column, When the value in a particular column changes, I set the boolean column to true.

Then each time this column value changes to true, I perform my actions. At the end of the actions, I update the boolean column once more to false.

Within flow, you can determine the current value as well as the prior value stored in the column, if necessary.

Hope this helps.

Anil R.