Trouble with returning Compose value back to Canvas app

[astrontelstar]

I have a compose action that returns the following:  I need to get this to my canvas app, but when I try a ParseJSON on it, and supply this as the schema design it gives me an error.

[

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(b128ab5a-4cae-...)",

"Client": "Alburys Nassau",

"Item": "180 Value Cap Dads Cap",

"PO": "2024008"

},

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(3cfa6210-60ae-...)",

"Client": "Alburys Nassau",

"Item": "50 Custom Rubber Mouse Pad",

"PO": "2024009"

},

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(514734f3-b1a9-...)",

"Client": "Cryptic Vector, LLC",

"Item": "48 15oz Bistro Mug (Matte Black & Glossy White)",

"PO": "2024001"

},

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(a406d145-b5a9-...)",

"Client": "Lux Inks | Memorial Care",

"Item": "1000 ¾\" Athletics Lanyard with Lobster Claw Closure",

"PO": "2024002"

},

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(342735b3-58aa-...)",

"Client": "Trax Plus",

"Item": "50 Richardson 112 Bandit caps with Patch on the side",

"PO": "2024003"

},

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(2f1ec5c9-60aa-...)",

"Client": "Waypoint",

"Item": "160 RF Series Double Ring Pen - rubber finish matte blue pen",

"PO": "2024004"

},

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(f45ad312-b5aa-...)",

"Client": "Asphalt Doctors",

"Item": "150 Sport-Tek® Men's Long Sleeve PosiCharge® Competitor™ Tee",

"PO": "2024005"

},

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(25878147-19ab-...)",

"Client": "Lux Inks | Memorial Care",

"Item": "1000 Foam Stress Reliever Balls",

"PO": "2024006"

},

{

"ID": "https://orge4b507c5.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.1/cr014_mprintedbusinessoperationses(818c0cdc-4bab-...)",

"Client": "Illinois Oil Marketing Equipment, Inc",

"Item": "500 Touchscreen Palm Dipped Gloves",

"PO": "2024007"

}

]

[Expiscornovus]

Hi @astrontelstar,

What did you use as Power fx formulas in your Canvas App? And what setup did you use in your flow?

As an example I created the below Canvas app and flow with your data.

1. The cloud flow

2. A button which triggers the flow and sets a DataFromFlow variable which parses the json string (from the Result variable of the flow) and converts it to table

3. A gallery which uses that DataFromFlow table items and refers to for example the PO value of each item in the subtitle1.

[astrontelstar]

I think maybe that's the source. Let me show you currently where I am and what I'm getting based on your response:

Here is my current flow:

And here is my power app code

Here is the FLOW Response:

But when I look at the variable in my canvas app, it's blank

[astrontelstar]

[Expiscornovus]

Hi @astrontelstar,

It looks like the difference is I am sending the results back as a string. It looks like in your case it is an array.

Can you try the below in your Respond to a PowerApp or flow action to see if that makes a difference?

string(outputs('Compose'))

[astrontelstar]

I guess I'm puzzled.  Why would Microsoft build a tool that responds back and ONLY give it a string response ?

[Expiscornovus]

Hi @astrontelstar,

I don't know the reasoning behind this being an escaped json string instead of an actual array. For me it is just a known thing which I have learned to deal with. Maybe the PowerApps people/community know about the reasoning behind this?

Btw, Matthew Devaney also has a nice blog about this setup:

https://www.matthewdevaney.com/power-apps-parsejson-function-get-collection-from-a-flow/

[astrontelstar · Accepted solution]

I was able to get it to send to my powerapp using the Response action instead of respond to.  I with Microsoft had better documentation here.  Thank you!