delete empty folders in sharepoint document library

[auyiucho]

how to delete all empty folders in a sharepoint document library?

Thanks

[ChristianAbata]

hi @auyiucho  the only way I can see you can do this is using HTTP sharepoint request

https://blogs.msmvps.com/windsor/2018/06/15/calling-the-sharepoint-rest-api-in-a-microsoft-flow/

[faustocapellanj · Accepted solution]

Hello @auyiucho 

As @ChristianAbata mentioned, you need to use the SharePoint HTTP request. This is how you would do it:

1. For my example, I used a manual trigger.
2. For the next action, add a Send an HTTP request to SharePoint, which in my example I renamed to GetFolders. Set your Site Address and for Method, use Get. In the Uri, enter the following: 
   _api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/sites/YourSiteName/YourDocumentLibraryName')/Folders. This will return all the folders inside the respective document library. For the Headers, set the Key to accept and its Value to application/json;odata=nometadata. Adding this to your Headers will reduce the amount of unnecessary data the HTTP request will send back.
   
3. For the next action, add a Filter array. This will be used to retrieve the folders that have 0 ItemCount and to exclude an internal folder called Forms. In the * From field, enter the expression body('GetFolders')['Value']. which is the array returned in the from the HTTP request. Click on Edit in advanced mode and use the expression @and(equals(item()?['ItemCount'], 0), not(equals(item()['Name'], 'Forms'))).
   
4. For the next action, add an Apply to each, which in my example I renamed to ForEach Folder. For the * Select an output from previous steps, select the Body from the Filter array action. Inside this action, add another Send an HTTP request to SharePoint, which in my example I also renamed to Delete Folders. 
5. Set your Site Address and for Method, use Delete. In the Uri, enter the following: 
   _api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/sites/YourSiteName/YourDocumentLibraryName/ExpressionGoesHere'). For the ExpressionGoesHere part in the Uri, use the expression items('ForEach_Folder')['Name'].
   

Please try this approach and let us know.

Regards,

[auyiucho]

Thanks faustocapellanj.

My document library as below

So, I enter the site/library as below

But it returns error: 400

"message": "{\"odata.error\":{\"code\":\"-2147024809, System.ArgumentException\",\"message\":{\"lang\":\"en-US\",\"value\":\"Server relative urls must start with SPWeb.ServerRelativeUrl\"}}}\r\nclientRequestId: eb1a8ad5-0f36-4a9a-8a56-f0e9f635e75d\r\nserviceRequestId: af375a9f-f0dd-0000-537e-631771881cae",

"source": "https://inconhk.sharepoint.com/teams/admin/_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/sites/Administrat...",

[fcapel1023]

Hi @auyiucho 

The parameter in the GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl action needs to match the URL of the site you are sending the HTTP request to. From what I see in your screenshot, your site is structured as /teams/admin, not as the example I posted before. Craft your folder Uri as follows: /teams/admin/InconSystemTemp and try again.

[faustocapellanj]

To clarify something, the reply posted by @fcapel1023 was done by me, @faustocapellanj , but didn't realize I had done it from an old account I never use, which was logged in in my phone. Anyways, apologies if this causes any confusion.

See my actual reply below: 
The parameter in the GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl action needs to match the URL of the site you are sending the HTTP request to. From what I see in your screenshot, your site is structured as /teams/admin, not as the example I posted before. Craft your folder Uri as follows: /teams/admin/InconSystemTemp and try again.

Regards,

[auyiucho]

I double check the site name. it is "admin"

So, I type the Uri as below:

_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/sites/admin/InconSystemTemp')/Folders

But the same error 400.

[auyiucho]

It has error details:

{"odata.error":{"code":"-2147024809, System.ArgumentException","message":{"lang":"en-US","value":"Server relative urls must start with SPWeb.ServerRelativeUrl"}}}
clientRequestId: 1d57bf9d-84ad-4ccb-8e9d-fe458217f1be
serviceRequestId: 703f5a9f-e0bd-0000-530b-eeaf785e43b9

[faustocapellanj]

Hi @auyiucho 

If you look at the Site Address you are using in your Send an HTTP request to SharePoint action, the site is as follows: https://inconhk.sharepoint.com/teams/admin, but in the Uri, you are using _api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/sites/Administration/InconSystemTemp')/Folders. The text highlighted in Red doesn't match the Url in the Site Address parameter.

Your Uri parameter must be _api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/teams/admin/InconSystemTemp')/Folders to match the Site Address. To be safe, open a browser window and enter this URL: 
https://inconhk.sharepoint.com/teams/admin/_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/teams/admin/InconSystemTemp')/Folders and see what you get. 

[auyiucho]

this time it shows error 404

[faustocapellanj]

Hi @auyiucho 

The screenshot below shows what your Send an HTTP request to SharePoint should look like, especially the * Uri parameter. Please try that and let me know.

[ChristianAbata]

@auyiucho  I see you are using get Method and the correct is delete, please change it and try

[faustocapellanj]

Hello @ChristianAbata 

The one he seems to be having troubles with is the Get HTTP method, not the Delete since it's a different Uri.

[auyiucho]

Thanks faustocapellanj.

I correct the Uri. It works.

But the Filter array cannot pass.

[faustocapellanj]

Hi @auyiucho 

I'm glad you got that part working. Now for the Filter array, remove the expression and set it back to Basic mode. On the left side, do the expression item()['ItemCount'], set the logical operator to is equals to and then set the value of the right to 0. Let me know if the filter array works.

[auyiucho]

Thanks faustocapellanj so much.

It finally works.

[faustocapellanj]

You're welcome!

[J_diep]

Thank you for you detailed post. I was however wondering if this flow includes nested items as well? And if not, if it is possible to edit the flow in such a way that it does.   

Look forward to your response and thanks in advance!

[faustocapellanj]

Hi @J_diep 

That's an interesting question. There might be a way to do that, but I will have to try.

[Anonymous]

Hello, I agree, it's a good question and I need help with it, too. We need a flow to periodically delete all empty + all empty subfolders(nested) in a SharePoint library ...