Convert text to number

[Glebenerd]

Greetings:

I am using an MS Forms form to trigger an MS Flow which will transfer the input into a new list item in sharepoint.  Even though MS Forms allows you to specify that a field has to be a number, it seems to pass to flow as a text.  Is there a way to convert the text into a number in a number field? 

Thank you

John

[v-micsh-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Glebenerd,

Yes, there is a way to convert it into Number in Microsoft Flow.

An easy way for you to manage,

1. Add one compose Action, choose the field (Dynamic content from the form actions) that you would like to convert as the Compose Input, 

2. Add another Compose Action, under the Input, copy and paste the following:

"@int(outputs('Compose'))"      //for integer

Or

"@float(outputs('Compose'))"   // for floating-point number

Function reference: WorkFlow Definition Language.

3. Then use the Dynamic outputs of Compose 2 for the atcual field.

Regards,

Michael

[Glebenerd]

Thank you:

That answer opened up a world possibilities,  I had no idea that compose allowed you to reach into the workflow language.

John

[hassaanahmad]

Michael,

Thanks for your solution. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the Flow to work for me. With the two (2) compose functions, I attemped to convert my 'Total Cost' value from a string to an integer per your instructions. However, when I use the dynamic output of Compose 2 (i.e., this is  the compose titled 'Total Cost' for me) in a 'greater than or equal to' function, I get an error. See the screenshots below. I'd greatly appreciate your help. Thank you.

[hassaanahmad]

I figured it out. I used the 'float' conversion function: 

float(triggerBody()?['Total_x0020_Cost'])

Thanks anyway.

[LMeister]

Another possible way to convert string to int:

first initialize a empty string variable at the start of the flow using the intialize variable, in my case i named it 'deletionID'.

Then add in the text you want using the set variable function down in the flow

Then you can use the compose with the input as "@int(variables('deletionID'))". The output from the compose will be an int value.

What variables does is that it takes in the name of any variable and gives you the value of the variable. Int function will only take in a value so the output of variables sits nicely in the formula

Just wanted to share this as an alternative if error occurs when there are multiple compose needed in parallel branch

[ilu989]

Hi @v-micsh-msft ,

Can you please tell me how to convert the integer to be the string? Ex: 123 converts to "123"

Because I just use the "Select" action to make my data like this:

But I need to use "0" to be the unique key for filter array, but filter array can't recognize the integer content, so I need to convert to be the string, how can I get this? I already try String(item()[0]) in Select action, but not workable.

Please give me any advice.

Regards,

ilu989

[Anonymous]

Hi Mates,

Just remove here double quotes means just use like below its working charming

@int(outputs('Compose'))

Thanks

[Anonymous]

I know it's a few years late, but thanks for this! For some reason other expressions were not working for me, but float did the trick. 

[bogdanf]

Hello, 

In your question - float(triggerBody()?['Total_x0020_Cost']) - what is the purpose of "?" ?

[GuyBoswell]

Why, oh why, oh why is this a thing?!?!?