Populate Word Template with nested (multilevel) Repeating Section Content Control

[emfuentes27]

Is it possible to populate a Word Template that contains a nested or multilevel Repeating Section Content Controls. I have this data that I get from SharePoint, and the result is a JSON that looks like this:

[
  {
    "ro": "Billings",
    "tracking_repeat": [
      {
        "issue": "xxxx",
        "tracking": "xxxxxx",
        "rType": "xxxxxxx"
      },
      {
        "issue": "yyyyyy",
        "tracking": "yyyyyy",
        "rType": "yyyyyyy"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "ro": "Oklahoma City",
    "tracking_repeat": [
      {
        "issue": "aaaa",
        "tracking": "aaaaa",
        "rType": "aaaaa"
      },
      {
        "issue": "bbbbbb",
        "tracking": "bbbbb",
        "rType": "bbbbbb"
      },
      {
        "issue": "ccccc",
         "tracking": "cccc",
        "rType": "ccccc"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "ro": "Raleigh",
    "tracking_repeat": [
      {
        "issue": "dddddddd",
        "tracking": "eeeeeee",
        "rType": "ffffffffff"
      },
      {
        "issue": "ggggggg",
        "tracking": "hhhhhhhh",
        "rType": "iiiiiiii"
      }
    ]
  },
  {
    "ro": "Spokane",
    "tracking_repeat": [
      {
        "issue": "jjjjjj",
        "tracking": "kkkkkkk",
        "rType": "lllllll"
      },
      {
        "issue": "mmmmmmm",
        "tracking": "nnnnnnn",
        "rType": "nnnnnn"
      }
    ]
  }
]

I need to insert that data into a Word document templated with two Repeating Section Content Controls. The first repeating section would show the "ro", and then below it the data need to be inserted. It should look like this:

So far I'm able to repeat the "ro", but the rest it shows as JSON. This is how the Word template looks like:

I would appreciate any lead on this. Thanks in advance.

[NiloferA]

1. Hi!

   Yes you can populate nested Repeating Content Controls in Power Automate, but the way you have the Repeating Controls Configured, your output will look something like this

   

   Instead, use only one Repeating Section surrounding a Row and fill the fields conditionally in the Flow, the output will look something like this

   

   In any case, below are the steps to follow in Power Automate to pass the correct Array to the Word Document for population of data

   1. Initialize an Array (myArray) and a String Variable (PreviousRO)
   2. Pass the JSON to Parse JSON action and generate the Schema
   3. Add an Apply to Each (Main) action and pass "Body" as the Input (Output from Parse JSON)
   4. Add an Apply to Each (Inner) nested inside the Apply to Each action added in step 3, and pass "tracking_repeat" as input
   5. Add a condition within the nested Apply to Each --> PreviousRO (variable) is equal to ro (items('Apply_to_Each_Main')['ro'])
      1. 
   6. In Yes Branch, add an Append to Array action and configure it as follows
      1. 
   7. In No Branch,
      1. Add Set a Variable action and set PreviousRO to ro (items('Apply_to_Each_Main')['ro'])
      2. Add an Append to Array Variable and Configure it as shown in below image
      3. Add another Append to Array Variable and Configure it as shown in below image
      4. 
   8. Add Populate a Microsoft Word Template action, select the Site, Library and the Template you wish to update
   9. You will get a repeating section corresponding to the one added on the template, pass the Array here
      1. 
   10. Add a Create file action to create a file in SharePoint with the newly generated content and pass the output from step 9 in File Content
   11. 1. 

   *Please note, the key you enter in the Array should correspond to the Title of the Content Controls added in the Word Document.

   Hope this helps! Please post a Reply in case if you still face any issue.

[iwolff]

Thank you! Do I understand correctly that for this to work we basically need to construct a "flat" array where nested elements follow each other? I mean like this:

[
  {
    "ro":"Spokane"
  },
  {
    "issue": ""
    "tracking": ""
    "rType": "",
  },
  {
    "issue": ""
    "tracking": ""
    "rType": "",
  },
  {
    "ro":"Raleigh"
  },
  {
    "issue": ""
    "tracking": ""
    "rType": "",
  },
  ...
]
 

Update: I tried this and can't get it to work. The flow fails with a "Bad Request" error when trying to populate the Word template. That error seems to be caused by bad input since it goes away when I change the input structure to a nested object (though the Word document content is not populated correctly in that case).

[Petemurphy001]

I tried to duplicate your answer and cannot get it to function.  Can you provide more details on the condition portion?

[ankurjain30]

Hi @emfuentes27 , Were you able to achieve your requirement using word template in Power Automate ?

I also have same scenario for which I need to use nested(multilevel) repeating section content controls.

Please let me know if you tried any other way to fix it up.

Regards,

Ankur

[emfuentes27]

Unfortunately, no. I ended up looping, and creating different documents.

[AlexEncodian]

This should be easy to do using the Encodian Populate Word action by simply putting <<for each>> tags within <<for each tags>> (the encodian population engine mostly avoids content controls and template syntax is typed in plain text)

Template Syntax Overview – Encodian Customer Help

Tables – Encodian Customer Help

Repeating Sections or Paragraphs – Encodian Customer Help