Split text - capitalised phrase - split text with inbuilt conditions

[StillLearning_]

Hi all!

I am hoping someone can help me figure out this issue.  I want to be able to extract (split) text (event subject) that could look like any of the below: 

EXMAPLE 1: BLOGGS, Joe (Meeting - Office) 

EXMAPLE 2: BLOGGS, Joe, DOE, Jane (Meeting - Offsite)

EXMAPLE 3: SMITH, Timothy John, PHILLIP, Fairmont, GRACE Sally-Louise (Monthly Update - Richmond Office)

The results I ultimately want are:

function1: 

EXMAPLE 1: BLOGGS 

EXMAPLE 2: BLOGGS, DOE

EXMAPLE 3: SMITH, PHILLIP, GRACE 

function 2: 

EXMAPLE 1: Joe

EXMAPLE 2: Joe, Jane 

EXMAPLE 3: Timothy, Fairmont, Sally-Louise

I need the last name and first name in separate functions because they are used separately later on in the flow. 

Currently, I have a function that works for EXAMPLE 1 - 

Compose: split(triggerOutputs()?['body/subject'], ' ')[0]

which results in:    BLOGGS,

Compose: split(outputs('SURNAME_(with_comma)'), ',')[0]

which leaves me with:    BLOGGS

This works perfectly where there is only 1 name in the subject (as in EXAMPLE 1) .  However I can't figure out how to extract this if there is more than 1 name.

Ultimately my question is - is there a way to extract only the ENTIRELY capitalized words? and/or is there a way to extract the first word immediately after a comma (even where there are multiple commas, like in EXAMPLES 2 and 3) ? 

[SamLed · Accepted solution]

Hi @StillLearning_,

Here's a working method:

From expression: split(replace(outputs('Compose'), ',',''), ' ')

Note: It replace any comma par space then split by space to get an array of words

Filter condition expression (use advanced mode): @and(equals(item(), toUpper(item())), greater(length(item()), 1))

Note: it checks for each word if word equals its capitalized version and if it is greater than 1 char to exclude non word.

Results:

______________________________________________________________

If I have answered your question, please Accept the post as solution.
If you like my response, please Thumbs Up.

[StillLearning_]

so this is working now (I can extract the capitalised words) but I can't seem to do anything with them now - the 'split text' function doesn't seem to work on the output of this ?  

The result being that when I try and use the capitalised words later in the flow, it either doesn't work at all or I get this:  ["SMITH","PHILLIP","GRACE"]  rather than SMITH, PHILLIP, GRACE

Are you able to assist in explaining how I can split the text, once it returns in the above 'array' ? 

[StillLearning_]

Also - is there a way to adjust the formula to do the same thing for the lower case words (Timothy, Fairmont, Sally-Louise)?

[SamLed]

Hi @StillLearning_,

Expression: 

@and(and(not(equals(item(), toUpper(item()))), greater(length(item()), 1)), and(not(contains(item(), '(')),not(contains(item(), ')'))))

and(not(equals(item(), toUpper(item()))), greater(length(item()), 1)) part exclude any Upper cased item and 1 char length ones.

and(not(contains(item(), '(')),not(contains(item(), ')') excludes any item containing '(' or ')'. 

results:

[Edit] I corrected expression, bad copy/paste, added missing right parenthesis.

______________________________________________________________

If I have answered your question, please Accept the post as solution.
If you like my response, please Thumbs Up.

[SamLed]

Hi @StillLearning_ ,

To convert string into array you use split(string, separator), to revert the conversion use join(array, separator):

expression: join(body('Filter_array'), ',')

Results:

______________________________________________________________

If I have answered your question, please Accept the post as solution.
If you like my response, please Thumbs Up.

[StillLearning_]

I have tried this expression - with the same "from" formula:

split(replace(outputs('Compose'), ',',''), ' ')  -  but it is telling me it is invalid ..

[SamLed]

That's the filter expression which is failing not the from one, it lacks a parenthesis between the 2 first and 😉

______________________________________________________________

If I have answered your question, please Accept the post as solution.
If you like my response, please Thumbs Up.

[StillLearning_]

Sorry please forgive my ignorance (you have been so helpful!) -  what is it I am missing ? 

This is what i am trying, but it is giving me the above 'invalid' result.. 

From:  split(replace(outputs('Compose'), ',',''), ' ')

Expression: @And(and(not(equals(item(), toUpper(item()))), greater(length(item()), 1)), and(not(contains(item(), '(')),not(contains(item(), ')'))

[SamLed]

Don't worry, I'm glad to help 😉

in your sceenshot, I highlighted where it lacks a "(":

______________________________________________________________

If I have answered your question, please Accept the post as solution.
If you like my response, please Thumbs Up.

[SamLed]

Lacks also one ")" at the end, I think 

[StillLearning_]

okay I have no idea what I am doing wrong now. I have added the 2 parentheses in the locations noted above and now I am getting a different error - 

[SamLed]

Hi @StillLearning_,

My bad, so sorry, just figured out I made a bad copy/paste of the expression, corrected it in my initial answer, was missing 2 right parenthesis at the end.

it is: @and(and(not(equals(item(), toUpper(item()))), greater(length(item()), 1)), and(not(contains(item(), '(')),not(contains(item(), ')'))))

______________________________________________________________

If I have answered your question, please Accept the post as solution.
If you like my response, please Thumbs Up.

[StillLearning_]

it works! the only issue is that in EXAMPLE 3 ("SMITH, Timothy John, PHILLIP, Fairmont, GRACE Sally-Louise (Monthly Update - Richmond Office)") I end up with the words in-between the parentheses (Update & Richmond), as below. 

Nonetheless, you have been a huge help!! thank you so much !

[SamLed · Accepted solution]

Hi @StillLearning_ ,

Okay, we have to clean input string of any comment in parentheses before because, as far as I know, we cannot do that using an expression, we need to use an Apply to each:

This needs some explanations:

• Apply to each take an array resulting of input string split by comma:  split(outputs('Compose'), ',')
• For each item, we remove comment in parentheses if exists and remove any leading or trailing space with trim(): 
  if(contains(items('Apply_to_each'), '('), trim(substring(items('Apply_to_each'), 1, sub(indexOf(items('Apply_to_each'), '('), 1))), trim(items('Apply_to_each')))
• Now, I use an advanced power automate trick to retrieve an array from "Apply to each" without using variable. I call outputs of compose belonging to Apply to each in the Filter action "From" property. Power Automate won't propose it in dynamic contents, you'll have to write it manually in expression: 
  split(join(outputs('Remove_comments_in_parentheses'), ' '), ' ')
• Then use the required expression to extract capitalized names or not ones
• Last action convert output array into string using join()

Results:

______________________________________________________________

If I have answered your question, please Accept the post as solution.
If you like my response, please Thumbs Up.

[StillLearning_]

perfect! Thank you!