Splitting a string by uppercase letter

[ScottRoso]

Hey all,

I am severely stuck on this issue. I have a string that was created called GetName which contains a dynamically changing name based upon what is uploaded for example: JohnSmith, JaneDoe etc. What I want to do is to be able to separate this string based upon the location of an uppercase letter. There is no space or other special character that I can use to identify where I want the split to be so I am hoping that someone may have a better idea to perform the action.

Thanks for any and all input!

[DamoBird365]

Hi @ScottRoso 

I've given this a go as follows:

A list of upper case letters A-Z, can be split() to create an array and the used with contains() (case sensitive) and indexof to get the position of Uppercase letters.

Select input:

split(outputs('ComposeUpperLetters'),',') 

letter: 

if(contains(outputs('ComposeName'),item()),item(),'')

location:

if(contains(outputs('ComposeName'),item()),indexof(outputs('ComposeName'),item()),0)

This gives me an array of letters and locations, all bar 1 will be 0 and i can use a filter.

FROM split(outputs('ComposeName'),',')

item()?['location'] greater than 1

Output:

Please consider accepting my answer as a solution if it helps to solve your problem.

Cheers
Damien

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[ekarim2020 · Accepted solution]

Here is one method:

FROM:
range(1,sub(length(variables('varName')),1))

MAP:
if(contains(variables('varUpper'),substring(variables('varName'),item(),1) ), item(),0)

 

LENGTH:
first(body('Filter_array'))

 

STARTING POSITION:
first(body('Filter_array'))

LENGTH:
sub(length(variables('varName')), first(body('Filter_array')))

 

Here is some sample runtime output:

 

Ellis
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[ScottRoso]

@ekarim2020  I am trying your method but for whatever reason when I am typing out the "map" portion of the code

if(contains(variables('varUpper'),substring(variables('varName'),item(),1) ), item(),0)

it constantly reverts back to the following: if(contains(variables('varUpper'),substring(variables('varName'))))

Any idea on why it would do that/possible fixes?

[ekarim2020]

Sorry, I should have added a note to Switch to text mode for the Select action:

 

Ellis

[ScottRoso]

@ekarim2020The weird thing is that I have been in text mode and it still reverts for some reason. It does not seem to want to enter any of the "item" function.

[ScottRoso]

@DamoBird365Could you explain a little more on the "Select" step? The note shows split(outputs('ComposeUpperLetters'), ',')contains(outputs('ComposeName'), item())  The system does not like this and throws a flow error message. Thanks again for your help.

[ekarim2020]

If you create the flow and then copy-and-paste the expression below, does it allow you to save?

if(contains(variables('varUpper'),substring(variables('varName'),item(),1) ), item(),0)

Ellis

[ScottRoso]

@ekarim2020For whatever reason the copy and paste seemed to work. I do have a slightly different issue now though but the entire process works. Thank you!

[JoeHrabnicky]

Hi @ekarim2020,

Would you be able to create a similar solution to the one you provided above but for a use case in which the substrings can vary in both quantity and length?

So for example:

Input	Desired Output
HelloGoodbye	Hello Goodbye
TodayIsWednesday	Today Is Wednesday
ThankYouInAdvanceForYourHelp	Thank You In Advance For Your Help

[ekarim2020]

Hi @JoeHrabnicky 

If we re-use the previous flow, we can modify it as follows:

SELECT:
range(0,length(variables('varName')))

MAP:
if(contains(variables('varUpper'),substring(variables('varName'),item(),1) ), concat(' ',substring(variables('varName'),item(),1)),substring(variables('varName'),item(),1))

A brief explanation: In the 'Select' action, the 'range' function is employed to generate a numeric sequence that begins at the first character of the text (0, as counting starts from 0) and extends to the last character of the text (27). Within the Map property of the Select action we examine each letter of the text. We check whether a letter is in uppercase. If it is indeed uppercase, we return it as [SPACE][CAPITAL LETTER]. If the letter is not in uppercase, we simply return the letter itself. This process is then repeated for each subsequent letter in the text.

The Select action produces an array as its output result:

The 'join' function combines all the letters within the array into a single string. In the image below, quotation marks are depicted (though they are not part of the output) to illustrate the presence of a space at the beginning of the resulting text.

Finally, the trim function removes any space before and after the text:

Ellis
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[ekarim2020]

Hi @JoeHrabnicky ,

Here's an alternative Select action that uses the "new" Chunk function. I think this version is easier to understand:

FROM:
chunk(variables('varName'),1)

MAP:
if(contains(variables('varUpper'), item()), concat(' ', item()), item())

 

For an example of the Chunk function is action, see: How to Extract Numbers from a String Using Power Automate

Ellis
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If I have answered your question, please mark the post as ☑️ Solved.
If you like my response, please give it a Thumbs Up.
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[JoeHrabnicky]

@ekarim2020 this worked! Thank you so much for your expertise and for the wonderfully laid out instruction/explanation!!!