Return Count of Items

nshaw75 · ‎03-16-2024

Hi guy's this is driving me up the wall 😖

I have looked at previous issues which have been marked as complete and also tried using available templates and I still cannot get this flow to work.

I have a flow set up which creates a SharePoint list item and a planner task when a MS Form is filled in to generate tasks. This was quite tricky but I managed it. The bit where I am struggling with is when the Tasks are completed in Planner, I want Power Automate to update the SharePoint list. I have attached some screenshots, which I am almost certain are just like those in the examples I have looked at, but they don't work.

creativeopinion · ‎03-16-2024

@nshaw75 Your filter query is missing a single quote after your Title dynamic content label.

With the filter query above, the title of the Planner task must be an exact match to the Title in your SharePoint list. If this isn't reliable (meaning, if the Planner task may be renamed or altered) you should consider logging the Planner Task ID in your SharePoint list instead.

Return Count of Items

Whenever I use a Filter Query in a Get Items action, I always like to return the count of items returned in a Compose action. This is helpful when building a flow and can also be used to troubleshoot your flow.

Insert a Compose action. Add an Expression. Use the length() function.

Select the Dynamic content tab and insert the value dynamic content from the Get Items action into the length() function.

Run a test. Review the output of the Compose action. If an item is found, the Compose action should output a 1.

Condition Check

To prevent your flow from failing, you could also add a Condition action. If items have returned (aka there is number stored in the Compose action—that is not equal to 0), add the rest of your actions to the Yes branch. If not, do nothing.

Avoid the Apply to Each Action

The Get Items action will always return an array of items—even if it's a single item. You can avoid the Apply to Each action by using expression. Check out this section of my YT Tutorial: 3 Mistakes YOU 🫵 are Making with the Apply to Each Action in your Microsoft Power Automate Flow where I cover how to do this.

In this video tutorial I’ll go over how to avoid these common mistakes when using the Apply to Each action in a Power Automate flow:

1️⃣ Looping through a Single Item

2️⃣ Creating Unnecessary Nested Loops

3️⃣ Looping through an Unfiltered Array

At the end of the video I share a few helpful insights when it comes to using the Apply to Each action in your flow.

IN THIS VIDEO:

✅ How to avoid the Apply to Each action with a single item array

✅ How to use the item() function to access dynamic content in an array

✅ How to prevent unnecessary nested Apply to Each action loops

✅ How to use the Select action

✅ How to convert an array to a string with the Select action

✅How to use the Filter Query field

✅ How to count the number of items in an array

✅ How to use a condition control

✅ How to use the concurrency control

✅ How to set a top count

✅ How to use Compose actions for troubleshooting

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok and Instagram

View solution in original post

creativeopinion · ‎03-16-2024

@nshaw75 Your filter query is missing a single quote after your Title dynamic content label.

With the filter query above, the title of the Planner task must be an exact match to the Title in your SharePoint list. If this isn't reliable (meaning, if the Planner task may be renamed or altered) you should consider logging the Planner Task ID in your SharePoint list instead.

Return Count of Items

Whenever I use a Filter Query in a Get Items action, I always like to return the count of items returned in a Compose action. This is helpful when building a flow and can also be used to troubleshoot your flow.

Insert a Compose action. Add an Expression. Use the length() function.

Select the Dynamic content tab and insert the value dynamic content from the Get Items action into the length() function.

Run a test. Review the output of the Compose action. If an item is found, the Compose action should output a 1.

Condition Check

To prevent your flow from failing, you could also add a Condition action. If items have returned (aka there is number stored in the Compose action—that is not equal to 0), add the rest of your actions to the Yes branch. If not, do nothing.

Avoid the Apply to Each Action

The Get Items action will always return an array of items—even if it's a single item. You can avoid the Apply to Each action by using expression. Check out this section of my YT Tutorial: 3 Mistakes YOU 🫵 are Making with the Apply to Each Action in your Microsoft Power Automate Flow where I cover how to do this.

In this video tutorial I’ll go over how to avoid these common mistakes when using the Apply to Each action in a Power Automate flow:

1️⃣ Looping through a Single Item

2️⃣ Creating Unnecessary Nested Loops

3️⃣ Looping through an Unfiltered Array

At the end of the video I share a few helpful insights when it comes to using the Apply to Each action in your flow.

IN THIS VIDEO:

✅ How to avoid the Apply to Each action with a single item array

✅ How to use the item() function to access dynamic content in an array

✅ How to prevent unnecessary nested Apply to Each action loops

✅ How to use the Select action

✅ How to convert an array to a string with the Select action

✅How to use the Filter Query field

✅ How to count the number of items in an array

✅ How to use a condition control

✅ How to use the concurrency control

✅ How to set a top count

✅ How to use Compose actions for troubleshooting

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok and Instagram

nshaw75 · ‎03-17-2024

Thank you for spending to the time to help. Much appreciated as I was pulling my hair out .

nshaw75 · ‎03-17-2024

Thanks again, if I was to, as you suggest, change the filter query to the Task ID. I am assuming in the Filter query box I would need to type "TaskID eq'TaskID' " and not "Title eq'TaskID'"

creativeopinion · ‎03-17-2024

@nshaw75 You'll need to compose a filter query that suits your requirement. You will need to use the internal column name of whatever column in SP is storing the value you'd like to match to. If you have a Task ID column, you'll need to use the internal column name of that column.

Keep in mind that the internal column name may not always match the name displayed in your Sharepoint list. If you aren't sure how to get the Internal Column name, you can refer to this section of one of my YT Tutorials.

Hope this helps!

If I helped you solve your problem—please mark my post as a solution ✅.
Consider giving me a 👍 if you liked my response!

👉 Level up your Power Automate skills by checking out my tutorials on YouTube
👉 Tips and Tricks on TikTok and Instagram