cocurrency option for nested loops

[tanveal]

Hi, 

Does the cocurrency option (sending simultaneous approvals) works for nested loops? I have to send approval and attached pdf file in email when sending apporoval so I have nested loops. I have noticed I am not able to send approvals simultaneously when there are nested loops.

[Sundeep_Malik]

Hey @tanveal 

I might have a new approach for you. Just some questions before it:

1) You have 2 separate apply to each loop, so from one emails are coming and from another attachment is coming??

-> You can reduce one loop by using append to string action. You can append all the emails in a string and then just use it in the approval action. This will send simultaneous mails to people.

2) If you just have one attachment you can use first function, that will just fetch you one item, but if there are more, then append to array can be used. 

Answer the above questions, I will give you the new approach. 

[tanveal]

correct, I have one loop for pdf attachment and another for email list. Below is the action to grab latest pdf loaded. I am using Get File (properties only) action. 

Basically, in sharepoint folder, everyday a file is dropped, and I need to add that file to the email as attachment. There will always be one file attached (the latest). 

[Sundeep_Malik]

@tanveal 

Hey @tanveal 

For Emails:

Initialize a string array:

Then use your get items action after that use append to string action and pass the emails of people in that. Below Title is the email for my SP List. Also make sure to enter a semi colon at the end of append to string.

After this pass this variable to create an approval action.

Hopefully it works, if it gives an error, this could be due to the extra semi colon in create an approval action.

I hope this helps 🙂

[Sundeep_Malik]

@tanveal 

For the attachment you can use first function to get contents of attachment. 

So, that an extra apply to each does not form. 

[tanveal]

thanks Sundeep, can you please show me example for the first function, this approach seems easier the append string option

[tanveal]

Would I use the first function inside "Create Approval" action?

[Sundeep_Malik]

@tanveal 

For the emails you will have to use the append to string method. 

For the pdf:

Can you once show what output you are getting and the expression you are using? Then I might be able to give you the expression. Hide or edit the personal details.

[Sundeep_Malik · Accepted solution]

@tanveal 

So, I tried one thing and it worked. You can try the same for pdf:

I took a get items action like yours. After that I took this expression to get the ID from the above get items action, you can do something similar:

outputs('Get_items')?['body/value']?[0]?['ID']

So, you can write such an expression to get the value at 0 index. 

[tanveal]

expression for pdf used below

[tanveal]

Get Items is for getting email id's, do you mean use something like outputs('Get_trade_file_(pdf))?['body/value']?[0]?['ID']

[Sundeep_Malik]

@tanveal 

Get items was the test part I was showing you. 

Yup, use Get_Trade_File..... for your case. 

[tanveal]

Something like below, but how would insert link to the pdf file in approval window, is the "Outputs" from compose action now has the link  ?

[Sundeep_Malik]

@tanveal 

I had used compose just an example. 

You can directly use the expression in create an approval action.

You can add the values to compose action too, just to check if you are getting the correct values.

[tanveal]

Concurrency works, however the link is invalid for the pdf file. 

[Sundeep_Malik]

@tanveal 

Ok, other things are working correctly???

Name, etc.

[tanveal]

in order to get "Name" field I will have to use dynamic contents from get pdf file action, which will put me in loop again. The only thing doesn't put me in loop is anything in that compose action. 

[Sundeep_Malik]

@tanveal 

You can directly write these expressions in the create approval action:

outputs('Get_trade_file_(pdf))?['body/value']?[0]?['Name']

outputs('Get_trade_file_(pdf))?['body/value']?[0]?['Link_to_item']

[tanveal]

outputs('Get_trade_file_(pdf))?['body/value']?[0]?['Name']  ------Item link Description

outputs('Get_trade_file_(pdf))?['body/value']?[0]?['Link_to_item']------Item Link

In Compose Action I have below

outputs('Get_Trade_file_(pdf)')?['body/value']?[0]?['ID']

However, when the email comes; there is no link in it

[tanveal]

don't think this is useful (just showing ID) 

outputs('Get_Trade_file_(pdf)')?['body/value']?[0]?['ID']