Identify common processes for parsing text including JSON, XML, and CSV in cloud flows

In Microsoft Power Automate, parsing text is a common requirement when working with different data formats such as JSON, XML, and CSV. Power Automate provides various actions and expressions to facilitate parsing these formats in cloud flows. In this article, we will explore the common processes for parsing text using Power Automate, focusing on JSON, XML, and CSV.

1. Parsing JSON:

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight data format commonly used for data interchange. Power Automate provides a dedicated action called “Parse JSON” to parse JSON data.

To parse JSON, follow these steps:

• Add the “Parse JSON” action in your flow.
• In the “Content” field, specify the JSON content you want to parse. You can provide the JSON directly or use dynamic content from previous steps.
• In the “Schema” field, define the JSON schema. You can either manually define the schema or use sample JSON data to automatically generate the schema.
• Once the JSON is parsed, you can access its properties using dynamic content in subsequent actions or expressions.

Here’s an example of parsing JSON in a cloud flow:

{
"name": "John Doe",
"age": 35,
"email": "[email protected]"
}

2. Parsing XML:

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language used for structuring and storing data. Power Automate provides built-in expressions to extract data from XML content.

To parse XML, follow these steps:

• Use the “xpath” expression to query XML elements and extract data. The xpath expression follows the XML Path Language (XPath) syntax.
• Apply the “xpath” expression to the XML content you want to parse. You can use dynamic content from previous steps or provide the XML directly.

Here’s an example of parsing XML using the “xpath” expression:

J.K. Rowling
2005



To extract the book title using the “xpath” expression, specify “/bookstore/book/title” as the expression. This will return the value “Harry Potter”.

3. Parsing CSV:

CSV (Comma-Separated Values) is a simple file format used for storing tabular data. Power Automate provides actions to parse CSV data, enabling you to work with the individual fields.

To parse CSV, follow these steps:

• Use the “Parse CSV” action in your flow.
• In the “Content” field, specify the CSV content you want to parse. You can provide the CSV directly or use dynamic content from previous steps.
• Configure additional options such as delimiter, quote style, and header visibility based on your CSV structure.
• The “Parse CSV” action outputs an array of objects, with each object representing a row of data. You can access the individual fields using dynamic content or apply further transformations as needed.

Here’s an example of parsing CSV in a cloud flow:

Name,Email,Phone
John Doe,[email protected],1234567890
Jane Smith,[email protected],9876543210

After parsing the CSV, you can access the field values like “Name”, “Email”, and “Phone” using dynamic content.

In conclusion, Power Automate offers convenient features for parsing text in various formats such as JSON, XML, and CSV. By leveraging actions and expressions specific to each format, you can easily extract and manipulate data within your cloud flows.