I Need to Assign Just the Item Description Column Text as a Variable in Power Automate Desktop

If you’re struggling to extract specific data from a table in Power Automate Desktop, you’re not alone! In this article, we’ll take a deep dive into how to assign just the Item Description column text as a variable, making your automation workflows more efficient and accurate.

Why Assign Variables in Power Automate Desktop?

Variables are essential in Power Automate Desktop as they allow you to store and reuse data throughout your workflows. By assigning the Item Description column text as a variable, you can:

• Use the text in subsequent actions, such as sending emails or creating files
• Perform conditional logic based on the Item Description
• Transform the text using Power Automate Desktop’s built-in functions

Understanding the Table Structure

Before we dive into the solution, let’s assume you have a table with the following structure:

Column 1	Column 2	Item Description	Column 4
Cell 1	Cell 2	This is the Item Description text	Cell 4
Cell 5	Cell 6	This is another Item Description text	Cell 8

In this example, we want to extract the text from the Item Description column and assign it as a variable.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps to assign just the Item Description column text as a variable in Power Automate Desktop:

1. Add a new Get table data action to your workflow, and select the table that contains the Item Description column.

     
     {
       "name": "Get table data",
       "type": "table",
       "inputs": {
         "table": "-table-id-"
       }
     }
     
     

2. Add a new Loop through table action, and select the output from the previous step as the input.

     
     {
       "name": "Loop through table",
       "type": "loop",
       "inputs": {
         "table": "@{outputs('Get_table_data')}"
       }
     }
     
     

3. Inside the loop, add a new Set variable action, and select New variable.

   In the variable name field, enter a descriptive name, such as itemDescription.

   In the value field, use the following syntax:

   @{loop.item(2)}

   This will extract the text from the third column ( Item Description ) of the current iteration.

     
     {
       "name": "Set variable",
       "type": "variable",
       "inputs": {
         "variable": "itemDescription",
         "value": "@{loop.item(2)}"
       }
     }
     
     

Explanation and Tips

In the Set variable action, we used the loop.item(2) syntax to extract the text from the third column. The loop.item() function returns the specified column value for the current iteration.

Make sure to adjust the column index (in this case, 2) according to your table structure. If the Item Description column is the second column, you would use loop.item(1).

Using the Assigned Variable

Now that you’ve assigned the Item Description column text as a variable, you can use it in subsequent actions, such as:

• Sending an email with the Item Description text in the body
• Creating a new file with the Item Description text as the file name
• Performing conditional logic based on the Item Description text

For example, you can add a new Send an email action and use the assigned variable in the email body:

  
  {
    "name": "Send an email",
    "type": "email",
    "inputs": {
      "to": "[email protected]",
      "subject": "Item Description",
      "body": "@{variables('itemDescription')}"
    }
  }
  

Conclusion

Assigning the Item Description column text as a variable in Power Automate Desktop is a straightforward process that can greatly enhance your automation workflows. By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be able to extract and reuse specific data, making your workflows more efficient and accurate.

Remember to adjust the column index according to your table structure, and explore the various ways you can use the assigned variable in your workflows.

Happy automating!

Frequently Asked Question

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