Why does PowerApp Editor still show issue when a flow returns no data?

[stapes]

This is an everyday occurrence, and it is incredibly frustrating.

A flow returns an empty datset. Big deal.

Why can PowerApps not deal with this.

Instead, my editor window has red crosses everywhere.

Error details says, for instance:

PPM_FindSignature.Run failed. The data returned in the response is invalid. Response data should be a valid JSON object.

 An empty dataset is not invalid!!!!

[StalinPonnusamy · Accepted solution]

Hi @stapes 

The right fix is to return empty JSON {} when no data exist. This should happen in Power Automate itself. We have a similar situation and returning Empty JSON.

And also depends on how you collect the data when Power Automate returns it.

Thanks,
Stalin - Learn To Illuminate

[stapes]

How do I do that?

This is how my flows Response Body JSON Schema looks:

{
    "type": "array",
    "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
            "ID": {
                "type": "integer"
            },
            "Image": {
                "type": "string"
            },
            "Date": {
                "type": "string"
            },
            "FK_AssetDetailID": {
                "type": "integer"
            },
            "MonthName": {
                "type": "string"
            },
            "Year": {
                "type": "integer"
            }
        },
        "required": [
            "ID",
            "Image",
            "Date",
            "FK_AssetDetailID",
            "MonthName",
            "Year"
        ]
    }
}

This is how I collect the data:

Clear(SignaturesCollection);
ClearCollect(
    SignaturesCollection,
    PPM_FindSignature.Run(
        gblAssetDetailID,
        Year(gblDate),
        Upper(
            Text(
                Now(),
                "mmm" 
            )
        )
    )
);

I have to do a Clear before ClearCollect because PowerApps leaves the old data in there if I don't.

[StalinPonnusamy]

Hi @stapes 

Looks the collection has a structure in memory and expects a JSON. So we need to update the Power Automate to return empty JSON when no data is found.

Similar to this. here Checking the content is empty then assign empty JSON and convert to proper JSON format and return it.

[stapes]

Wow. Never seen that before. I have added a condition, and tested that it works. Usually, a Request Response is sent here. I presume I have to make a different response, but how? The usual response looks like this:

and in the Response Body JSON Schema:

{
    "type": "array",
    "items": {
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
            "ID": {
                "type": "integer"
            },
            "Image": {
                "type": "string"
            },
            "Date": {
                "type": "string"
            },
            "FK_AssetDetailID": {
                "type": "integer"
            },
            "MonthName": {
                "type": "string"
            },
            "Year": {
                "type": "integer"
            }
        },
        "required": [
            "ID",
            "Image",
            "Date",
            "FK_AssetDetailID",
            "MonthName",
            "Year"
        ]
    }
}

[stapes]

I can't use Set Variable without first creating it using Initialize Variable. What type of variable did you use for Content? i.e.: Boolean, Integer, Float, String, Object or Array. I don't usually use Parse JSON to send valid response.

[StalinPonnusamy]

Yes, You have to use a variable by initializing it. 

Type String and Default Value is {}

Need to have the condition if the resultsets.table1 is empty then use this default value.

Can you share your flow so that I can better assist? How you are returning now?

Thanks,
Stalin - Learn To Illuminate

[stapes]

I still don't get it. If I do Set Variable & Parse JSON as you suggest, how do I set up my Request Response. PowerAutomate tells me that both responses must have the same format?

[StalinPonnusamy]

Hi @stapes 

Here is my overall Flow Steps

Explanation

Setting default (Empty) JSON

If the HTTP Request response is not empty then parse the JSON

Return Response

Call Power Automate from PowerApps

The collection has either empty JSON or HTTP Response.

Thanks,
Stalin - Learn To Illuminate

[stapes]

I am not validating an HTTP Response. I am validating the output from an SQL Stored Procedure. The expected output is a Request Response: