How to Use XPath in Microsoft Power Automate

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Introduction:

Microsoft Power Automate is a powerful tool that can automate various business processes. One of its features is the ability to extract data from XML documents using XPath expressions. XPath is a language used to navigate and query XML documents. By using XPath in Power Automate, you can extract data from XML documents and use it in your workflows.

In this guide, we will explore how to use XPath in Power Automate.

Step 1: Adding the XML Document

The first step is to add the XML document to your Power Automate flow. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open your Power Automate account and select the "My flows" tab.
2. Click on the "+ New" button to create a new flow.
3. Choose the "Instant cloud flow" template to create a new flow from scratch.
4. Give your flow a name and click on the "Create" button.
5. In the flow designer, add the "HTTP" action to retrieve the XML document.
6. Enter the URL of the XML document in the "Uri" field.
7. Click on the "Save" button to save your flow.

Step 2: Extracting Data with XPath

The second step is to extract data from the XML document using XPath. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Add the "Parse XML" action to your flow.
2. In the "Content" field, select the output of the HTTP action that you added in Step 1.
3. In the "Schema" field, enter the XML schema that defines the structure of the XML document.
4. Add the "Compose" action to your flow.
5. In the "Inputs" field, enter the XPath expression that you want to use to extract data from the XML document.
6. Click on the "Save" button to save your flow.

Step 3: Using the Extracted Data

The third step is to use the data that you extracted from the XML document. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Add the action that you want to perform using the extracted data.
2. Use the output of the "Compose" action as the input for the action.
3. Configure the action as needed.
4. Click on the "Save" button to save your flow.

Use Case: Extracting Product Information from an XML Document

Suppose you are running an e-commerce business, and you want to extract product information from an XML document that contains details of your inventory. You can use XPath in Power Automate to extract the product information and add it to a database. This will allow you to keep track of your inventory more efficiently.

Conclusion:

Using XPath in Microsoft Power Automate can help you extract data from XML documents and use it in your workflows. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can add an XML document to your flow, extract data using XPath, and use the extracted data in your workflows. With this knowledge, you can explore other use cases for this powerful feature and automate your business processes more effectively.

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