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Asked: 2024-12-23T02:44:33+05:30

How can I resolve the issue where a variable generated from a JavaScript function in Power Automate is appearing as [object Object]?

I’m having a bit of a headache with this issue in Power Automate that I hope you all can help me figure out. So, I’ve set up a flow that pulls in some data from a JavaScript function, and everything seems to be working fine until I try to use one of the variables. Instead of seeing the actual value I expect, I keep getting this mysterious output that says “[object Object].”

It’s like I opened a box expecting a shiny new toy, and instead, I just found a cardboard label! I’ve dug around in the script and can confirm that the data being generated is indeed what I want, but somewhere along the line, it’s losing its human-readable form and just turning into this generic object. It’s honestly baffling me.

For context, I’m trying to fetch user information and manipulate it for an approval process in my workflow, which sounds straightforward but clearly isn’t quite as simple as I thought. I’m using a JSON object to create the variable in the JavaScript, and when I try to access fields within that object in the subsequent steps, all I get is this “object object” nonsense. I’ve tried stringifying the object, and I’ve done some console logging to see what’s happening, but it feels like I’m missing something crucial.

Is this a common pitfall? If so, how do people usually tackle it? I’ve heard that sometimes using the correct syntax while accessing properties of the object can make a difference, but I’m not entirely sure what that means in this case. Should I be utilizing any specific functions or methods to make sure I’m getting the right output?

I really appreciate any insights or similar experiences you might have had. I mean, it would be nice to see the data I’ve worked so hard to put together instead of just this cryptic label. Thanks in advance for any help you can throw my way!

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    2 Answers

    1. It sounds like you’re encountering a common issue when dealing with JavaScript objects in Power Automate. The output you’re seeing, “[object Object],” usually indicates that you are trying to output an entire object without accessing its properties directly. When you log an object or try to print it directly, JavaScript converts it to a string representation, which is what you see as “[object Object].” To resolve this, ensure that when you access the properties of your JSON object, you’re not trying to use the entire object itself but rather the specific key you wish to reference. For instance, if your object is defined as let userInfo = { name: "John", age: 30 };, you should access the name using userInfo.name instead of just userInfo.

      If you’ve already stringified your object using JSON.stringify() and it’s still not working as expected, double-check the structure of the data being passed between the JavaScript function and Power Automate. Ensure that your flow is setup to handle the correct data types. You might want to utilize the JSON.parse() method to convert back to an object if you’re managing data that was previously stringified. Additionally, keep an eye on how you’re defining and manipulating your objects. Sometimes adding more logging to visualize your object hierarchy can help in troubleshooting. By isolating the exact property you need, you can avoid this generic output and get directly to the valuable data you’ve worked hard to generate.

    2. I totally get where you’re coming from! It sounds super frustrating to deal with these mysterious “[object Object]” messages when all you want is to see the actual data. It definitely feels like opening that box and finding just the cardboard!

      So, what you’re running into is a common issue when working with JavaScript objects. When you try to output an object directly (like putting it in a string or logging it), JavaScript shows you that “[object Object]” because it doesn’t know how to convert the whole object into a string in a human-readable way.

      Here’s what you might want to try:

      • Accessing Properties: Make sure you’re accessing the correct properties of the object. For example, if your object looks like this:
        { user: { name: "John", age: 30 } }, then to get the name, you would do something like user.name.
      • Stringifying the Object: Since you’ve mentioned trying to stringify it already, you can do this: JSON.stringify(yourObject). This will turn the whole object into a string which you can log or use however you like.
      • Logging for Debugging: Console logging is your best friend! You can log the entire object to see its structure: console.log(yourObject);. This helps you figure out how to access the specific data you need.

      And regarding that syntax thing, it’s all about using the right dot notation or bracket notation to access the fields. Just remember that every time you want to access a nested property, you have to drill down appropriately.

      It can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out, but with practice, you’ll get the hang of it! Just be patient with yourself, and I’m sure you’ll sort this out.