Showing posts with label PowerAutomate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PowerAutomate. Show all posts

Monday, January 12, 2026

What language does Power Automate use?

Power Automate and Logic Apps both use the same language, Workflow Definition Language (or WDL). The nice thing about Azure Logic Apps and Power Automate, though, is that there’s a fancy front end that allows you to generate most of the code without hands-on-keyboard.


Here’s an example. I built a small little flow that uses the Mailchimp connector trigger to find when a new contact is added to one of my lists (hint, hint). It then takes the outputs from the trigger and sends me a little message on Microsoft Teams telling me a new user signed up.






In the screenshot above, you can see that the Parse JSON action has received the results you entered when you created it. Of course, it's more accessible.


In this next screenshot, though, the Parse JSON didn’t quite work as I needed it to. When there’s nested objects or arrays sent into an action, you’ll get that stupid “For each” loop added around your object. Power Automate / Logic Apps both assume that you need to handle a case where there’s more than one line returned, and they try to help you out. In these cases, you might have to do some custom workflow definition language expressions.




So, in the “List contacts” thing, I already said I just wanted 1 result, so I knew I’d only get one contact. To avoid Logic Apps throwing in a “For each” loop, I just pointed to the first item by putting a “[0]” between the value array and contactid field. Boom – no “For each” loop anymore. Anyway, to keep it simple, Power Automate and Logic Apps use the Workflow Definition Language. Most people probably won’t ever need to know that or type it out, but it’s cool to understand. Check out the learning paths to know more.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Languages used in Power BI, Power Automate, Power Apps, and Dataverse, along with summaries, usage, examples, and links to their respective API

Power BI

Language

Summary

Code Example

LanguageUsedIn

Docs

DAX

Formula language for calculated columns, measures, and tables.

Total Sales = SUM(Sales[Amount])

Measures, Calculated Columns, Calculated Tables, Row-Level Security

DAX Reference

M (Power Query)

Functional language for data transformation in Power Query Editor.

= Table.SelectRows(Sales, each [Amount] > 1000)

Power Query Editor, Data Source Queries, Query Parameters

M Language Reference

R / Python

Used for advanced analytics and custom visuals.

summary(lm(Sales ~ Region, data=sales_data)) (R)

Power BI Desktop Scripts, Custom Visuals, Transform Data Scripts

R & Python in Power BI


Power Automate

Language

Summary

Code Example

LanguageUsedIn

Docs

Workflow Definition Language (WDL)

JSON-based schema for defining flow logic and expressions.

@equals(triggerBody()?['Status'], 'Approved')

Conditions, Expressions, Dynamic Content, Advanced Mode in Actions

WDL Overview

Power Fx

Low-code formula language used in some expressions and integrations.

If(Status = "Approved", "Proceed", "Hold")

Instant Plugins, Dataverse Accelerator, Desktop Flows (Preview)

Power Fx in Power Automate


Power Apps

Language

Summary

Code Example

LanguageUsedIn

Docs

Power Fx

Excel-like formula language for app logic and UI behavior.

If(User().Email = "admin@contoso.com", Navigate(AdminScreen), Navigate(HomeScreen))

Canvas Apps, Cards, Formula Columns, Model-Driven Command Bars, Instant Plugins

Power Fx Docs

JSON / REST APIs

Used for external data integration via custom connectors.

Patch(MyDataSource, Defaults(MyDataSource), {Name: "Jason"})

Custom Connectors, HTTP Actions via Power Automate, REST API Bindings

Power Apps REST APIs


Dataverse

Language

Summary

Code Example

LanguageUsedIn

Docs

OData / Web API (REST)

HTTP-based API for CRUD operations on Dataverse data.

GET https://<org>.crm.dynamics.com/api/data/v9.2/accounts

External Integrations, Custom Connectors, Power BI Direct Query, Power Apps REST Calls

Dataverse Web API

C# (via SDK)

Used in plugins, custom workflows, and server-side logic.

service.Create(new Account { Name = "Contoso" });

Plugins, Custom Workflow Activities, Azure Functions, Server-Side Extensions

Dataverse SDK


Would you like this exported as a CSV or markdown file for quick reference? Or maybe a visual map showing how these languages interact across the platform? I can whip that up too. Let me know how deep you want to go

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Best Extensions and Tools to assist PowerAutomate Development

 

Best Extensions and Tools for PowerAutomate Developers 

We frequently do not consider what equipment we've to be had as an Robotic Process Automation developer, specifically as they're frequently low code developers. Yet the usage of proper device could have computer virus influences for your productivity, take a look at out my suggestions below.

Pre-Build


Design
Primary: Visio, Secondary: Whimsical

Although similar these 2 actually exists in parallel in my work stream. The breadth of icons/templates in Viso is hard to beat, but whimsical is excellent for speed. When drafting I love how quickly I can create a flow of steps. The UI is modern and simple, there is a great free allowance, and key features like exporting and sharing are included.

Image descriptionWhimsical

https://www.microsoft.com/viso
https://whimsical.com/




Data

Primary: Power BI, Secondary:Flourish

Again those have barely extraordinary use instances for me so I use each. Power BI is all approximately the facts connections and stay dashboards, wherein Flourish is for one off visuals for a presentation. So while constructing a commercial enterprise case for an RPA undertaking I like to apply Flourish, however submit deployment monitoring I like Power BI. But they each can do either. Flourish has a terrific loose tier, with best decided on templates/chart patterns now no longer available.

Image descriptionFlourish

https://powerbi.microsoft.com/en-gb/
https://flourish.studio/



API

Primary: Postman, Secondary: Hoppscotch

Postman has usually been the visit API tool, with environments and variables it has all of the features. Additionally quite a few structures be given postman exports. Hoppscotch is an nearly reflect of Postman however online (and sure I realize there may be now a Postman net model however its now no longer pretty there yet). The UI is extra current and in my view higher, and in a few instances I've had higher compatibility. If you want Postman, you want this too, simply with out the overhead of putting in it.

Image descriptionHopscotch

https://www.postman.com/
https://hoppscotch.io/


Coding

Primary: Vs code, Secondary: Notepad++

There is not anything that surely comes near vs code, its breadth of addins, slick interface and cutting-edge UI make it difficult to beat. It even has a remarkable internet model too. But there may be an antique favourite, Notepad . Its simple (if now no longer dated UI) simply works, and its light-weight layout makes it perfect for short development.

https://vscode.dev/
https://notepad-plus-plus.org/


Emails

Primary: Vs code, Secondary: Topol

An regularly crucial a part of RPA is sending automated emails, and growing content material wealthy emails can regularly be a challenge. I presently fall again on vs code to write down my html e mail templates. But I even have simply began out the usage of Topol.io, its now no longer as brief as Vs code, however outstanding for without a doubt complicated templates, it has satisfactory WYSIWYG UI and the unfastened tier has the whole thing you need.

Image descriptionTopol

https://vscode.dev/
https://topol.io/


JSONs

Primary: JSON Crack, Secondary:JSON Formatter

Reading JSON outputs is not the easiest, however with JSON crack its easy. This webweb page now no longer simplest permits you to view JSONs in clean way, it has a completely unique node view that creates an interactive map (terrific for presentations). Though whilst operating withinside the browser (in particular Power Automate) then JSON Formatter is king. Its a chrome upload in (assume to be had for FireFox too), which vehiclemobile codecs JSONs. So whilst ever you open an api reaction or Power Automate Output Download you get the reaction in a clean, quite view.

Image descriptionJSON Crack

https://jsoncrack.com/
https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/json-formatter

Regex's

Primary: regex101, recommend: Regoio

Regex101 is the maximum bendy and characteristic wealthy regex author that I preserve going lower back to. It has a remarkable UI that permits beginners to construct regex's, and the error/validator covers everything. If you need some thing easy with a great cheat sheet then my 2nd desire is Regoio.

Image descriptionRegex101

Image descriptionRegoio

https://regex101.com/
https://regoio.herokuapp.com/

Post Build

Documentation

Primary: Confluence, Secondary:Tettra

With terrific integration with Jira (Atlassian owns both) and superb seek indexing confluence is excellent for documenting your automations. Tettra is the brand new child at the block, with present day UI and plenty of recent features. Still now no longer as sturdy as Confluence however gives some thing different.

https://www.atlassian.com/software/confluence
https://tettra.com/

Guides

Primary: Articulate 360, Secondary: Scribehow

Articulate is an all making a song all dancing LMS machine which can create in-intensity education guides. Very a good deal overkill for RPA however a outstanding tool. But I actually have these days found Scribehow, that's a very unique approach. Instead of complicated education files which can take a long term to create, Scribehow is a display screen recorder that car makes use of fundamental ai to create a guide. You can then edit the output to get precisely what you want. For technical files its outstanding. The loose tier is ok, with fundamental capabilities and the capacity to document an internet browser, aleven though for laptop and a few excellent capabilities you'll want to pay.

Image description