How to read html tag values using expressions on Azure Logic app?

Question

How to read html tag values using expressions on Azure Logic app?

Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956

Hi,

As part of my HTTP action, I have a JSON output that I am trying to convert to a CSV output by using a CSV data operation action. In JSON, I am reading HTML values from one of the properties. From this HTML value, I only want to take the information I need. Basically, I want to know how to read the value between every tag in this HTML value with logic app expressions.

I don't find any expressions for HTML.

FYR, below are a few sample values of the HTML property I'm reading from JSON HTTP action output:

<p>It has been claimed. </p><p>Occasinally</p><listicle id="listicle-2662266631"></listicle>

<p>A family-run business has been taking on some of the world's biggest companies by providing the “healthiest” dog food around in a David versus Goliath story. </p><p><a href="https://salterspetfood.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Salters Pet Nutrition</strong></a> rose from centuries of experience as a Suffolk butchers and is now sending its premium goods around the planet. </p><listicle id="listicle-2662266457"></listicle>


My expected results should only include text between <p>....</p> as below:

It has been claimed. Occasionally

A family-run business has been taking on some of the world's biggest companies by providing the “healthiest” dog food around in a David versus Goliath story. Salters Pet Nutrition rose from centuries of experience as a Suffolk butchers and is now sending its premium goods around the planet.

Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956 Reputation points

2023-07-12T13:15:50.4966667+00:00

Hi @Sonny Gillissen Could you please help
Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-12T13:31:02.7466667+00:00

I'm going to test it at my end, and will get back to you asap!

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Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956 Reputation points

2023-07-12T13:15:50.4966667+00:00

Hi @Sonny Gillissen Could you please help
Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-12T13:31:02.7466667+00:00

I'm going to test it at my end, and will get back to you asap!

Answer 1

Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Volunteer Moderator

Hi Vivek Komarla Bhaskar

Thank you for reaching out on Microsoft Q&A!

I’ve tested the solution, based on your comments, in my test lab. It is possible to select all text values of the tags using Xpath, which can be utilised through the code below:

join(xpath(xml(concat('<html>',string(item()['body']),'</html>')),'.//p/text()'),variables('joinDelimiter'))

User's image

For this I made use of a variable called 'joinDelimiter':

User's image

In my case is I've used a return, but off course it can be anything you want, like for example a | pipe or whatever you want to use to join all values together in a single string.

Please click “Accept answer” if you find this helpful. Feel free to drop additional queries in the comments below!

Kind regards,

Sonny

Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956

Hi @Sonny Gillissen Thanks for this!

By just using the expression you provided I first got the following error -

Screenshot 2023-07-13 at 12.18.39 pm

I then tried to convert the string to XML using xpath(xml(item()?['body']),'.//p/text()'), then I get the below error now -

Screenshot 2023-07-13 at 12.19.11 pm

FYR, below is the input to create CSV table action for property Body. These are 6 records in total

<p>I can’t wait for the fourth test, and it is going to be another exciting test match. What a series so far.</p><p>I think there's only been a 40 or 50 run difference between the two sides over the three test matches. And we could have won all three tests, so there’s really not a huge amount of difference between these two sides. </p><listicle id="listicle-2662271906"></listicle>

Join Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster to start your day across the United Kingdom. This is your breakfast show. Join the conversation about what is happening in the world

<p class="">Footballer Dele Alli broke down in tears after revealing he was sexually abused as a child.</p><p>The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder said he was molested by one of his mother's friends when he was just six-years-old.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662271913"></listicle>

<p>Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been completely snubbed in the nominations for the Primetime Emmys.</p><p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix docu-series Harry & Meghan has not been put forward for recognition for the prestigious awards.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662271924"></listicle>

<p>A Jet2 holidaymaker ended up mixing suitcases following a blunder at an airport.</p><p>Rochelle Mair, 27, from Elderslie in Renfrewshire, returned to Glasgow Airport from Tenerife on July 8 at around 1.45am.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662271776"></listicle>

<p>BBC director-general Tim Davie has updated the broadcaster’s staff after Huw Edwards was named as the suspended presenter. </p><p>Davie, 56, sent a note to staff at the BBC shortly after Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind revealed the Welsh journalist was at the heart of recent allegations.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662271669"></listicle>

Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-14T02:52:50.8033333+00:00

I've updated my answer above, as I accidentally forgot to add the xml() function to convert the string to XML, and some explanation about wrapping the HTML code before you can actually convert it to XML.

Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956

Hi, @Sonny Gillissen It doesn't work.

I have a JSON input which I parse with the schema as attached. Posts.txt.

And then I'm trying to convert this into a CSV output as you see in my screenshot, but for some reason, I still get the same error. Please let me know if you need anything else which can help you here.

Screenshot 2023-07-14 at 2.29.54 pm

Here are a few more samples from my JSON response for property-> body

<p>I can’t wait for the fourth test, and it is going to be another exciting test match. What a series so far.</p><p>I think there's only been a 40 or 50 run difference between the two sides over the three test matches. And we could have won all three tests, so there’s really not a huge amount of difference between these two sides. </p><listicle id="listicle-2662271906"></listicle> 

Join Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster to start your day across the United Kingdom. This is your breakfast show. Join the conversation about what is happening in the world 

<p class="">Footballer Dele Alli broke down in tears after revealing he was sexually abused as a child.</p><p>The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder said he was molested by one of his mother's friends when he was just six-years-old.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662271913"></listicle> 

<p>Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been completely snubbed in the nominations for the Primetime Emmys.</p><p>The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's Netflix docu-series Harry & Meghan has not been put forward for recognition for the prestigious awards.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662271924"></listicle> 

<p>A Jet2 holidaymaker ended up mixing suitcases following a blunder at an airport.</p><p>Rochelle Mair, 27, from Elderslie in Renfrewshire, returned to Glasgow Airport from Tenerife on July 8 at around 1.45am.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662271776"></listicle> 

<p>BBC director-general Tim Davie has updated the broadcaster’s staff after Huw Edwards was named as the suspended presenter. </p><p>Davie, 56, sent a note to staff at the BBC shortly after Edwards’ wife Vicky Flind revealed the Welsh journalist was at the heart of recent allegations.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662271669"></listicle>

Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-16T15:42:45.74+00:00

Can you share some full body examples?
Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956 Reputation points

2023-07-16T21:53:33.91+00:00

Hi @Sonny Gillissen

Updated (Included more samples). PFA the example - sample.txt
Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-18T07:57:46.4033333+00:00

Sorry for my late response! I'm going to work on it, and get back to you ASAP
Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-07-20T09:53:00.0133333+00:00

Found a way, Vivek Komarla Bhaskar!

I've adjusted my answer above to fit your needs! :-)
Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956 Reputation points

2023-07-21T09:35:30.87+00:00

This works perfectly. Thank you so much @Sonny Gillissen

Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956

Hi @Sonny Gillissen Do we to make any changes to the expression? Most of the runs the logic app is failing for the error -

InvalidTemplate. The execution of template action 'Create_CSV_table_(For_Posts)' failed. The column values could not be evaluated: 'The template language function 'xml' parameter is not valid. The provided value cannot be converted to XML: 'An error occurred while parsing EntityName. Line 1, position 41.'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions#xml for usage details.'.

Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-08-04T11:05:41.08+00:00

Looks like your HTML isn't produced in valid XML anymore. Are all the tags present?

Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956

I found the record that's causing the issue. The reason is because of '&'. See below -

<p>Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Netflix documentary has been nominated for a major Hollywood award.</p><p>The nomination is a huge boost for the couple after suffering recent setbacks in commercial projects.</p><p>The series titled Harry & Meghan has been nominated for a Hollywood Critics Award in the Best Streaming Nonfiction category.</p><listicle id="listicle-2662266240"></listicle>

What can be done in this instance?

Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-08-04T12:49:33.81+00:00

You should use & instead of & when in XML :-)

Vivek Komarla Bhaskar 956

Hi @Sonny Gillissen

Need your assistance here, please.

Have been encountering issues with converting HTML values. Below is an example record which fails for the error - Unable to process template language expressions in action 'Initialize_variable_2' inputs at line '0' and column '0': 'The template language function 'xml' parameter is not valid. The provided value cannot be converted to XML: 'The 'br' start tag on line 1 position 5808 does not match the end tag of 'p'. Line 1, position 5914.'. Please see https://aka.ms/logicexpressions#xml for usage details.'.

<p>[rm-image 32978182 expand=1 alt="It remains unclear as to whether the DUP will support the agreement" site_id=25378495 is_animated_gif=false original_size="5089x3392" caption="It remains unclear as to whether the DUP will support the agreement" photo_credit="Gyu Tyue" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%22https%3A//money.rgl.ms/32978182/origin.jpg%22%2C%22thumbnails%22%3A%7B%22origin%22%3A%22https%3A//money.rgl.ms/32978182/origin.jpg%22%2C%22600x400%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D600%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D0%252C0%252C1%252C0%22%2C%22600x300%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D600%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D0%252C424%252C0%252C424%22%2C%222000x1500%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D2000%26height%3D1500%26coordinates%3D283%252C0%252C283%252C0%22%2C%221200x600%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D1200%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D0%252C424%252C0%252C424%22%2C%221245x700%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D1245%26height%3D700%26coordinates%3D0%252C265%252C0%252C265%22%2C%22600x200%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D600%26height%3D200%26coordinates%3D0%252C848%252C0%252C848%22%2C%221200x800%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26coordinates%3D0%252C0%252C1%252C0%22%2C%2235x35%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D35%26height%3D35%22%2C%22300x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D300%22%2C%22700x1245%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D700%26height%3D1245%26coordinates%3D1590%252C0%252C1591%252C0%22%2C%22300x300%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D300%26height%3D300%26coordinates%3D848%252C0%252C849%252C0%22%2C%22750x1000%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D750%26height%3D1000%26coordinates%3D1272%252C0%252C1273%252C0%22%2C%221000x750%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D1000%26height%3D750%26coordinates%3D283%252C0%252C283%252C0%22%2C%221500x2000%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D1500%26height%3D2000%26coordinates%3D1272%252C0%252C1273%252C0%22%2C%22600x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D600%22%2C%221200x400%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D1200%26height%3D400%26coordinates%3D0%252C848%252C0%252C848%22%2C%22980x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D980%22%2C%22600x600%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D600%26height%3D600%26coordinates%3D848%252C0%252C849%252C0%22%2C%22210x%22%3A%22https%3A//www.abn.com/media-library/it-remains-unclear-as-to-whether-the-dup-will-support-the-agreement.jpg%3Fid%3D32978182%26width%3D210%22%7D%2C%22manual_image_crops%22%3A%7B%229x16%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22700x1245%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A3392%2C%22width%22%3A1908%2C%22left%22%3A1590%7D%2C%22600x300%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22600x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A424%2C%22height%22%3A2544%2C%22width%22%3A5089%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%223x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x400%22%2C%22600x200%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A848%2C%22height%22%3A1696%2C%22width%22%3A5089%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%223x2%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x800%22%2C%22600x400%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A3392%2C%22width%22%3A5088%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%221x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%22600x600%22%2C%22300x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A3392%2C%22width%22%3A3392%2C%22left%22%3A848%7D%2C%223x4%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221500x2000%22%2C%22750x1000%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A3392%2C%22width%22%3A2544%2C%22left%22%3A1272%7D%2C%2216x9%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221245x700%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A265%2C%22height%22%3A2862%2C%22width%22%3A5089%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%2C%224x3%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%222000x1500%22%2C%221000x750%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A0%2C%22height%22%3A3392%2C%22width%22%3A4523%2C%22left%22%3A283%7D%2C%222x1%22%3A%7B%22sizes%22%3A%5B%221200x600%22%2C%22600x300%22%5D%2C%22top%22%3A424%2C%22height%22%3A2544%2C%22width%22%3A5089%2C%22left%22%3A0%7D%7D%7D"]<br><small placeholder="Add Photo Caption..." class="image-media media-caption">It remains unclear as to whether the DUP will support the agreement</small><br><small placeholder="Add Photo Credit..." class="image-media media-photo-credit">Liam McBurney</small></p>

Sonny Gillissen 3,751 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2023-09-07T04:46:16.95+00:00

Hi Vivek Komarla Bhaskar

You're tags are breaking here because it's an open tag but doesn't contain a closing tag, leaving you with an invalid XML. You may want to convert them to to make sure it opens and closes, or remove them completely.

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How to read html tag values using expressions on Azure Logic app?

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