Error creating variable of key stakeholders (list of people) when duplicating list item in Power Automate

Question

I have created a Power Automate flow to duplicate a list item on a new list when the item is marked as complete. It was working, but I noticed the "Key Stakeholders" were not being listed together, instead it was duplicating the item for each stakeholder. I realized that I needed to create a variable. I researched and followed instructions, however, I am receiving the below error when I try to save it. Include pic of code that shows in the "Apply to Each" box for the Append to array variable function.

Answer 1

Hi @Hannah Breaux 

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.  

Although this forum primarily focuses on Microsoft 365 and Office built‑in features, your scenario involves Power Automate flow design and multi‑select People/Group field handling. These topics are best supported by the Power Automate Community, where product experts can review your flow details and help troubleshoot the array/claims formatting error you are seeing. 

To ensure you receive accurate and effective assistance, I sincerely recommend posting your query in the Microsoft Power Platform Community. You can do so by clicking on Post a question in that forum. Members and engineers there specialize in Power Automate and can provide detailed guidance on resolving this error.  

Additionally, as other users have raised similar concerns and may not be aware of where to share their feedback, I hope this response helps clarify the situation and suggests a potential next step. Highlighting this information can make it more visible to others in the community who may be facing the same issue, making it easier for them to find guidance and contribute their feedback as well.

Thank you again for your time and for raising this important usability concern. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

I look forward to your thoughts on this.  

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Answer 2

To resolve the issue with duplicating list items in Power Automate and properly handling the "Key Stakeholders" variable, you need to ensure that you are correctly using the "Append to array variable" action. Here are some steps and considerations:

1. Initialize the Variable: Before using the variable in your flow, make sure you have initialized it correctly. You can create an array variable to hold the key stakeholders.
2. Use the "Append to array variable" Action: In the loop where you are processing each stakeholder, use the "Append to array variable" action to add each stakeholder to the initialized array variable. Make sure you are appending the correct value (e.g., the stakeholder's name or ID).
3. Check the "Apply to Each" Configuration: Ensure that the "Apply to Each" action is correctly set up to iterate over the list of stakeholders. If you are seeing multiple items being created for each stakeholder, it may indicate that the loop is incorrectly configured or that the append action is being executed multiple times unintentionally.
4. Debugging: If you are still encountering errors, consider adding a "Compose" action to output the contents of the variable at different stages of your flow. This can help you identify where things might be going wrong.
5. Error Handling: If you receive an error when saving the flow, check the details of the error message. It may provide insights into what is causing the issue, such as incorrect variable types or missing required fields.

By following these steps, you should be able to manage the "Key Stakeholders" variable effectively and avoid duplicating items incorrectly in your flow.

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References:

• Store and manage values in variables
• Initialize a variable