Let's POWER Automate

From no-code to low-code

Menu
  • Expressions
  • Filters
  • General
  • Application specific solutions
    • Dataverse
    • Excel
    • Forms
    • Planner
    • Outlook
    • SharePoint
    • Teams
  • Triggers
  • Resources
  • ABOUT ME
  • Get help with your flow
Menu

List values missing in an array using Power Automate

Posted on November 6, 2022November 6, 2022 by Tom

“I have a list of users and a registration list, how can I check if everyone is registered with Power Automate, to check there’re no values missing in the array?”


Searching for differences between two lists is quite an annoying task to do, especially for bigger lists. You can compare the lists visually, if you have enough time. You can use Excel to put the values into columns and compare them using a formula, if Excel is your tool of choice. Or you can build a simple Power Automate flow to list the differences, which is the topic of this post.

Create the two arrays for comparison

To find the missing values you need two inputs – the array with all the values, and the second array with some of them. For example a list with all users and a registration list.

Power Automate missing values array

The first step is therefore to get all the data into Power Automate flow. ‘Get items’ from the first list and ‘Select’ the values to compare, in this case the email addresses.

Repeat the same steps for the second list, with the registrations.

The outputs of the ‘Select’ actions will be the two arrays to compare.

List the missing values

Since Power Automate doesn’t have an expression to find the differences, you’ll have to do a small workaround.

Instead of an expression use the ‘Filter array’ action. Use the bigger array as the From value, the smaller array on the left side and the item() expression on the right side.

Power Automate missing values array

The result will be an array with the values from the first array missing in the second array.

Summary

There’s currently no expression in Power Automate to compare two arrays and find the missing values in the smaller array, but there’s again a workaround. Get both the arrays into your flow and let the ‘Filter array’ do the work. The result will be only the values that are missing, in this example the email addresses of users who didn’t register.


Do you struggle with the various expressions, conditions, filters, or HTTP requests available in Power Automate?

I send one email per week with a summary of the new solutions, designed to help even non IT people to automate some of their repetitive tasks.

All subscribers have also access to resources like a SharePoint Filter Query cheat sheet or Date expressions cheat sheet.

Zero spam, unsubscribe anytime.

1 thought on “List values missing in an array using Power Automate”

  1. Pingback: How to find Excel rows missing in SharePoint list (Power Automate)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Do you know what to do, but not how to do it?

Get The Ultimate Power Automate expressions cheat sheet and translate your thoughts into flows with ease!


There's also the HTTP requests to SharePoint cheat sheet to help you overcome limitations of some standard actions!

Do you struggle with the various expressions, conditions, filters, or HTTP requests available in Power Automate?

I send one email per week with a summary of the new solutions, designed to help even non IT people to automate some of their repetitive tasks.

All subscribers have also access to resources like a SharePoint Filter Query cheat sheet or Date expressions cheat sheet.

Zero spam, unsubscribe anytime.

  • How to find Excel rows missing in SharePoint list (Power Automate)March 29, 2023
  • Check whether user exists in AAD with Power AutomateMarch 26, 2023
  • How to highlight whole SharePoint row based on calculated dateMarch 22, 2023
  • Why is your Power Automate flow running so slow?March 19, 2023
  • How to add multiple links to the Power Automate approval taskMarch 15, 2023

Power Automate blogs worth visiting

Damien Bird
Dennis (Expiscornovus)
Paul Murana

©2023 Let's POWER Automate | Theme by SuperbThemes