Data Stream action response stream

Data Stream actions use a parser script to map stream item values to complex object values. When writing a parser script, use JavaScript methods appropriate to the data stream format. For example, use the JSON - Scoped class to parse or encode a JSON data stream.

Parser scripts have access to the data stream input and output objects as well as a targetObject property. See Data Stream actions for more information about parsing a response stream to create complex data.

REST step response

You can convert a REST step response into one or more complex objects by parsing it with a Script step. To access a response from a Script step, you must create an input script variable and map it to the response payload from the prior REST step. See Script step for more information about creating script input variables.

Write a script that maps REST response values to complex object values. When writing REST response script, use JavaScript methods appropriate to the response format such as the JSON parse() method.

You do not need to use a Script step to create a REST request from complex data. You can generate complex data in a prior action or step and then map it to a string input of the REST step. At run time, the action or flow converts the complex data into a JSON representation.

Look Up Records step

While flows can use For each flow logic to process a list of records, actions require a Script step. The Script step replaces the For each flow logic with JavaScript such as a For or While loop.

To access record data from a Script step, you must create an input script variable and map it to the record data from the prior look up step. See Script step for more information about creating script input variables.

See Create a custom action to generate an array of objects from a list of records for an example action that converts a list of user records into an array of contact objects.

Dot-walking object structures

You can reference elements from the structure of an object by dot-walking the path of the structure. All complex data paths start with the name of the data source, which is either the global object for inputs, the global object for outputs, or the name of the array or object you created in script.

Next in the path are the names of each structural element referenced separated by period characters (also known as dots). Listing the names of structural elements is identical to dot-walking a reference field where you list the table structure to a particular reference field.

For example, suppose that you define a contact object as an Output variable. The object has the following structure.

The dot-walk path to the First name structural element would be outputs.contact.first_name while the path to the Email structural element would be outputs.contact.email_addresses[0].email since you must specify an individual element of the array by its JavaScript index value.

Design considerations

Keep these design considerations in mind when scripting with complex data.

Use string inputs to convert complex data into a JSON string

When you map complex data to a string input, Flow Designer automatically converts it into a JSON string. Instead of writing a script, you can add a string input to a REST step and map it to complex data from a prior action or step.

Save your objects as templates

Save your objects as templates so you can reuse them in other actions, flows, and Script steps.

Create script input variables to access prior data

Create a script input variable for any data you want to access from the action input or a prior step. Map the script input variable to the input or step data pill. For example, map the script input variable to a list of user records you looked up in a prior step.

Create a script output variable to store complex data

Create a script output variable to store any complex data your script creates. The script output variable data structure, data types, and names must match the values defined in the script. For example, create a contacts array of objects to store multiple contact objects. Save the contact object as a template so you can reuse it.

Map the action output to the script output variable

When you want a custom action to output complex data, add an action output and map it to the data pill for your Script step output variable. For example, create a contacts array and load the contact object template you saved earlier. Map the action output to the contacts array produced by your Script step.