Working with data operations and variables in Power Automate
When you pull information from Tallyfy into Power Automate, you’ll deal with collections of tasks, form field data, and JSON payloads. Variables, loops, and data operations are the tools that let you store values, transform data, and process multiple items at once.
How variables work with Tallyfy integrations
Variables are temporary storage that persists while your flow runs. Here’s why they matter for Tallyfy work:
Store intermediate results from Tallyfy data lookups
Build up a list of task names before sending it somewhere else
Control loop behavior based on changing Tallyfy values
Variable types in Power Automate: Boolean, Integer, Float, String, Array, and Object.
Common variable actions:
Initialize variable - declares the variable with a name, type, and starting value (always goes first)
Set variable - overwrites the current value
Increment / Decrement variable - adds or subtracts 1, great for counters
Append to string variable - tacks text onto the end
Append to array variable - pushes a new item into the list
Looping through Tallyfy data with Apply to each
The Apply to each control runs your actions once per item in an array.
Power Automate adds it automatically when you pick dynamic content that’s a list (like rows from a Tallyfy table form field)
You can also add one manually and point it at array data from an earlier step
Tallyfy example: Say a task has a table-type form field listing equipment for a project. When you fetch that task through the Tallyfy connector or API, the table comes back as an array. Use “Apply to each” to loop through every row - maybe creating purchase orders in your ERP or adding items as tasks in another Tallyfy process.
Parsing JSON from Tallyfy
Tallyfy webhooks and API responses return JSON. The Parse JSON data operation turns that raw text into structured objects you can reference as dynamic content.
How to set it up:
Add Parse JSON from Data Operations
Content - point it at your JSON string from Tallyfy
Schema - click Generate from sample and paste real JSON from a Tallyfy webhook or API call
Tallyfy example: Someone launches a process and your webhook fires a JSON payload to Power Automate. That payload contains the process name, who started it, and all kick-off form data - but it’s just a text blob until you parse it. After parsing, you can grab the initiator’s email, route form data to other systems, or trigger follow-up actions.
Handling Tallyfy field types after parsing:
Text fields - map directly as strings
Dropdown fields - use item()?['fieldName']?['text'] for the display label
Checkbox fields - returns an array of selected values; loop or index into it
Table fields - each row is an object in an array, so you’ll need a loop
Date fields - arrives in ISO format; format with formatDateTime()
Transforming Tallyfy data into CSV or HTML tables
Two data operations turn arrays into formatted output:
Create CSV Table - feed it an array of Tallyfy task details, get back a CSV string for Excel
Create HTML Table - same input, outputs an HTML table you can paste into an email
Tallyfy use case: Pull overdue tasks using the Tallyfy connector or API, then run them through Create HTML Table to email a formatted summary to stakeholders.
Putting it together - a daily task report
Scenario: Your team lead wants a daily email at 8 AM showing all their Tallyfy tasks due that day, formatted as an HTML table.
This action doesn’t filter by date, so you’ll filter in the next step
Control: “Filter array” (Data Operation).
From: the task list output from the previous step
Condition: use an expression to keep only tasks due today:
@equals(formatDateTime(item()?['deadline'], 'yyyy-MM-dd'), formatDateTime(utcNow(), 'yyyy-MM-dd'))
Inside “Apply to each”: Action - “Append to string variable”.
Name:DailyTaskReportHTML
Value:<tr><td>[Task Name]</td><td>[Deadline formatted with formatDateTime()]</td></tr>
(Outside loop) Action: Append to string variable.
Add </table> to close the HTML table
Action: Send an email (V2).
To: team lead’s email
Subject:Your Tallyfy Tasks Due Today
Body: switch to code view (</>) and insert DailyTaskReportHTML. Enable HTML rendering.
Tips for working with Tallyfy data
Initialize early. Put all variable initializations at the top of your flow. It’s easier to maintain.
Expect arrays everywhere. Table form fields? Arrays. Multiple tasks from the API? Arrays. You’ll reach for “Apply to each” often.
Debug with Compose. Can’t tell what your data looks like? Drop a “Compose” action and output your variable or Tallyfy data. It’s console.log for Power Automate.
Power Automate’s expressions and grouped conditions and Switch controls let you handle complex Tallyfy workflow logic beyond basic if-then rules by enabling calculations on form field data and clean multi-outcome branching based on task values and process states.
Power Automate connects Tallyfy to your other business apps by using triggers and actions to automatically launch processes and create tasks based on external events like emails or CRM updates while Tallyfy handles the human side of structured workflow management and collaboration.
Power Automate’s conditional logic lets flows make decisions based on Tallyfy data - using IF-THEN structures, Switch controls, and nested conditions to route actions differently based on task statuses, form field values, and process conditions.
Microsoft Power Automate serves as a no-code bridge between Tallyfy and your other business systems—including Office 365 and SharePoint and Dynamics—using a Premium-tier OAuth 2.0 connector with 13 actions to sync data and automatically launch processes or complete tasks based on events happening across your entire software stack.