Power Automate Skip Function Explained

Power Automate Skip Function

The Power Automate Skip function trims a specified quantity of items from the beginning of a collection and returns the remaining items.

The skip function does the opposite of the take function.

In this article, I’ll introduce you to the skip function and will provide a step-by-step guide on how to use the function in a Microsoft flow.

Power Automate Skip Function

Power Automate Skip expression
skip expression in Power Automate

The Power Automate Skip function returns a modified collection by removing a specified number of elements from the start and returning the remaining elements.

Syntax

skip([<collection>], <count>)

Input parameters

  • collection (mandatory): The collection that you want to remove items from the beginning.
  • count (mandatory): The number of items that should be removed from the beginning of the collection..

Return value

  • Returns the given collection without the removed items at the beginning of the collection.

Power Automate Skip Expression Example

// skip the first two elements
skip(createArray(1,2,3,4,5),2)
=> 3,4,5

// reference a variable in a skip expression
skip(variables('myCol'),2)

How To Use The Power Automate Skip Function

Follow the steps to use the Power Automate Skip function in a flow.

  1. Create a new flow with trigger ‘Manually trigger a flow’

    Power Automate Skip Function new flow

    New flow

  2. Add a new step by clicking on ‘+ New step’

    Power Automate Skip Function new step

    Add a new step

  3. Search for ‘initialize’ and click on ‘Initialize variable’

    Power Automate Skip Function initialize variable

    Add Initialize variable action

  4. Setup Initialize variable: 1) Provide a name, 2) select type Array, 3) Set value to ‘[1,2,3,4,5]’

    Power Automate Skip Function setup initialize variable

    Setup variable

  5. Add a compose step by searching for ‘compose’ and clicking on ‘Compose’

    Power Automate Skip Function add compose

    Add Compose action

  6. Setup compose action: 1) click into Inputs (popup appears), 2) click on ‘Expression’, 3) set expression to ‘skip(variables(‘myCol’),2)’ 4) click on ‘OK’

    Power Automate Skip

    Setup skip expression in Power Automate

  7. Save and do a test run

    Power Automate Skip Function result test run

    Result test run – Power Automate skip function example

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