Category: Cloud Flows

Power Automate flow is consistently evolving. At times there are UI changes or at times there are under the hood tweaks, but one thing is for sure Power Automate flow has matured a lot since its inception.

Today, in this blogpost, I will be discussing about the new feature that has been introduced recently in Power Automate.

Currently, we have plethora of connectors to choose from when it comes to getting our work done. However, there is also a way to create Custom Connector to bridge the gap with missing functionalities. The enhancement in question i.e., the usage of C# code has been made a part of the Custom Connector. Let me walk you through the process of creating a custom connector and the way to add the C# code. I will add the support of Math.Round, Math.Ceiling and Math.Floor using C#. With the introduction of C# support, we can do a lot many things.

Steps to create Custom Connector with C# code:

Step 1:

In the solution where you want to add the Custom Connector, click on New -> Scroll to the bottom and click Other -> Select Custom Connector.

Step 2:

Give a name to your Connector Math, provide a Description and a Host.

Step 3:

Let the Authentication Type be No Authentication.

Step 4:

On the Definition tab, Click on New action on the left-hand side. Create one with the below details.

Step 5:

Add Request for the action, click on Import from sample.

On the Import from sample screen, add the below details and click Import

For feasibility, below is the JSON you can copy paste.

{
 "Number": 1.5
}

Step 6:

Time to tweak the body a bit. Click on the 3 dots next to body.

Now, click on 3 dots next to Number.

Fill in the details as below,

Step 7:

Time to define the Response. Click on Add default response.

Add the values as below and click Import.

{
  "value": 1.5
}

Step 8:

Edit Response by clicking on the three dots on value.

Add the information as below,

Step 9:

Click Create Connector and from time to time keep clicking on Update Connector for the changes to be saved.

Step 10:

Repeat Steps from 4 to 9 for Ceiling and Floor operations. 

Step 11:

Enable the Code and Select all the 3 Actions created before.

Step 12:

Copy and paste the below code in the editor.

public class Script : ScriptBase
{
	public override async Task<HttpResponseMessage> ExecuteAsync()
	{
		return await this.HandleMathOperation().ConfigureAwait(false);
	}

	private async Task<HttpResponseMessage> HandleMathOperation()
	{
		HttpResponseMessage response;
		
		// Get the Operation Id
        string operationId = (string)this.Context.OperationId;
		
		var contentAsString = await this.Context.Request.Content.ReadAsStringAsync().ConfigureAwait(false);

		// Parse as JSON object
		var contentAsJson = JObject.Parse(contentAsString);

		// Get the Number
		double number = (double)contentAsJson["Number"];
        
		// Based on the Operation Id perform the right action
        if(operationId == "MATH_ROUND")
			number = Math.Round(number);
        else if(operationId == "MATH_CEILING")
            number = Math.Ceiling(number);
		else if(operationId == "MATH_FLOOR")
			number = Math.Floor(number);      

		JObject output = new JObject
		{
			["value"] = (float)number,
		};

		response = new HttpResponseMessage(HttpStatusCode.OK);
		response.Content = CreateJsonContent(output.ToString());
		return response;
	}
}

Step 13:

Update the connector and on the next step test the newly created connector.

Few things to note:

I feel even with the limitations stated above the opportunities that it opens is infinite.

Screenshot of the Power Automate Cloud Flow: