Friday Fact: You can debatch XML messages with Logic Apps

You can debatch XML content in Logic Apps similarly to how you handle JSON inputs. This guide will walk you through the process using a sample XML structure. For example, consider the following XML content that we want to debatch:

<People>
    <Person>
        <name>Sandro Pereira</name>
    </Person>
    <Person>
        <name>Luis Rigueira</name>
    </Person>
</People>

Step 1: Add a Trigger

Start by adding a trigger to your Logic App to handle incoming HTTP requests.

Trigger: When a HTTP request is received

Step 2: Switch to Code View

Next, switch to the Code View of your Logic App. This allows you to directly edit the JSON definition of your Logic App (always be careful when working in the code view).

Step 3: Add the splitOn Property

In the triggers section of your Logic App definition, add the following line to enable debatching:

"splitOn": "@xpath(xml(triggerBody()), '/*[local-name()=\"People\"]/*[local-name()=\"Person\"]')"

Explanation of the splitOn Property

This line specifies that the splitOn feature is enabled and defines where the split should occur. In this case, it uses the following XPath expression:

/*[local-name()=”People”]/*[local-name()=”Person”]

Breakdown of the XPath

Root Element: People
1. Use /*[local-name()=”People”] to target the People element regardless of namespace.
Child Elements: Person
1. Use /*[local-name()=”Person”] to target each Person element within People.

Step 4: Get back into the Designer

Click on the three dots (…) on the trigger and select Settings.

You should see that the splitOn property is enabled and reflects the XPath expression we defined.

Step 5: Use a Compose Action (or another action, like a variable)

Now you can add a Compose action to dynamically select the body of each Person element.

Step 6: Test Your Logic App

Save your Logic App and copy the URL from the trigger.
Open Postman and set up a new request:
1. Method: POST
1. Body: Select Raw and set the type to XML.
1. Paste your XML content in the body.
Send the request.

Step 7: Check the Runs

After sending the request, navigate back to your Logic App. You should see two new runs, each corresponding to an individual Person:

Each run will contain the name of a person: Luis Rigueira and Sandro Pereira.

And yes, this works regardless of the namespace!

Take a look at the following example:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root xmlns:ns="http://example.com/ns">
    <ns:items>
        <ns:item>
            <ns:name>Item 1</ns:name>
            <ns:value>Value 1</ns:value>
        </ns:item>
        <ns:item>
            <ns:name>Item 2</ns:name>
            <ns:value>Value 2</ns:value>
        </ns:item>
        <ns:item>
            <ns:name>Item 3</ns:name>
            <ns:value>Value 3</ns:value>
        </ns:item>
    </ns:items>
</root>

Just like with JSON, Logic Apps provide a robust way to debatch XML content efficiently. By utilizing the splitOn property with appropriate XPath expressions, you can easily process each element of an XML message independently. This capability allows for scalable and flexible workflows, enabling you to handle complex XML structures in the same way you would with JSON, ensuring seamless integration and data processing in your applications.

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Author: Luis Rigueira

Luis Rigueira is a Enterprise Integration Consultant at DevScope View all posts by Luis Rigueira