Fixing Power Automate Error: “Email Sender Must Be Initialized”

Power Automate is a powerful tool for automating workflows and connecting apps and services. However, errors can occasionally disrupt the automation process, especially when working with data-dependent actions. One such error is the dreaded “The inputs of workflow run action ‘Add_a_new_row_of_type…’ are not valid. The variable ‘Customer from email sender’ must be initialized before it can be used.”

This guide will walk you through the steps to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve this error.

Understanding the Error

The error occurs when a variable, in this case, Customer from email sender, is referenced without being properly initialized or populated. This typically happens in scenarios where data is expected but is either missing or misconfigured earlier in the workflow. Common causes include:

• Missing dynamic content mapping.
• Incomplete initialization of required variables.
• Invalid data formats or schema mismatches in Dataverse.

The most common use case for this error is when working with Dataverse tables and trying to add rows dynamically based on form submissions or other inputs.

Steps to Resolve the Issue

1. Verify the Source of the Variable

First, check where the variable Customer from email sender is being pulled from. If it’s sourced from the “Get response details” action, ensure that the appropriate field is mapped correctly.

Action:

• Open your flow and inspect the dynamic content being used in the “Add a new row” step.
• Confirm that the required value exists and is accessible.

2. Initialize the Variable Before Use

If the variable Customer from email sender is missing, you need to explicitly initialize it. You can do this by adding an Initialize Variable action earlier in the workflow.

How to Initialize a Variable:

1. Add an “Initialize Variable” action before the “Add a new row” step.
2. Set the variable name to Customer from email sender.
3. Assign a default value or map a dynamic value from a prior step, such as the “Get response details” action.

3. Validate the Dataverse Customer Field

The ‘Customer’ field in your Dataverse table may be a mandatory field. It must be populated with a valid reference to an Account or Contact record.

Checklist for Validation:

• Verify that the GUID or value being passed to the ‘Customer’ field matches an existing Account or Contact in Dataverse.
• If this field is not required for your use case, consider setting it to optional in your Dataverse table schema.

4. Use Debugging Tools

Power Automate provides tools to help debug and inspect workflows. Add a “Compose” action before the failing step to check the value of Customer from email sender.

Steps to Debug:

1. Add a “Compose” action and set its input to the dynamic value of Customer from email sender.
2. Test the flow to log and inspect the output.
3. If the output is null or incorrect, backtrack to identify where the data is missing.

5. Reconfigure Dynamic Content

When mapping dynamic fields like Customer (Accounts) or Customer (Contacts) in the “Add a new row” step, ensure the dynamic content references valid values. Incorrect mapping often leads to initialization errors.

Testing and Validation

After making these adjustments, save your flow and perform a test run. Monitor the execution to ensure the variable is now properly initialized and the “Add a new row” action is successful.

Key Points to Test:

• Is the variable Customer from email sender populated correctly?
• Does the data format match the requirements of the Dataverse table?
• Are there any additional errors after fixing the variable issue?

Conclusion

The “Customer from email sender must be initialized” error in Power Automate is a common issue when handling dynamic data in workflows. By verifying the data source, initializing variables, and validating required fields, you can resolve this error and ensure your workflow runs smoothly.

Power Automate is a robust platform, but like any tool, it requires proper configuration to maximize its potential. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be back to automating workflows with ease in no time.