How to merge row arrays

In this article

The Row sections merger tool allows you to combine a row section (an array of objects) of one step with a row section of another step into one array.

In the tutorial for Row sections merger, we gave definition for Rows in Albato. Now there is a tool that expands the possibilities of working with Rows. For instance, you have Rows in two steps of the automation, and you want to transfer them to the third step.

How to use

Let’s consider the example of AliExpress + CRM + Rows union tool automation.

We need to specify the internal UUID of the product when adding it to the customer order in the CRM-system, e.g. MoySklad. Upon receipt of an order from AliExpress, we receive only the product internal ID from AliExpress and SKU code. You can make SKU code equal to UUID in MoySklad, but it will be inconvenient.

As usual, checking is made either by article or by the external code. We have created an action for MoySklad that allows you to create or find a product by article or code. When we receive an order from AliExpress, CRM starts searching for products with article/code/external code is equal to the SKU. As a result, we have Rows of the found products with their internal UUID, which we can transfer to the order.

We have our trigger Rows from AliExpress and our action Rows from MoySklad. Now we need to combine these data arrays before creating an order, as we want to transfer the quantity of goods from AliExpress with products ID from MoySklad.

For such combination and the subsequent correct transfer of data, the Rows union tool was created. It allows you to take two arrays from trigger and action (e.g. AliExpress and MoySklad) and unite them into one array by matching the objects by some value (e.g. SKU and article).

Thus, you can create an order with product data from AliExpress and UUID obtained from the product search in CRM.

How to set up

Open the Automation builder section, add the tool between steps.

Select the Rows union tool.

Select the first step to take the Rows. In our example it is AliExpress.

Select the second step to take the Rows. In our example it is MoySklad.

Open the tool’s settings.

Select what action should this tool perform in case if the pair cannot be found, namely when you cannot match two rows of two steps. For example, if Step 2 fails to find matched items: the tool will skip this item, fill in the fields or report an error.

We can also screate a scenario if several pairs are found. For instant, we search in CRM items by name and find two items with the same names. The tool can skip the second item and use the first item, or duplicate, or report an error.

Click Add condition button and select the values from Row 1 and Row 2 to match.

Let’s suppose we want to match AliExpress products by SKU with found products in MoySklad by article. To do this we should set up the tool this way:

You can also combine and add multiple conditions to find matches.

After the settings, click Save button.

Now, if you open the settings for the next steps, in the Row section fields, you can select tool’s results. You can select fields from both the first and the second steps.

This will enable you to make full use of Rows in Albato.

The Rows union tool can also be used with other services that send arrays of objects. The tool is configured the same way.