uipath if exists in list

Guri Bee

3 min read

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19-10-2024

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Automating Decisions with UiPath: The "If Exists in List" Powerhouse

In the world of Robotic Process Automation (RPA), UiPath stands out as a leader, empowering users to automate repetitive tasks and streamline workflows. A crucial aspect of this automation involves decision-making, and often, that hinges on determining if an element exists within a defined list. This is where UiPath's "If Exists in List" functionality shines, offering a powerful tool to handle complex scenarios.

The Core Concept: When Does an Element Exist?

Imagine you're automating a data entry process where you need to update customer records. You might have a list of customer IDs to process, but not all IDs will necessarily exist in the system. How do you ensure your automation doesn't stumble upon a non-existent ID and cause an error?

This is where the "If Exists in List" comes in. UiPath provides a "List" activity, which can hold your list of IDs. Then, using the "If Exists in List" activity, you can check whether a specific ID retrieved from your workflow is present in the previously defined list.

Practical Example: Managing Customer Orders

Let's take a real-world example. Suppose you're automating the process of handling customer orders. Your workflow might involve:

1. Retrieving a list of order IDs from a spreadsheet.
2. Iterating through each order ID.
3. For each order ID, checking if it exists in a list of completed orders.
4. If the order ID exists in the "completed orders" list, marking it as "already processed."
5. If the order ID doesn't exist, proceeding with processing the order.

This scenario leverages the "If Exists in List" activity to ensure that duplicate orders are not processed. It enhances efficiency and prevents errors.

Code Snippet: Bringing the Concept to Life

Let's look at a simplified code snippet demonstrating the "If Exists in List" activity in UiPath:

<Activity x:Class="UiPath.Core.Activities.If"
  DisplayName="If Exists in List"
  Type="Activity"
  Properties="{&quot;Condition&quot;:[&quot;List&quot;].&quot;Contains&quot;([&quot;CurrentOrderID&quot;]),&quot;Then&quot;:[&quot;Assign&quot;],&quot;Else&quot;:[&quot;ProcessOrder&quot;]}">
  <Arguments>
    <Argument Name="CurrentOrderID" Type="System.String"></Argument>
  </Arguments>
  <Activities>
    <Activity x:Class="UiPath.Core.Activities.Assign"
      DisplayName="Assign"
      Type="Activity"
      Properties="{&quot;To&quot;:[&quot;IsOrderCompleted&quot;],&quot;Value&quot;:True}">
      <Arguments>
        <Argument Name="IsOrderCompleted" Type="System.Boolean"></Argument>
      </Arguments>
    </Activity>
    <Activity x:Class="UiPath.Core.Activities.LogMessage"
      DisplayName="Log Message"
      Type="Activity"
      Properties="{&quot;Message&quot;:&quot;Order ID {CurrentOrderID} is already processed.&quot;}">
    </Activity>
  </Activities>
</Activity>

In this snippet, CurrentOrderID represents the order ID being processed, List contains the completed order IDs, and IsOrderCompleted is a variable to track if the order has been processed.

Beyond the Basics: Expanding Capabilities

While the "If Exists in List" activity is powerful in its simplicity, UiPath offers additional features to enhance its capabilities:

• Conditional Statements: You can use "If" statements to perform different actions based on whether an element exists in the list.
• Multiple Conditions: Combine "If Exists in List" with other conditions for more complex decision-making.
• Loops: Use "For Each" loops to iterate through lists and apply "If Exists in List" within the loop.

Conclusion:

UiPath's "If Exists in List" functionality is a valuable tool for automating complex processes. By effectively incorporating this activity into your workflows, you can create robust and intelligent automations that handle real-world scenarios with precision and efficiency. Whether you're managing customer orders, processing data entries, or streamlining any other repetitive tasks, "If Exists in List" empowers you to make informed decisions and improve overall workflow performance.