How to pass array as a parameter to a pipeline through a pipeline execute activity?

Question

I am currently working on a project where I have to call a few pipelines one after the other. For one such pipeline, I have to pass an array of values as a parameter through the Pipeline Execute activity. I have tried several approaches, but I am struggling to get the correct syntax and setup.

Here's what I've tried so far:

1. Directly passing the array in the parameter field of the Pipeline Execute activity, but it seems to interpret it as a string.

   ["123456", "7891011"]

2. Using dynamic content to create an array, but I'm not sure how to correctly pass this array to another pipeline.

   array("123456", "7891011")

Following is the error that I get in both cases.

Operation on target ForEachBoard failed:
The execution of template action 'MainForEachBoard' failed:
The result of the evaluation of 'foreach' expression '@pipeline().parameters.boards' is of type 'String'.
The result must be a valid array.

Here's a snippet of what my current setup looks like:

            {
                "name": "Execute Updates",
                "type": "ExecutePipeline",
                "dependsOn": [
                    {
                        "activity": "Execute Raw Data",
                        "dependencyConditions": [
                            "Succeeded"
                        ]
                    }
                ],
                "policy": {
                    "secureInput": false
                },
                "userProperties": [],
                "typeProperties": {
                    "pipeline": {
                        "referenceName": "Updates_StageAndLoad",
                        "type": "PipelineReference"
                    },
                    "waitOnCompletion": true,
                    "parameters": {
                        "boards": {
                            "value": "array(\"123456\", \"7891011\")",
                            "type": "Expression"
                        },
                        "stage_foldername": "updates"
                    }
                }
            }

Can someone help me figure out the correct way to pass an actual array as a parameter so that it can be used in the child pipeline? What changes should I make to the dynamic content or the overall setup?

Answer 1

You are passing string to the child pipeline parameter which is causing the above error when you gave that parameter to the For-Each.

To achieve your requirement, follow below steps.

• First, create an array parameter in the child pipeline and don't give any value in the default value. You can use this array parameter as per your requirement with expression @pipeline().parameters.<parameter_name>.
  
  

  
  

• In the parent pipeline, take Execute pipeline activity and give your child pipeline. Give the expression @createarray(123456,7891011) to the array parameter like below.
  
  

  
  
  

  This expression creates an array of integers like [123456,7891011]. If you want array of strings like ["123456", "7891011"], then use expression @createarray('123456','7891011').

• For sample pipeline run, I have given my array parameter to an array variable in the child pipeline. I have executed the parent pipeline, and you can required array in the child pipeline run.