Meet Loop Blocks

Learning Objectives

After completing this unit, you’ll be able to:

• Define a Loop Block and its features.
• Configure a Loop Block with a key and a merge code.
• Build a DataRaptor Transform to look up the specific data in a JSON object and merge it into the respective JSON node.

Prerequisites

Before you start this module, ensure that the required prerequisites are met. Also, consider the recommended prerequisites to best prepare you for this module.

Required

Completion of these modules:

• OmniStudio DataRaptors
• OmniStudio Integration Procedures

Recommended

Completion of these modules:

• OmniStudio Data Tools and Internal Data to understand Integration Procedures and conditional DataRaptor Loads
• OmniStudio Data Tools and External Data to find out how to build a URL to pull external data with an API key

Introduction

Meet Robert. He’s a technical architect at Get Cloudy Consulting who works with OmniStudio data tools. 

Robert has already completed the Build Guided Experiences with OmniStudio trail, so he knows all about the data tools. Now he’s ready to learn about some advanced features he can use to build solutions without Apex code, which can be time-consuming.

Duty calls. Robert receives some new requirements from ClearLight Health, an important GetCloudy customer in the health insurance market. Today’s healthcare consumer wants to view appointment time slots and schedule appointments with their doctor quickly and easily online. ClearLight provides a portal for health plan members, but the portal lacks online booking capabilities. The long and short? Robert needs to build this functionality into the ClearLight member portal.

In the Schedule a Provider screen, Tom Johnson is the assigned primary care provider, and he has five appointment time slots available. 

Robert knows he can configure the actions and blocks in an OmniStudio Integration Procedure to retrieve the care-provider and appointment data. But which blocks and actions should he use? And how can he iterate an array to modify each node without using Apex code? 

Robert puts on his sleuthing hat, which leads him to Loop Blocks. 

Robert wonders, “What’s a Loop Block? How do I configure one? How does the data flow of an Integration Procedure work for this use case?” So many questions, so little time.

About Loop Blocks

Roberts starts learning about Loop Blocks, fast. A Loop Block iterates over the items in a data array to repeat the Actions in the Loop Block for each item.

Awhina Oahu, one of Robert’s colleagues at Get Cloudy, tells him she used Loop Blocks in a communications solution they delivered last month. Awhina’s team used a Loop Block to add four products to a shopping cart, all at once. Without a Loop Block, they would have had to run four separate Remote Actions to add the products. 

Robert is loving Loop Blocks already. Before he learns how to configure them, he wants to know the available properties.

Let’s look at the properties of the example LoopBlock1. A Loop List (1) accepts a JSON node containing an array. Use Additional Loop Output (2) to configure the response of an Action in the Loop Block. The key/value pairs you specify are available to the subsequent steps in the Integration Procedure. Use Execution Conditional Formula (3) to control when the Loop Block runs based on an expression that evaluates to true or false.

 Use Additional Loop Output with care, because it can impact system performance. The reason for this is that the response returns the data you request for every iteration. For example, if the Loop Block iterates 1000 times, it returns 1000 responses.

Time Slot Configuration

Let’s review the structure of the Integration Procedure that Robert needs to build to display time slots for care providers. 

The Integration Procedure includes two HTTP actions: HTTPActionGetCareProviders gets the care-provider data (1), and HTTPActionGetTimeslots gets data for care providers’ available appointment times (2). The LoopBlockProviders Loop Block (3) includes a DataRaptor Transform Action called SlotsForOneProviderTest (4), which transforms the output into JSON format. A Response Action (5) trims the JSON data.

Let’s see how the data flows in this Integration Procedure. 

1. Data flow starts from the HTTP Action, which pulls the care-provider data from external systems.
2. The Loop Block iterates over the items in the returned data array.
3. The DataRaptor Transform ensures the data is modified according to the desired logic.
4. The DataRaptor Transform Action calls the DataRaptor Transform.
5. The Response Action filters the results according to the transformation logic.
6. The Response Action sends the data to OmniStudio UI components, namely FlexCards or OmniScripts. The response can also call REST APIs from the Integration Procedure.

Get Care-Provider Data

The Integration Procedure needs two HTTP Actions. The first HTTP Action gets the care-provider data.

To create this action, drag an HTTP Action (1) into the Structure Panel. Choose the HTTP method, such as GET, PUT, POST, or DELETE. In this case, you need to get the data related to care providers from the HTTP Path, so enter the URL in the HTTP Path field (2). Then set HTTP Method (3) to GET.

Get Time-Slot Data

The second HTTP Action pulls the data related to time slots. 

To create this action, drag another HTTP Action (1) into the Structure Panel. Enter the HTTP Path (2) for the external system, and specify the HTTP Method (3). 

Configure the Loop Block

Now, Robert wants to merge the data related to care providers and time slots in the output, so he dives into the Loop Block configuration. 

To configure the Loop Block, drag a Loop Block (1) into the Structure Panel. Set the Loop List value (2) to HTTPActionGetCareProviders:careProviders. This creates a list for each care provider. For Additional Loop Output (3), enter careProviders as a key and the merge code value as %SlotsForOneProviderTest%. 

DataRaptor Transform Configuration

Robert’s next task is to create a DataRaptor Transform. Let's explore why.

A DataRaptor Transform can perform intermediate data transformations between JSON, XML, and Apex data types to merge the time-slot data without the need for code. Robert’s a pro at coding, but why not save energy and let a DataRaptor Transform do the heavy lifting? 

To create a DataRaptor Transform, drag a DataRaptor Transform Action component from the Structure Panel into the Loop Block, and provide an Element Name (1). For DataRaptor Interface, select + Create New DataRaptor (2) from the dropdown list.

In this case, you need a DataRaptor Transform to look up the time slots for each care provider in a JSON object and merge the time slots into the respective care provider JSON node. 

Let’s understand the Formulas, Transforms, and Preview tabs. 

Formulas Tab

In a DataRaptor, use the Formulas tab to add or manipulate data for output. 

In the Formula field, add the desired logic, and in the Formula Result Path, specify a JSON node to store the formula result. In this example, you create three formulas to configure the desired DataRaptor output. 

• The first Formula (1) is careProviders:careProviderId with a Formula Result Path of careProviderId.
• The second Formula (2) looks up the values of time slots against each careProviderId. The formula is VALUELOOKUP (Slots, careProviderId) and the Formula Result Path is slotsProvider.
• The third Formula (3) records the appointment slots for each provider. The formula is slotsProvider, and the Formula Result Path is careProvider:timings.

Transforms Tab

Now let’s examine the Transforms tab (1).

Map your data using the paths for the input and output JSON. In the Input JSON Path field (2), specify the input path. In the Output JSON Path field (3), add the Output path. This example uses careProviders for both input and output paths. 

Preview Tab

Use the Preview tab to test the DataRaptor output. 

In the Input pane (1), paste the sample input, and click Execute. The Response pane (2) shows the filtered results, which include data for care providers and their available time slots. You can see how the arrays are arranged with time slots and the associated Care Provider Id. 

Now that the DataRaptor Transform is ready, it’s time to add it to the Integration Procedure. 

Select the DataRaptor Transform Action (1) in the Integration Procedure. In the DataRaptor Interface field, select VLKUP2_ProviderSlots (2) from the dropdown list.

Next, drag a Response Action into the Structure Panel. 

Use the Response Action (1) to send the data that the DataRaptor Transform returns in JSON format. In Response Format (2), enter the desired format, in this case, JSON. 

It’s time to preview the results. 

Go to the Preview tab (1), and click Execute (2). In the Response section (3), you can see the care providers array is displayed with the Care Provider IDs. 

Now that Robert knows how Loop Blocks and DataRaptor Transforms work, he feels enlightened! He goes on to implement the time-slot feature in the ClearLight member portal. 

Alas, Robert’s work is never done. It’s time to move on to List Actions so he can build the next application requirement. 

Resources

• Salesforce Help: Process Arrays Using Loop Blocks
• Salesforce Help: HTTP Action