Navigating Make.com’s Map Function Like a Pro 🗺️

Why Mastering Map() Matters

In the world of Make.com, efficiency is key. The map() function is your secret weapon to process data faster and build more powerful automations. This guide breaks down the essentials of map() in a way that’s easy to grasp and even easier to apply.

The Golden Rule: From A, I Want B, Where C is D

Think of this like a magic spell for map():

From A: This is the array you’re working with.
I Want B: The specific data you’re trying to extract (e.g., email addresses).
Where C is D: The condition that must be met (e.g., subscription status is ‘pending’).

Example: Let’s say you have an array of customer data, and you want to grab the email addresses of all customers marked as ‘active’. Here’s how the magic spell works:

From the customer array,
I Want the ’email’,
Where the ‘status’ is ‘active’.

Taming Arrays of Any Size

The beauty of map() is that it effortlessly handles arrays of all shapes and sizes. Whether you have 5 items or 5 million, the logic remains the same. This makes your automations incredibly scalable and saves you from tedious manual work.

Unlocking Nested Data: Dot Your Way to Success

Things get a bit trickier when you need data buried deeper within your array. Imagine you have an array of user profiles, each containing a ‘permissions’ object with fields like ‘read’ and ‘write’.

Here’s the trick: Use dot notation to pinpoint the exact value you need.

Example: To find users where ‘read’ permission is set to ‘false’:

permissions.read is equal to ‘false’

You can chain these dots together to navigate even more complex nested structures.

Combining Map() with Other Array Functions

Make.com offers a treasure chest of array functions, and map() plays nicely with them all.

Flatten(): Merges nested arrays into a single, unified array. This is super handy when you want to combine multiple map() results.

Practical Example: Extracting Multiple Values

Let’s say you have an array of product data, and you want to pull out both the ‘product ID’ and the ‘price’ for items sold last month.

Use ‘Set Multiple Variables’: Instead of setting a single variable, create two – one for ‘IDs’ and one for ‘prices’.
Apply the Map() Magic:

For the ‘IDs’ variable, map the array and grab the ‘product ID’ where ‘sold last month’ is ‘true’.
Do the same for the ‘prices’ variable, mapping to the ‘price’ field.

Combine the Results: This step requires a bit more advanced logic using iterators and text aggregators, but the idea is to pair up the corresponding IDs and prices into a new array.

Making It Stick: Putting Map() into Action

Ready to put your newfound map() skills to the test?

Challenge: Find a scenario in your own Make.com flows where you’re working with arrays. Can you streamline the process using map()?

Remember, the key is to break down your problem into the “From A, I Want B, Where C is D” format. Once you’ve got that down, you’ll be amazed at how much faster and more efficient your automations become.

Toolbox:

Here are some additional resources to deepen your Make.com expertise:

Make.com Documentation: https://www.make.com/en/help – Your go-to for all things Make.
Make.com Community Forum: https://www.make.com/en/community – Connect with fellow makers, get help, and share your knowledge.

Happy automating!