In this article, we are going to learn basic things about logic apps, why we need logic app and all the basic areas of understanding about Logic Apps.
Definition: Azure Logic app is the tool provided by Microsoft Azure Portal which lets you create automated workflows.
- You need very little knowledge about coding to create flows in Logic app.
- Logic apps comes with Visual designer using which you can quickly create flows.
- We can utilize hundreds of different connectors in Logic apps.
- Using logic apps, you can connect to Online as well as On-premises systems.
Some examples of Logic apps usage
You can use Logics apps….
- If you want to send emails on periodic basis.
- If you want to perform some actions on On-Premises, Online SQL, SAP, SharePoint, or any other Database.
- Copy or move any file from one system to another system.
- Make HTTP Calls like POST/GET/PUT/PATCH/DELETE.
- Monitor social media like, twits, mails, posts, etc...
Key areas of Azure Logic apps
Trigger
- Trigger is always the first step of the logic app flow.
- Trigger in logic app specifies the condition which if fulfilled, will start and run the entire flow.
Action
- Each step after the first (Trigger) step is the Action.
- Every operation in the flow except trigger is the action.
Built-In Connectors
- These connectors run natively in Logic apps for any operation.
- Built-In connectors don’t require to create a connection reference objects with Logic apps.
- These are some of the Built-In connectors.
Managed Connectors
- Managed connectors provide a way to connect to the other systems, DBs, applications where Built-In connectors are not available.
- These connectors are usually tied to systems and services like, SharePoint, Salesforce, O365, Azure Key vault, etc.…
- Usually, managed connectors require you to create a connection between the system and the logic apps.
- These are some of the Managed Connectors.
What are the benefits of using Logic Apps?
- You don’t need to be a hard-core developer. With very little know about the business flow, you can start working on it.
- Logic app can connect to the other systems be it On-line or On-Premises.
- You can use ARM (Azure Resource Manager) templates to setup and automate the deployment process.
- Logic app can connect to other systems through hundreds of easy-to-use connectors.
- In Logic app you can also create your own custom connector if there is no any suitable connector works for you.
Debugging the Logic App
- Debugging the logic app is so easy.
- You can open your logic app. When you open it, you will be able to see the flow RUN history.
- All the entries come up with status (Success or Fail), Start Time, flow duration. Based on the timing of the flow.
- You can click on any of these items from RUN history.
- When the flow opens, you can see the trigger and each action has got green tick (or Red in case of error) on top right corner.
- For the step having issue, it must be red tick and you can clearly see the error message on it.
- For each step/action, if you expand the action, it will show you input and output result.
