Getting Started with Azure Logic Apps

Azure Logic Apps is a cloud-based platform for creating and running automated workflows that integrate your apps, data, services, and systems. With Logic Apps, you can quickly develop solutions that connect to hundreds of pre-built connectors or use custom solutions to automate tasks and processes.

What are Logic Apps?

Logic Apps provide a visual designer to help you build and orchestrate workflows without extensive coding. They are ideal for scenarios such as:

  • Orchestrating business processes across multiple systems.
  • Integrating with SaaS applications like Office 365, Salesforce, and Dropbox.
  • Automating notifications and data synchronization.
  • Building robust enterprise integration solutions.

Key Concepts

Workflows

A Logic App is essentially a workflow. Workflows consist of a trigger and a series of actions. When the trigger event occurs, the Logic App starts executing its actions.

Triggers

Triggers are the events that start a Logic App workflow. These can be scheduled (e.g., every hour), event-based (e.g., when a file is added to Blob Storage), or initiated by an HTTP request.

Common triggers include:

  • HTTP Request: Starts the workflow when an HTTP request is received.
  • Schedule: Runs the workflow on a recurring schedule.
  • Connectors: Triggers based on events from services like OneDrive, SharePoint, Twitter, etc.

Actions

Actions are the steps that your Logic App performs after it's triggered. These can include:

  • Making API calls.
  • Performing data transformations.
  • Sending notifications (e.g., email, Teams message).
  • Working with data in databases or storage.
  • Calling other Logic Apps or Azure Functions.

Connectors

Connectors are pre-built integrations that allow Logic Apps to communicate with other services and systems. Azure Logic Apps offers a vast library of connectors, including:

  • Microsoft services (Office 365, SharePoint, Azure Blob Storage, Azure SQL Database).
  • Third-party SaaS services (Salesforce, Twitter, Dropbox, Google Drive).
  • Protocols like FTP, SFTP, and HTTP.

Creating Your First Logic App

Follow these steps to create a simple Logic App that sends an email when a file is added to a OneDrive folder:

  1. Navigate to the Azure Portal: Go to portal.azure.com.
  2. Create a Logic App: Search for "Logic Apps" and click "Create". Fill in the required details for your subscription, resource group, and Logic App name.
  3. Choose a Trigger: After creating the Logic App, open the Logic App Designer. Select the "OneDrive" connector and choose the "When a file is added, modified or deleted" trigger.
  4. Configure the Trigger: Sign in to your OneDrive account and specify the folder to monitor.
  5. Add an Action: Click "+ New step" and select the "Office 365 Outlook" connector. Choose the "Send an email" action.
  6. Configure the Action: Set the "To", "Subject", and "Body" of the email. You can use dynamic content from the trigger (e.g., the file name) in the email body.
  7. Save and Test: Save your Logic App. Upload a file to the configured OneDrive folder to test the workflow.

Tip: For more complex scenarios, consider using parallel branches, scopes, and error handling within your Logic Apps.

Learn More

Explore the following resources to deepen your understanding of Azure Logic Apps:

Explore Tutorials