Skip to main content

How to Fix “A binary operator with incompatible types was detected” in Power Automate

Fixing Power Automate Error – A Binary Operator with Incompatible Types

When working with Power Automate, we often encounter errors that seem simple but can be quite confusing. One common error that many developers face when using List rows or filters in Power Automate is:

Error:
A binary operator with incompatible types was detected.

In this post, I’ll explain why this error happens and how you can fix it quickly so your flows run smoothly.

Why This Error Happens

This error usually appears when you are trying to apply a filter query in a List rows action and you are comparing two fields with incompatible types. For example:

  • Comparing a lookup field directly with a text value.
  • Comparing an integer field with a string.

In Dataverse, certain fields, like lookups, require you to use their GUID values in the filter. If the types don’t match, Power Automate throws the binary operator error.

How to Fix It Step by Step

Here’s how to solve it:

  1. Identify the field you want to filter and check its type in Dataverse.
  2. If it’s a lookup field, use the GUID value in the correct format: _logicalname_value eq 'GUID'.
  3. If it’s another type (string, integer, boolean), make sure your filter uses the same type.

Example for a lookup field:

_accountid_value eq '00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000'

This ensures that Power Automate can correctly interpret the filter and the flow runs without errors.

Tips to Avoid This Error in the Future

  • Always check the field type in Dataverse before applying filters.
  • Use GUID values for lookup comparisons.
  • Test your filter queries in the “Filter Query” box to verify they work before using them in production.
  • Remember: matching types is key. Strings with strings, integers with integers, GUIDs with GUIDs.

Conclusion

The error “A binary operator with incompatible types was detected” in Power Automate is common, especially when working with filters and List rows. Understanding the field types and using the correct format for comparisons will save you a lot of frustration.

Learning from these errors makes us better developers

Have you run into this error or others before? We’d love to hear about it in the comments!

For a related guide, check out my post on How to Fix "A binary operator with incompatible types was detected" in Power Automate.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dynamics 365 Web API: How to Perform Multiple POST or Upsert Operations

Dynamics 365 Web API: How to Perform Multiple POST or Upsert Operations Dynamics 365 Web API: How to Perform Multiple POST or Upsert Operations The Dynamics 365 Web API provides a powerful way to interact with data in a structured and scalable manner. Among its most efficient — yet often underutilized — capabilities is the ability to perform multiple record operations (batch requests) or upserts (insert or update) in a single call. This article walks you through how to correctly build URIs, structure JSON payloads, handle lookup bindings using @odata.bind , and understand how Dynamics 365 interprets and processes these requests internally. 🧩 1. What Is an Upsert Operation? An Upsert is a hybrid between two common database operations: Insert (POST): Creates a new record. Update (PATCH): Updates an existing record. Dynamics 365 automatically determines whether to insert or update based on whether a record with the specified Alternate Key already exists. ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dynamics 365 CRM – Managing Translations in JavaScript with RESX Files

Dynamics 365 CRM – Managing Translations in JavaScript with RESX Files Dynamics 365 CRM – Managing Translations in JavaScript with RESX Files In multi-language environments within Dynamics 365 CRM , it is common to display localized messages in alerts, pop-ups, or validation logic. A robust solution is to use .resx resource files together with Xrm.Utility.getResourceString in JavaScript. Retrieving a Translation The standard pattern to retrieve a translated message is: Xrm.Utility.getResourceString( namespace.localization.webResourceName, namespace.localization.messageKey ); webResourceName : the name of the .resx resource file, without specifying a language ID. Dynamics automatically loads the correct language based on the user’s settings. messageKey : the key defined in the .resx file that contains the translated message. Best Practices for Structuring Keys Organizing translations in a c...
2 comments
Read more

SSIS (.dtsx in Visual Studio) vs XrmToolBox — Data Transporter

SSIS (.dtsx in Visual Studio) vs XrmToolBox — Data Transporter SSIS (.dtsx in Visual Studio) vs XrmToolBox — Data Transporter Technical Comparison and Practical Guide for Moving Data Between Dynamics 365 / Dataverse Environments Moving data between environments (dev → test → prod) is something every team working with Dynamics 365 / Dataverse does frequently. There are two common operational approaches: Classic SSIS (Visual Studio .dtsx packages with Data Flow, Lookups, Scripts, SQL staging, etc.) — an industrial ETL/ELT approach. XrmToolBox – Data Transporter (a lightweight plugin for copying records between organizations) — a manual, fast, developer-oriented approach. Below we break down the real differences, risks, and practical recommendations for each method. 1) Architecture and Philosophy SSIS (.dtsx in Visual Studio) ETL/ELT architecture: connect to sources (SQL, CSV, APIs), transform (Derived Column, Lookup, Script Component) and load into Dat...
Post a Comment
Read more