Trouble mapping multi-select fields (arrays) from forms into Google Sheets – fields not resolving properly (e.g. ziele[], branche[], kanal[])

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1

Hi Make Community,

I’m a Newbie and currently working on a form integration where user input (via checkboxes/multi-select fields) is being sent to Google Sheets via Make. However, I’m struggling with mapping and formatting these values correctly – especially when fields like ziele[], branche[], or kanal[] are arrays.

Here’s the setup:

  • A user submits a form (attached) with multi-select options for:
    • Kanal (Channel): WhatsApp
    • Ziele (Goals): e.g. More time, more clients, automate, etc.
    • Branche (Industry): multiple industries + a free-text “Other” field

What I’m trying to achieve:
:backhand_index_pointing_right: A clean, readable string per field in one row of Google Sheets (e.g. "Automate, More Revenue, Less Chaos" instead of [object Object] or broken formulas)

What I’ve tried:

  • join(ziele[]; ", ") → results in join(get(12.ziele[]); ", "), but data sometimes appears broken or not processed at all
  • Mapping the array fields directly to columns → Sheet shows formula code or blank values
  • Using get(12; "ziele") vs. get(12.ziele[]) → unclear which is correct when passing data to Google Sheets

Issue:
In Google Sheets, the row ends up with broken logic like:
…instead of the resolved values. This happens especially with ziele[], branche[] (including “other” text input), and kanal[] with conditional logic.

Screenshots attached below with:
:white_check_mark: Form setup
:cross_mark: Incorrect spreadsheet output
:gear: Current value mapping logic in Make

Would really appreciate any help in debugging how to properly parse and map those array values into clean strings for a single-row insertion in Google Sheets.

Thanks in advance!

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2

Welcome to the Make community!

These are invalid:

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Your brackets, operators, functions, or special variables were not selected from the Variables Panel.

Try selecting it again from the Variables Panel, or type curly brackets like these {{ }} so that it ends up with a background color:

{{ ( }}
{{ / }}
{{ + }}
{{ = }}

etc.

I also suggest doing this Make Academy, as it covers selecting brackets, operators, functions, or special variables from the Variables Panel.

For more information, see:

Hope this helps! Let me know if there are any further questions or issues. P.S.: investing some effort into the tutorials in the Make Academy will save you lots of time and frustration using Make!

— @samliew

3

Hi Sam,

thank you for your detailed explanation and examples! I tried to follow your instructions exactly:

:white_check_mark: I used the join(map(12.Array[]; ...)) structure
:white_check_mark: Inside map, I added the if(and(eq(...), eq(...)), "WhatsApp", "SMS")
:white_check_mark: I selected whatsapp and whatsapp_optin using the Variables Panel

However, Make keeps giving me an “Invalid IML” error.

:backhand_index_pointing_right: The expression looks like this:

{{ join(map(12.Array;
if(
and(
eq(lower(12.Array.whatsapp); “ja”);
eq(lower(12.Array.whatsapp_optin); “on”)
);
“WhatsApp”;
“SMS”
)
); ", ")
}}

:backhand_index_pointing_right: The error says:
Invalid reference in parameter ... Invalid IML.

I think I am misunderstanding where exactly to select whatsapp and whatsapp_optin.
:right_arrow: Do I need to click them from the Variables Panel after placing the cursor inside the map context?
:right_arrow: How can I ensure that Make uses only the element variable (whatsapp instead of 12.Array[].whatsapp)?

Could you please help me understand how I can insert the variables correctly so Make does not generate the Invalid IML error?

Thank you so much for your support!

4

You can’t have newlines between variables. Please provide screenshots.

Please do the Make Academy too.