Shopify Flow Automation • Update Product Metafield Value to (Nothing)

[journeylab]

I am using a theme that generates custom badges when text is entered into a metafield (made of single-line text). When the metafield is empty, the custom badge will not display.

The only word that I would put in there is "preorder" but within Shopify Flow, I am unable to remove text in the VALUE field or leave it blank. 

Does anyone have a workaround for this?

[journeylab]

I tried this... but it returns telling me the field can't be blank.

{% assign newValue = '' %}

{{ newValue }}

[paul_n]

The metafields API doesn't allow you to set blank values, so this isn't possible. You might want to consider using another strategy, like a reserved word such as "blank". 

You might also be able to remove the metafield entirely instead and then check if it's null. 

[journeylab]

Hi Paul! 

So I am using a theme where custom badges are set only when there is text in a given metafield, but go away altogether when that text field is blank. 

This automation is inventory count-based, so when items reach an inventory of 0, "preorder" gets added to this field. 

I'm not entirely confident what a "reserved word such as blank" would entail, but that or removing the meta field entirely sounds good to me. 

Do you have a resource you might be able to share? 

[paul_n · Accepted solution]

You can try Flow's "Remove Product Metafield" action. I think it will only work if the metafield doesn't have a "definition".  This the API that Flow calls that show's how to set a metafield and that the value field is required https://shopify.dev/docs/api/admin-graphql/2023-07/mutations/metafieldsSet

Regarding using something like "blank", you would need to update your theme to account for that.

[journeylab]

You're a genius! Thank you. I have it set up. I will test it over a longer period of time — but this looks promising! 

[gary07]

Hi Paul

Would you able to help to get the metaobject entries value

When I click on return data I am unable to find the entries as I need to select the entries from the list

Here is list of entries

[paul_n]

Your 2 screenshots don't match. Which mutation are you using? 

[gary07]

Hi

I am creating metaobject entries using metaobjectUpsert and now I want to update that value to meta field

Before I was using incorrect after research now I am using 

productUpdate 

problem is "value": "gid://shopify/Metaobject/54024470751",

I should get /metaobjects/entries/or_see_more_choices/54024470751

{
"input": {
"metafields": [
{
"id": "{{product.id}}",
"namespace": "custom",
"key": "or_see_more_choices_",
"value": "{{sendAdminApiRequest1.metaobject.id}}",
"type": "list.metaobject_reference"
}
]
}
}

[paul_n]

You don't need to use the Send Admin API request to update a metafield. Just use "Update Product Metafield". Assuming it accepts a list of metaobjects, it needs to look like ["gid://shopify/Metaobjects/123","gid://shopify/Metaobjects/345"].