API Connector call returns correct raw data, but a workflow field mapped from it saves blank — despite 0 warnings Body:

Hi all — I’m stuck on something that seems like it should be simple, and I’ve spent a long time on it, so hoping someone can spot what I’m missing.

Setup:

• API Connector call to the Census Bureau’s ACS API (GET request, Data type set to Text)

• The call returns a nested list-of-lists, e.g.:

[[“NAME”,“B01001_001E”,“B19013_001E”,“B01002_001E”,“state”,“county”],[“Los Angeles County, California”,“9936690”,“83411”,“37.4”,“06”,“037”]]

• Clicking “Initialize call” and “Show raw data” inside the API Connector confirms this correct data comes back every time.

What I’m trying to do:

On “Page is loaded,” I have a workflow action “Create a new CensusData” (a custom data type with text/number fields). I’m trying to save one field, RawRow (text type), using:

Census ACS - API Call:item #2’s raw body text

This is meant to grab the second item in the list (the actual data row) as plain text.

The problem:

• The expression shows 0 warnings in the editor.

• When I run Preview, a new CensusData record IS created (correct timestamp), but the RawRow field — and every other field I’ve tried mapping this way — saves as completely blank.

• To rule out the record-creation mechanism itself, I set RawRow to a plain static string (“test”) with no dynamic data at all, and that DID save correctly. So the record creation and field-saving mechanism works fine — it’s specifically the API-response-to-field mapping that silently fails.

What I’ve already tried (all with 0 warnings shown, but blank results):

1. :item #2 alone

2. :item #2:item #2 (chaining a second item to get a specific value within the row)

3. 's raw body text directly on the API call

4. Changing the API Connector’s Data type from JSON to Text, then re-tried the above

5. :first item before 's raw body text

Question: Is there a known issue with how Bubble’s API Connector handles a nested list response like this in workflow field-mapping (as opposed to displaying it in a Text element)? Is there a more reliable operator/pattern I should be using to extract a single value from a nested array response into a saved database field?

Happy to share screenshots of the editor and the raw data response if helpful. Thanks in advance for any pointers!

I believe it’s a long known issue on Bubble’s side that raw body text only works on the API call body. Trying to fetch a child object’s raw body text returns empty.

A bug, and definitely report it at Contact | Bubble

Raw body text is only available when you detect header and continue if error (both checkbox need to be enabled)