Solved: Excel (Businness) table manipulations and Sharepoint Copy file /Create file

Excel (Businness) table manipulations and Sharepoint Copy file /Create file

Hi!

I am thinking on a Flow that will copy an already existing excel file from a Sharepoint Library (you can see it as a "template", even though it is .xlsx) and store it on the same Sharepoint Library. The next step I wanted to achieve was to add a new row to a specific Table belonging to the new file.

However, according to Microsoft Flow Team feedback, choosing a dynamic content in the "File" field to select a file is not supported in Microsoft flow "Excel (Business)" connector currently. If you want to vote such idea, please visit https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Flow-Ideas/Dynamic-content-in-File-amp-Table-inputs-Excel-Business/idi-p/107822#M6939

So, I am trying to find a workaround for this limitation. I am playing with the opposite approach: I add a new new row to a specific Table belonging to the original file (the "template"), then I create a new file with the contents of the "template" file and store it on the same Sharepoint Library, finally remove the new row from the "template" file.

The problem with this potential workaround is, once I open the new file, the new row is not there. It seems Flow makes the copy of the "template file" taking as reference its contents before adding the new row.

Is this the expected behaviour? Is this a bug? Can you think on any other workaround? Suggestions, welcome

Thank you in advance!

Screenshot of the "template" excel file:

The Flow I have tested as a potential workaround:

Inputs chosen in "Excel (Business) Add row into a table" action block

Inputs chosen in both "Sharepoint Create File" action block and "Copy File" action block. Please note I have tested two potential workarounds once I add the new row to the "Template" file:

1.- create a new file with the contents of the "template" file and store it on the same Sharepoint Library, finally remove the new row from the "template" file ("true branch of the condition)

2.- copy the "template" file and store the new file on the same Sharepoint Library, finally remove the new row from the "template" file.

No matter the potential workaround I test, the result is not the expected one: i.e. the new file does not contain the new row

The content of the new file: no matter I test branch True or False (I convert the condition from "is equal to" into "is not equal to"), the new file does not contain the new row

"List rows present in a table" and "List rows present in a table 2" allows me to verify the new row is added to the "template" file. I've also verified it by moving the terminate action block just after "Excel (Business) Add row into a table" and this before "List rows present in a table 2".

Hi @efialttes,

I have made a test on my side and confirmed the issue. It seems that the flow create a new file with the contents of the "template" file before adding a new row into the "template" file.

I have made a test on my side and please take a try with the following workaround as an alternative solution:

Add a proper trigger, here I use Flow Button trigger.
Add a "Add a row into a table" action, specify Location, Document Library, File and Table.
Add a "Delay" action, Count set to 1 and Unit set to Minute.
Add a "Get file content" action of SharePoint connector, specify Site Address and File identifier field set to the "template" file (source file).
Add a "Create file" action, specify Site Address and Folder Path. File Name set to Employees(Copy).xlsx, File Content field set to File Content dynamic content of the "Get file content" action.
Add a "Delete a row" action, specify Location, Document Library, File (the "template" file) , Table, Key Column and Key Value.