Folder names not working with spaces (sometimes!)

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Posted on by FlatOut

Hello,

Creating my first flow, to auto-save Gmail attachments to OneDrive. It is (almost) working.

In "OneDrive Create File" I use the navigation menu to save the attachment to an existing path:

\House\McOwen Road\Gas Bills

However, the attachments do not save to that path. New folders are created, creating a new path as follows:

\House\McOwen%20Road\Gas Bills

Note the %20, which makes me something doesn't like spaces...but it seems OK with a space in the folder called Gas bills...!

If I try to manually edit the path in flow (by deleting the %20) it just adds it back in again.

All very odd. Any thoughts?

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Building flows

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abm abm 32,865 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @FlatOut

Could you please post a screenshot of your flow?

Thanks

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FlatOut 43 on at

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Hi @abm

Here is the flow:

When choosing "folder path" I browse to (and select) the existing folder "McOwen Road" however as you can see above, the path name then immediately displays "McOwen%20Road". The flow works, and the attachment saves to OneDrive - but into a new folder called "McOwen%20Road" which is automatically generated, not into the "McOwen Road" folder that I want.

Any help much appreciated.

Scott

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FlatOut 43 on at

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Here are the two folders in Windows Explorer (just in case you think I'm going crazy!)

The 2nd one didn't exist initially but is created by Power Automate.

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abm abm 32,865 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @FlatOut

I did tested this and worked as expected. I did used the browse button to select the directory. Could you please remove the current step of create file, add again and use the browse button to select the directory.

Thanks

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FlatOut 43 on at

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Hi @abm

Thanks for the suggestions.

I tried removing the step, and also recreating the whole flow - but still have the same issue.

If I browse to:
/House/McOwen Road/Gas Bills
the path changes to:
/House/McOwen%20Road/Gas Bills

but if I browse to:
/House/McOwen Road
the %20 is not added (very strange)

I tried manually deleting the %20 from the path, but it just gets added back in.

I have finally managed to fix this by typing the path into notepad, and then copy/paste into the "Folder Path" box.

Final question, I want the generated file name to be "YYYY-MM - Gas Bill" (so if generated today, it would be "2020-08 - Gas Bill"...is there an easy way to do this (or a tutorial I can read up on)? I have searched and searched.....

Many thanks for all your help.

Thank you so much for you help!!

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FlatOut 43 on at

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@abm Update...I have managed to get the file name of the attachment working - however now the file extension disappears...

Flow and file name format shown in image below

Issues:
1) file extension disappears from the file in OneDrive (attachment has no file extension)
2) Do I need to correct UTC time? (I am in the UK)

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abm abm 32,865 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @FlatOut

I can't see here the file extension?

You need to add the extension under the File Name after the -Gas Bill mapping.

Thanks

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FlatOut 43 on at

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Strange that the file extension stays if you use the expression, but not if you add in the text "gas bill" - I have added .pdf to the end and it now works 🙂

Thank you very much for the help.

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abm abm 32,865 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @FlatOut

Thanks for the update and glad that all sorted out now.

If your problem has solved, please go ahead and mark the post as solved by clicking “Accept as Solution” so that this thread will be marked for other users to easily identify!

Thanks

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HarroSchmidt 3 on at

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@abm the problem with adding '%20' to OneDrive folder names with spaces (chosen via the Browse button) still exists. The issue can be solved by copying the folder name from Notepad as suggested by @FlatOut, but in my opinion this should be fixed in the Flow Editor. Is there a place where a bug like this can be reported?

Harro

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