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How to get the file name before downloading a PDF file from a URL

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Posted on by yRgolkkju

I am posting again because when I moved to the new community, some of my past questions were erased from my view.

There is a mechanism in the email that when clicked on, an external URL, other than Microsoft 365, is read by the Edge browser and downloaded as a PDF download.
I would like to place the downloaded PDF file directly into OneDrive or SharePoint Online.
The PDF file changes name randomly each time.

I have confirmed that OneDrive has an action called “Upload file from URL”, and I have done it, but even if I am able to place the file in OneDrive with Automate flow, the PDF file cannot be opened with an error.

Therefore, we would like to obtain the file name before downloading the PDF file from the corresponding URL.
We would like to add the file name to the OneDrive action “Upload file from URL”.

If you have any good ideas on how to get the file name before downloading the PDF file from the URL, please let me know.

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yRgolkkju 32 on at

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I am trying the file name with the extension (random alphanumeric file name such as XXX) at the end of the file name, the download is complete and the flow is running.
However, I get the output “Could not open this file (a problem occurred)” and cannot open the PDF file.

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yRgolkkju 32 on at

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The file name is not shown at the end of the URL to connect to the pdf and download it.

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Nived_Nambiar 18,129 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @yRgolkkju

So does it meant that even if you provide random file name in upload file action - still it does not work ?

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CFernandes 8,402 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hey

>>Therefore, we would like to obtain the file name before downloading the PDF file from the corresponding URL.
We would like to add the file name to the OneDrive action “Upload file from URL”.

This really depends on the URL-

My URL is https://file-examples.com/wp-content/storage/2017/10/file_example_JPG_100kB.jpg

So simple Expression below work

last(split(outputs('File_URL'), '/'))

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yRgolkkju 32 on at

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Hi,Nived_Nambiar,

Thank you for your response.
I specified a random file name with the .pdf extension added and the flow works and flows correctly, but I cannot open the PDF file.
I get an error that says this PDF file cannot be opened.

To download the PDF file, I click on the URL in the body of the email and open it in my Edge browser to download the file.

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