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How to copy files based on the count of variable

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Posted on by xuyinaoyixue1

Hey there,

I want to copy a file multiple times based on the count of variable. see below logic

If variable value = 1, no copy

if variable value >1, then copy (variable value - 1)

I'm stuck into for each and loop each, but cannot figure out how. Would you help with that? Thank you so much!

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xuyinaoyixue1 73 on at

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Hey there,

I tried to use loop, but it didn't work still only copied once. Would you help to take a look into that? Thanks a lot!

Whatever I select overwrite the existing one or do nothing, it just only copied once.

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,255 Moderator on at

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Hi,

Please find the suggested solution for your usecase with some best practices.

Please find the below code for your use case(Copy and paste it to your power automate desktop flow):
**REGION Copy file from source to destination SET CopyCount TO 3 LOOP LopopIndex FROM 0 TO CopyCount - 1 STEP 1 SET SourceFile TO $'''C:\\SourceFolder\\file.txt''' SET DestinationFile TO $'''C:\\DestinationFolder\\file_''' + LopopIndex + $'''.txt''' IF (File.IfFile.Exists File: DestinationFile) THEN File.RenameFiles.RenameAddSequentialSuffix Files: DestinationFile StartNumberingAt: $'''1''' IncrementBy: $'''1''' UsePadding: True Padding: $'''3''' SequencePosition: File.AddTextPosition.AfterName SequenceSeparator: File.Separator.Dash IfFileExists: File.IfExists.Overwrite RenamedFiles=> RenamedFiles END File.Copy Files: SourceFile Destination: DestinationFile IfFileExists: File.IfExists.Overwrite CopiedFiles=> CopiedFiles END **ENDREGION

Thanks,
Deenuji Loganathan 👩‍💻
Power Automate Desktop Community Champion 🤖
Follow me on LinkedIn 👥

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VishnuReddy1997 2,666 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @xuyinaoyixue1,

Its is not able show the files because the file is same so it can show it same name.So you need to rename the copied file after coping the file.

Please find the solution as shown in image.

(Note:- if you got your solution you can mark as solution and gives kudos)

Thanks & Regards
Vishnu Reddy

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xuyinaoyixue1 73 on at

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@ VishnuReddy1997 Thanks for help. Yes. The final goal is rename the file with each variable. (see below my thoughts flow)

1: parse text to extract variable (done)

2: count variable (done)

3: copy the file multiple times based on the number of variable minus 1 (i'm stuck)

4: rename those copied files with each variable i got from the 1st step (I'm stuck)

example here.

1: I got A,B and C those 3 variables

2: there are 3 variables after counting, so I will copy the file 2 times. Given that, I will have that same file 3 times

3: rename those 3 files with A, B and C.

Not sure whether there is some other flow to help me get the final goal, but yes, that's why I want to copy the file multiple times but stuck into this problem.

Again, thanks for your help!

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xuyinaoyixue1 73 on at

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a follow up question. I just want to rename the file with the variable I applied 'parse text'. What can I do to rename the file with variable[0], variable[1] automatically...and so on (in this case, we will use Matches[0], Match[1]

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VishnuReddy1997 2,666 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hey Hi,

Can you share the screenshot of the flow.

Regards,

Vishnu Reddy

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xuyinaoyixue1 73 on at

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@VishnuReddy1997

Sure. Before that, let me explain the purpose. We try to file our bill of lading based on shipper ID received from our shipper.

Given that, I applied the regex expression to extract the shipper ID. (but sometimes one bill of lading might have one or multiple shipper IDs).

That's my match variable in this example. (I got 2 variables)

Since there are two variables here. I should copy that bill of lading once. With that being said, I now have two files (one is copied and the other is the original one). Then, I will rename one file with 2787072 and other one with 2787071. (Again, there is no relationship among shipper IDs. In other words, we cannot add any other logic to calculate the other shipper IDs, if we know one) At the end, I will rename the file with Match[0], match[1] in this case. (But each bill of lading might have different number of shipper ID, from 1 to 4.)

I think I'm not stuck into last two steps

1) How to copy that bill of lading multiple times which should equal to the variable of matches (my cases) minus 1. (if 2, the copy once, if 3 then copy twice)

2) How to rename the file automatically with Matches[0], Matches[1]....

Really appreciate your help and let me know if you need anything.

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xuyinaoyixue1 73 on at

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I have a feeling that I should apply for each, after I pull the text using regex expression, but tried several times and failed....any thoughts there? Thanks a lot!

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xuyinaoyixue1 73 on at

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@Deenuji_Loganathan_ @VishnuReddy1997 Any thoughts? Thanks!

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VishnuReddy1997 2,666 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi,

Get Matches list count then apply the for each loop.

Regards,

Vishnu Reddy

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