Answered

Launching Excel with Run Application

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee

Hello, I am hoping someone can help with this issue. I am launching Excel using the Run Application function. I am doing this so the data connections will update when the file is open. The Launch Excel function doesn't perform the data connection Refresh for some reason. The issue I am having is that in order to close the application I have to have an Excel Instance variable which I can't seem to find. Any advice on a better way to do this or a way to set/find the variable is appreciated!

Categories:

Power Automate Desktop

I have the same question (0)

All responses (9)

Answers (1)

Sort by

Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Try close Excel by sending keys Alt+F4.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Thanks for the quick response. I tried {Alt}({F4}) to no avail. It didn't do anything.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Tested here and worked as expected:
1) 'Run application' pointing to Excel.exe
2) 'Wait' 5s to assure Excel loads
3) 'Send keys' {Alt}({F4})
Alt+F4 is shortcut to close Excel and other applications in Windows. Here it did exactly this.
Be sure you're in the Excel window when sending keys.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
tkuehara 667 on at

Like (2)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi @Anonymous

You can "capture" Excel even without using "Launch Excel" action. I tried the code below and it worked as desired:
The "Attach to running Excel" produces the "ExcelInstance9" variable used in the "Close Excel" action.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Thank you for the reply. I tried using your solution with my Excel document but it keeps giving me an error stating my Excel Document can't be found. I was able to create a solution that uses a desktop recording to close the file. Seems like a hack and I would really like to figure this one out!

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Thank you for the reply. I tried using your solution with my Excel document but it keeps giving me an error stating my Excel Document can't be found. I was able to create a solution that uses a desktop recording to close the file. Seems like a hack and I would really like to figure this one out!

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Riyaz_riz11 4,067 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi @Anonymous

First try to use application and pass the respective excel file in run application,
if u need to close excel use by sending keys Alt+F4.

Thanks,
Ahammad Riyaz

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Verified answer

MichaelAnnis 5,727 Moderator on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Redundant "Attach to Excel File" commands will result in the error "the document cannot be found." If that file is an active Excel instance within Power Automate, you cannot sent another Launch/Attach command, or you will get that error. (I learned that one the hard way)

I would rewrite your process to:
1) Launch Excel
2) Use UI elements to update the links by clicking the "Refresh All" button on the Data Ribbon under the Queries & Connections Section
3) Save and Close Excel

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

Like (0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Thanks Michael. That works!

Was this reply helpful? Yes No