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Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

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Posted on 9 May 2019 14:26:30 by JohnMacDougall

I'm am using flow to copy an Excel template to a new folder in SharePoint. The folder is dynamically created, so the folder and template file do not exist before the flow runs. I then want to add rows into a table inside the newly created template file in the new folder.

It seems I can't dynamically reference this path and file to use the add rows to table action. I get the error message "Cannot evaluate the parameter 'path.$.file' at design-time; it is empty or has a runtime expression." if I try a dynamical reference.

Any clever workarounds to achieve the same thing?

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Karel (ACSW) 46 on 27 Mar 2023 at 16:23:03

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

Wow this really did the trick easily, thank you so much for solving this issue!

For anyone else still in pain, let me explain how you can set this up:

1. Take this worksheet/table as an example, I already know what the tableheaders are because it's a template that is duplicated in my flow:

2. You simply map the tableheaders inside a JSON object, then you add this object in the 'row' parameter:
nonono_username on 17 Jan 2023 at 11:22:16

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

haha no need a present, your thanks is enough. Credits to Norm Young
Happy 2023!
nerfherder 128 on 17 Jan 2023 at 01:24:03

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

u BEAUTY. DM me your venmo plz and ill figure out a present for Norm
nerfherder 128 on 17 Jan 2023 at 01:08:07

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

@nonono_username omg JSON duh thank you so much if this works i will owe you a big one
nonono_username on 24 Oct 2022 at 12:36:15

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

I found the answer thanks to Norm Young's article Export Microsoft List data to Excel – Norm Young
When you enter a dynamic "File" name and a custom "Table" name as a variable or as a function like concat('myTableName') in the "Add a row into a table" action, a new field named "Row" will appear. In it you can add an object like this:

{ "ColumnName1":"Value1", "ColumnName2":"Value2" }
wbeedge 4 on 24 Oct 2022 at 09:11:32

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

Hi,
I have started to use excel scripts to insert data into tables iso the excel connectors in Power Automate.
Please have a look here: Convert CSV files to Excel workbooks - Office Scripts | Microsoft Learn
nonono_username on 22 Oct 2022 at 02:37:26

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

Hi Manuel, in you blog your example shows how to list rows from the table. Do you know how to add rows to that table?
Community Power Pla... on 02 Dec 2020 at 15:19:34

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

You have to get the file metadata, and then use the ID from the metadata. I get the Full Path from Looping through SharePoint Files and making sure it is the same name.
Lukas1 190 on 19 Nov 2020 at 10:24:59

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

@kitUser No, I gave up on this...
kitUser 27 on 22 Oct 2020 at 18:36:05

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Re: Add rows into an Excel file that is dynamically created

I have the same problem. Any luck?