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Variable name of file for "Attach to running Excel"

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Posted on by Murphys110

I have a flow that runs a report from a data website, then exports the excel file which then opens on my machine. The filename will always begin with "Data - " but the remainder of the file name will different every time.

I've searched and can't find a way within the flow to reference that exported file when doing "Attach to running Excel", as there doesn't seem to be 'contains' available... just the fixed filename...

I need to be able to then run a macro on that file to finish the flow...

Any help is greatly appreciated!

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Power Automate Desktop

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Srini007 3,490 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @Murphys110

Once you created the file, then you can use "Get Files in Folder" action and in that go to advance and there Sortby select the Last Modified / Creation Time

Another method is when you saving a file you can set a variable according to your Filenaming convention and pass the same to further actions

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Srini
Murphys110 on at

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Thank you Srini, and I should have been more clear in my original post, but there is no mechanism for me to change the file name upon export. Also, the file will be opened already as part of the export process.
Looking for a way to reference that file even though the name will not be constant...
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Srini007 3,490 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @Murphys110

Ok, so when ever the file is ready for export it is not giving you any option to save instead it is opening directly in you machines excel

Check where the excel is stored, I believe it is storing in the downloads/temp folder?

If so then you can change your browser settings to ask when the download is available, so that once it is ready to download then it will show an popup to save the file instead opening automatically

If you are using chrome go to settings search for ask and check this option is enabled

From now it will not download automatically but will show a pop as save as, once you click that then it will prompt you to save the file and you need to provide the full path of the file with filename

If this is not case apolozie, please add more details how it is automatically opening

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Srini
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Ah... that will work, since I will be saving over any previous version, I am able to use the same file name. Works well, thank you!