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Launch application from variable - Power Automate Desktop

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Posted on by Kingston86

Hey All,

I wonder if someone might be able to help. I am trying to make a flow that will at first prompt the user to say where a program file is stored. Then I am trying to launch that program using the Run Application action. I cannot seem to get this step to work. I have tried running it from the full directory path. I have also tried splitting the file path into directory and then filename both with and without extension. I get the error in Run application that it much be a file when I try to just use the variable in the application path.

The reason I would like to use a variable to launch the application is because the application name includes the current version for example AppName1.9.5.exe and I would like this flow to be usable as and when the application is updated so having the launch name be dynamic would make this useable with very little tweaking even when the application itself gets updated.

This is my current flow:

I tried manually adding the .exe to the run application which stopped an error being shown but didn't solve my issue.

Any help that can be offered would be greatly appreciated

Kind Regards,
Chris

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Moderator on at

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@Kingston86
The code seems fine to me overall. Could you please provide a screenshot or details of the error so that I can assist you further?

If your executable is located within a subfolder, please enable the highlighted toggle below.

And please mention the PBDirectory.FullName as highlighted below.
Additionally, verify your executable directory and name manually as shown below

Then, try hardcoding the same value in the run application to test if it works correctly.

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If I've resolved your query, please consider accepting it as the solution and giving it a thumbs up to help others find answers faster.

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Kingston86 36 on at

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Hi Deenuji,

Thank you for coming back to me. I have tried the solutions you mentioned above and it gives another error. This error happens both when trying to launch the application as a variable and also from a static address. This is the application folder and its structure:

Which is located on my desktop. This is the Run Application action set to be a static address:

When trying to run the application I am getting the following error. The file it refers to is within the root directory of the application file. I am unsure why it would be trying to find resources outside of this directory.

If I manually click the exe file from within the folder on the desktop, the application opens as expected.

Thank you again for your help.

Regards,
Chris

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Moderator on at

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@Kingston86
Can you please place the exe in some C drive and try the same?

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Kingston86 36 on at

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Hi Deenuji,

I placed the file directly in the c: and still getting the same error. Please see below screenshots:

Kind Regards,
Chris

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Kingston86 36 on at

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Hi Deenuji,

Quick update. The problem has been solved and will work now as a variable as well as a hardcoded directory. The key was also assigning the working folder to be the same as the exe directory as can be seen in the screenshot below. Thank you again for you assistance with this.

Kind Regards,
Chris

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Moderator on at

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@Kingston86

I'm pleased to hear that, Chris. Happy Automation! Kindly mark the appropriate answer as the solution for your question so that it can assist others in the future. Thank you!

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