Answered

Running Desktop Automate read data from Dataverse and loop runs

(0) Share

Report

Posted on by Zhenya

123

Hi, I need to run Desktop flows that get tabular data from Dataverse and input into 3rd party legacy system. I guess one way its export data into Excel and then read from Excel and run from it. One issue also that I will need update status of each row back in Dataverse after input.

I was thinking also to use Cloud flow that can read data from Dataverse but cant pass data as Datatable into PDA flow. I can have few variables to use and pass them from Cloud flow into Desktop flow, but it will required run loop in Cloud flow and run Desktop flows one by one.

I am not sure for behavior of the Power desktop automate in that scenario. Especially in Unattended node. According documentation, to run desktop flow, it should be in logged out mode, then it will login into machine, run desktop flow then logout after run finished.

Are anyone has experience, for this case, if I need run same desktop flow few time using Cloud flow, do i need include full steps such as launch browser, login into 3rd party system again and run single data entry?

Categories:

Power Automate Desktop

I have the same question (0)

All responses (3)

Answers (1)

Sort by

Verified answer

Daniel_Pa 244 on at

Like
a
(1)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Hi eugacc

You could create a Desktop Flow which utilises a switch, and set three different stages: Initialization, Looping, Finalization.
The flow would then consist of three parts, where in the first swtich case you open the browser and login and so forth.
The second case would contain the data entry.
The final case would contain the correct shutting down mechanism for the data entry (save, close browser..).

In your Power Automate flow you can then set a variable defining the different steps along the way, which runs the desktop flow three times. First, after setting the switch variable to "initialize", just run the flow to prepare for data entry. Second, after setting the switch variable to "loop", you loop through the data and run the flow for each entry. Finally, after setting the switch variable to "finalize", you run the desktop flow a last time to end the entry.
(The above could also be handled by making three separate desktop flows, which are used at appropriate times, but I think the above solution is a bit prettier.)

Alternatively you would have to convert the data to a text string which is sent to the desktop flow, perhaps JSON - but I don't know the length limit of in-/output variables which might be exceeded if your dataset is to large.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Zhenya 123 on at

Like
a
(0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

Thanks, this is interesting option, I will try play around. It works differently with attended mode, I can keep logged windows and run desktop flow multiply times without log in/out.

I wish there is a mode to run PAD with locked computer. We are using VM in Azure to run flows and you need to be connected all the time to run it, For Unattended mode on other side you need always add extra steps to start app, close, login again, etc.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No
Daniel_Pa 244 on at

Like
a
(0)

Report
Copy link

Link copied!

You could always buy the license to run un-attended - i thinks it's 150$/m.

Alternatively, you could let the user stay logged in indefinitely. Or, something i did with WinAutomation, use the tscon utility. It allows you to return the control to the original local session. Thus simulating a user staying logged in and allowing you to run attended workflows, without anyone actively being connected to the VM.
Although i would still recommend correctly starting, closing and logging in/out of apps, when using attended mode.

Was this reply helpful? Yes No