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Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

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I was looking to create a flow in a chatbot that reads through an excel file and returns information. Specifically, it is for users to ask what an acronym means.

Ideally, it will work something like this:

User inputs the acronym they do not understand

ChatBot goes to an excel file with all acronyms and definitions listed

ChatBot returns the correct definition for the acronym

What would be the best way to achieve this (if possible)

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Community Power Pla... on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Trying to call the flow from power virtual agents if possible.
Received this error regarding the foreach loop, not sure how best to solve.
v-yujincui-msft on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Hi @Anonymous ,

I am afraid that there is no out-of-the-box Action or expression to achieve this in Power Automate currently.

Sorry for any inconvenience.

Best Regards,
Charlie Choi
Community Power Pla... on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Not sure if its possible, but ideally I would like the syntax to not require the colon prior to the acronym.
Is it possible to get the flow to work like this:
User inputs the desired acronym to be looked up anywhere in the text
(ex: What does AAA mean; What is the definition of AAA; What does the acronym AAA stand for; etc)
No matter where it is in the original message, the flow continues to match it with the excel data and correctly outputs the definition message.

I am not familiar with the best way to implement this, as I don't believe regex is supported by power automate?
v-yujincui-msft on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Hi @Anonymous ,

The colon is added to make it easier to extract the acronym that needs to be queried.

You could use your own way, just make sure the message contains the keywords you need to trigger the flow, and you are able to extract the acronym in the message.

Best Regards,
Charlie Choi
Community Power Pla... on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Does the input have to be split about the ":", or is there a way to have the trigger message include the acronym anywhere? Right now, it works only when the acronym directly follows a colon, not sure if there is a way to trigger it no matter where it is in the input?
v-yujincui-msft on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Hi @Anonymous ,

Maybe you could try the 'When keywords are mentioned' Trigger.

trim(last(split(body('Parse_JSON')?['body']?['plainTextContent'],':')))
{ "type": "object", "properties": { "@@odata.context": { "type": "string" }, "id": { "type": "string" }, "replyToId": {}, "etag": { "type": "string" }, "messageType": { "type": "string" }, "createdDateTime": { "type": "string" }, "lastModifiedDateTime": { "type": "string" }, "lastEditedDateTime": {}, "deletedDateTime": {}, "subject": {}, "summary": {}, "chatId": {}, "importance": { "type": "string" }, "locale": { "type": "string" }, "webUrl": { "type": "string" }, "policyViolation": {}, "eventDetail": {}, "from": { "type": "object", "properties": { "application": {}, "device": {}, "user": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "displayName": { "type": "string" }, "userIdentityType": { "type": "string" } } } } }, "channelIdentity": { "type": "object", "properties": { "teamId": { "type": "string" }, "channelId": { "type": "string" } } }, "attachments": { "type": "array" }, "mentions": { "type": "array" }, "reactions": { "type": "array" }, "messageLink": { "type": "string" }, "threadType": { "type": "string" }, "teamId": { "type": "string" }, "channelId": { "type": "string" }, "body": { "type": "object", "properties": { "contentType": { "type": "string" }, "content": { "type": "string" }, "plainTextContent": { "type": "string" } } } } }

Result Screenshot:

Best Regards,

Charlie Choi
Community Power Pla... on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Is there a way to trigger the flow without using the more actions tab for a given message? Can a power virtual agent chatbot call the flow already created?
Community Power Pla... on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Nevermind, I realized I had accidentally typed a v before the value insert, which was giving me the error. Got it to run all good, thank you so much!
Community Power Pla... on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

In the apply to each section when entering the column names in the message, it is auto applying a for each with 2 apply to each calls and I received this error:
The execution of template action 'Apply_to_each' failed: the result of the evaluation of 'foreach' expression 'v@{outputs('List_rows_present_in_a_table')?['body/value']}' is of type 'String'. The result must be a valid array.
v-yujincui-msft on at

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Re: Read Excel File with a Flow and return output

Hi @Anonymous ,

Maybe you could check if the code in the filter query is correct.

In addition, the dynamic content used in the filter query is related to the id of the Input.Text

Best Regards,

Charlie Choi