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Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Automate / Creating a file and ed...
Power Automate
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Creating a file and editing it in one flow

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Posted on by Microsoft Employee

Hello everyone, 

 

Here is the crack of my problem. I am working with Powerapps and Flow. I click one button in my powerapps and the scenario should go like:

 

  1. Copy an Excel file from one location, in my one drive, and past it with a new name in another (i.e. creating a new file).
  2. find a unique field (specific text in a cell) and replace it with a new one (obtained from Powerapps).

The problem I am facing: 

 

  • I can't use Powerapps functions, such as Patch, Substitute, and Replace, because I need a predefined-already-connected datasource, which is not the case. i.e. the datasource is being created in the process after the click of the button.
  • I created a flow, which allowed my to do the first step. I, however, got stuck in the second.
  • In the process of creating a flow, I need an existing file to operate on, which is something I don't have.

 

To sum up, how do I deal, using Flow, with a datasource/excel table/file that is being created in the process and not preexisted ? For your convenience, I am attaching a screenshot of my accomplishment so far. 

 

PIC 1PIC 1

 

PIC 2PIC 2

 Thank you for your time,

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I have the same question (0)
  • v-monli-msft Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hi @Anonymous,

     

    First of all, it is not possbile in PowerApps so far that you create the datasource in the process after the click of the button. Secondly, if you cannot specify the file when you create the flow in Update Row action, then this flow won't work. It has to be assigned with the correct file.

     

    Regards,

    Mona

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hello Mona ( @v-monli-msft ), 

     

    Thank you for your response. I am aware of the powerapps limitation in regard to datasource ceration. That's why I setup my button to take the game to Flow where I was hoping I can find a solution. As for your second point, if you notice in my screenshoot, Dynamics has an option of specifying the file name and path to be created. As long as the file creation is taking part in the flow, I can always call any dynamic content created in previous steps. If I can ask you for a favor, would you please provide an example of how to use the "update row" action ? I am only confused with how the "Row ID" should look like. 

     

    Thank you, 

     

    AJ

     

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