Adding cell color

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Posted on by Riyaz_riz11

3,844 Super User 2025 Season 2

Hi all,

I want to can we able to add cell color to excel using Power automation desktop.

Please let me know if anyone knows, In uipath it is possible can it possible in PAD.

Regards,

Ahammad Riyaz

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Power Automate Desktop

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VJR 7,635 on at

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Hi @Ahammad_Riyaz

No readymade action available in PAD to do that.

One backdoor approach is to keep a cell somehwere far in your sheet which is not visible to the user.
For example in Z1. Fill this cell manually with the color you want.

Then in PAD use "Copy cells" from Z1
and "Paste cells" into your destination cell.

Tried this, it works.

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Riyaz_riz11 3,844 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @VJR,
Thanks for your reply,

I was already tried with that method also,
we need to update excel in that excel color is white so if i use as copy cell and paste method also the value it was getting in white color itself.
Any alternate solution ?

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Henrik_M 2,021 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Nothing built-in.

You would have to use VBScript.

Here's a link to get you started: https://devblogs.microsoft.com/scripting/how-can-i-assign-a-background-color-to-cells-in-a-spreadsheet-and-then-sum-those-cells/

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VJR 7,635 on at

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Hi @Ahammad_Riyaz

In that situation,
- First read the value of the cell. Store it in a variable
- Then copy paste the color
- Then write back the value that was stored in the variable

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Highboy 1,183 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Can be done by running an powershell script (3 lines)...
This script attaches to an already running excel instance and enables you to manipulate it.
You only need the powershell script, but the script belows is just a demonstration of what it can do.
Code to paste into PAD Below the pictures

****************** Copy all below this line ******************

Excel.LaunchExcel.Launch Visible: True LoadAddInsAndMacros: False Instance=> ExcelInstance
SET Color TO 1
LOOP row FROM 1 TO 7 STEP 1
LOOP Column FROM 1 TO 8 STEP 1
Scripting.RunPowershellScript Script: $'''$xl = [Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::GetActiveObject(\'Excel.Application\')
$sheet = $xl.WorkSheets.Item(1)
$sheet.Cells.Item(%row%,%column%).Interior.ColorIndex = %color%''' ScriptOutput=> PowershellOutput ScriptError=> ScriptError
Variables.IncreaseVariable Value: color IncrementValue: 1 IncreasedValue=> color
END
END
Display.ShowMessageDialog.ShowMessage Message: $'''All done''' Icon: Display.Icon.None Buttons: Display.Buttons.OK DefaultButton: Display.DefaultButton.Button1 IsTopMost: False ButtonPressed=> ButtonPressed
Excel.CloseExcel.Close Instance: ExcelInstance

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VJR 7,635 on at

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If going by a script option, VBA excel macro is the most suitable because it will directly use the Excel Object Model library (same as the parent application "ie; Excel")

- Write a VBA function that accepts parameters like Workbook name, range, color, sheet, etc
- Just requires 1 or 2 lines of Code to change color (can help with code if necessary).
- Simply pass the parameters from PAD using "Run Excel macro" action

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Riyaz_riz11 3,844 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @VJR

Can u plz send me the steps what should i do.

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VJR 7,635 on at

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Hi @Ahammad_Riyaz

Have you tried this from my above post?

In that situation,
- First read the value of the cell. Store it in a variable
- Then copy paste the color
- Then write back the value that was stored in the variable

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Riyaz_riz11 3,844 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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Hi @Highboy

Can you send me the powershell code

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Highboy 1,183 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Just paste the code from my post to you PAD, you can get it from there.

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