How to tell Excel if file is open then use that incident only

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Posted on by SanjayGMusafir

Hi Experts

This may be called cross-posting of - https://community.powerplatform.com/forums/thread/details/?threadid=f534feef-4bc7-ef11-b8e8-7c1e52025ab5

I think I posted that in wrong Forum thus received no response.

My Query -

I'm using the following flow to start excel and run my morning macro. It works fine.

Yesterday I encountered a situation where I was working and date changed so I needed to run the macro. Being experimental brain, I used PA to do the same.

This time, it opened a new incidence of the same file, there by one incidence became read only and other it worked with. With two incidents of same file, it there by gave an error in running the macro, as it needed to save the file too.

So, is there any way to tell excel, if the file is open, use that only than opening all over again.

The flow I'm using is as below.

Thanks in advance.

Much appreciated.

Excel.LaunchExcel.LaunchAndOpenUnderExistingProcess Path: $'''C:\\Users\\Sanja\\Dropbox\\All Records.xlsb''' Visible: True ReadOnly: False Instance=> R01
Excel.RunMacro Instance: R01 Macro: $'''\'All Records.xlsb\'!BanksSortMorning'''

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Power Automate Desktop

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Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @SanjayGMusafir

I have checked and could find that there is a possibility of powershell script to check whether excel process is running or not. But can we make that to check whether excel file is opened if yes- close the existing file and open it again - because attaching to excel may result in issues as there are some limitations i believe

This is the powershell script to check excel with given file name is opened

$processes = Get-Process excel -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue # Check if any Excel process has the exact file name open $isRunning = "No" foreach ($process in $processes) { if ($process.MainWindowTitle -eq "%FileName% - Excel") { $isRunning = "Yes" break } } # Return the result $isRunning

%FileName% is a variable passed from Power Automate into script

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N

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SanjayGMusafir 75 on at

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@Nived_Nambiar Thanks for replying.

Your idea is so correct but I'm unable to execute it. Actually not finding the right way to close excel when file is already open, though your script returns right message as Yes/No

Here is my complete flow if you may help me further.

Thanks a lot 🙏

My flow -

File.GetPathPart File: $'''C:\\Users\\Sanja\\Dropbox/All Records''' FileName=> FileName
@@copilotGeneratedAction: 'False'
Scripting.RunPowershellScript.RunPowershellScript Script: $'''$processes = Get-Process excel -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue

# Check if any Excel process has the exact file name open
$isRunning = \"No\"
foreach ($process in $processes) {
if ($process.MainWindowTitle -eq \"%FileName% - Excel\") {
$isRunning = \"Yes\"
break
}
}

# Return the result
$isRunning''' ScriptOutput=> PowershellOutput
IF PowershellOutput = $'''Yes''' THEN
Excel.LaunchExcel.LaunchUnderExistingProcess Visible: True Instance=> ExcelInstance
Excel.CloseExcel.Close Instance: ExcelInstance
END
Excel.LaunchExcel.LaunchAndOpenUnderExistingProcess Path: $'''C:\\Users\\Sanja\\Dropbox\\All Records.xlsb''' Visible: True ReadOnly: False Instance=> R01
Excel.RunMacro Instance: R01 Macro: $'''\'All Records.xlsb\'!BanksSortMorning'''
Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi,

Another way - why don't you try to kill the excel process using terminate process action - would that help- place the action at the beginning of the flow - then no powershell script is required :)

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N

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SanjayGMusafir 75 on at

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@Nived_Nambiar Thanks fir reverting. Kill process doesn't seem to work, as it asks for process to kill.
Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi ,

Just specify EXCEL as process name there

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N

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SanjayGMusafir 75 on at

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@Nived_Nambiar Thanks for reverting

No such option there.
SanjayGMusafir 75 on at

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@Nived_Nambiar Thanks a lot 🙏.

It worked.
Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi sanjay

Kindly mark the answer as solution so that we can close the topic

Thanks & Regards,
Nived N

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SanjayGMusafir 75 on at

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@Nived_Nambiar I tried multiple times. But I believe there is some glitch. Hope it works this time.

Thanks again
Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @SanjayGMusafir

did you meant by marking answer ?