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IF File Does Not Exist

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Posted on by TTC Super User 2024 Season 1

I would like to check if a file does exist in the folder then launch excel and do the rest of the script, but if the does NOT exist continue with the script to find the next file, if does exist do your things, if not continue to the next code.

For now, if the file does NOT exist in the folder, the script will break because when excel launch it will throw an error cannot find the file in folder path. But I need for the script to continue because the customer did not send their file. I already send a second request to the customer at the beginning of the script, if they did not send it, I want to script to continue without breaking. This is what I have. Please show me the step in PAD (Power Automate Desktop) so I can see it. Thanks an advance!

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CFernandes 8,504 Most Valuable Professional on at

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@TTC You can simply use "If file exists" and provide a file path...

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MichaelAnnis 5,727 Moderator on at

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If you are doing this for a bunch of files, the files probably shouldn’t be hard keyed.

usually we have something along the lines of:

Get Files to %Files%
For Each %CurrentItem% in %Files%
Launch Excel

‘Do other things

Save and Close Excel

End (for each)

if you really want to continue the way you are doing:

if file exists %filepathandname%
‘Do actions

end(if)

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TTC Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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I am not sure if understand either the solution. I know if the file does exist in the folder, the script will continue do whatever I am asking it to do. But, I want when the file DOES NOT EXIST, I want the script to continue on Line# 90 to launch the next file if it is find it (of course, I will put another 'if file does not exist' statement), again if it's NOT FIND IT, go the next script. After the IF file exists statement, I need an 'Function' to jump all the actions and to continue with the next code. As I expected, the script break because there's no file in the folder. But I do know, it's because the customer did not send their file. For that reason. I want the script to continue without breaking.
This is what I have, please correct me and make any changes you think is the best and let me see your step in PAD.

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Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @TTC

Instead of using harcoded file exists action, why don't you put all file path in a list and then iterate through it and then if file exists, do the required actions

Refer this flow design

(Note: file seperator becomes \\ as you see in list even if you type \ in set variable action )

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MichaelAnnis 5,727 Moderator on at

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Niced said the same thing I did, but if you are intent on just skipping the items when it doesn’t exist, then do the second one I posted:

If file exists

‘Do all actions here

End(If)

Put everything from launch excel to save and close excel in the IF statement, and that way, if the file doesn’t exist, it won’t perform any of those steps and will skip down to END.

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TTC Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Hello Both,
I know I made a mistake somewhere, but I am try to match what Nived sent, but I am getting an error on my end.
When I try the script with no file, it skips and goes to the end, but when I try with a file in the folder, it does the same thing. Something I did and cannot figure it out. Can you help please? Below is the error when I try to match it.

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Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @TTC

You should intialize the list like this

without using %% , it would be considered as string

Also one more mistake i found in your code is the loop item

see in your case, you are taking Files_List as loop iteration item , it is wrong. You should design like below

Hope it helps !

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MichaelAnnis 5,727 Moderator on at

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@Nived_Nambiar is right. You are just missing your brackets and commas that turn your variable into a list. Good luck.

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TTC Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

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Hello Guys,
Ok, now I think I match everything, but it won't launch the excel file. It skips everything to go to the end.

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Nived_Nambiar 18,138 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @TTC

There is some issue in how you define the variables within list.

see below

Hope it helps !

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