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Power Automate
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Making a timer

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Posted on by Microsoft Employee

Hello everyone,

I am a Power Automate Desktop User

The desktop version of Automate is really great.
Actually, I want to create a system that would do the work after it's the right time.
Ex - If I want to click on a specific button at 8:40 am, so it would do that and if the time is not 8:40 it should wait, and then another button at 8:55, and so on...
So, I tried to create such a thing with the "DateTime" section with the help of "if" conditionals, but it did not work- even the time was the correct time it did not act.
Please help.

Thanks and Regards.


I have the same question (0)
  • chienhsianghung Profile Picture
    235 on at

    Hi @Anonymous ,

     

    You should schedule it through the cloud flow to trigger local PAD.

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hello @chienhsianghung 

    I did not understand what you are saying.

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Please rephrase if you could.
    Thanks.

  • chienhsianghung Profile Picture
    235 on at

    Hi @Anonymous,

     

    To trigger desktop flows through Power Automate, you have to use machines or machine groups. As an alternative to the machines, you can use the on-premises data gateway. The gateway is an enterprise-grade secure connection between Power Automate and your device.

     

    You can check here.

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hello @chienhsianghung 
    Sorry, but it is not helping me find the solution and I feel like it's not what I want, if possible then can you tell me the process to do the thing?

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    So can you tell me a way to make my query possible just by using the "Power Automate Desktop" only?

    Thanks 

  • MichaelAnnis Profile Picture
    5,727 Moderator on at

    MichaelAnnis_0-1628692858970.png

    If you run this before 8:40, it will loop until 8:40, click the button and then stop.  If you run it between 8:41 and 8:55, it will loop until 8:55, click the button, and then stop.

     

    This could be taxing on your computer as it will be consistently running in the background.  Some things you could try:

    1)  using Microsoft Flow, it would be a simple "If time is, click the button."  If you link Power Automate with Microsoft Flow, you could have Power Automate set up to click a button, and have Microsoft Flow say, "If time is, run Power Automate."

     

    2)  If you really want to just use Power Automate, put some wait times in here.  It only takes about 5 seconds for this whole flow to run, so you could put in a "Wait (50)" before "Go to StartOver", that way it only does about 1 loop per minute instead of 10-12 loops per minute.

     

    Best of luck!

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Hi @MichaelAnnis 
    Thanks for the reply.
    But eventually, the program is not working, I coped everything the same(except the time).
    Even if it is the right time, it is just looping continuously.

    Thanks and Regards.

  • MichaelAnnis Profile Picture
    5,727 Moderator on at

    Odd, it worked like a charm for me, just happened to be 8:39 when I created it and at 8:40, it went through.  When you are running the loop, can you see the time?  What time does the current date/time say.  Also, case matters on "mm".  "MM" is month and "mm" is minutes.  That's all I can think of for now.

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    No no, I have done it correctly and I knew that.
    🤔 Sorry to ask but is it possible for you to record the program while you are making it??

    As there is a little difference between my program and your:
    In your program, you have taken- %FormattedDateTime3%

    But, in my program, I have taken- %FormattedDateTime%

    So, what's the 3 for?

    Thanks And Regards.

     

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