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Custom Actions in Power Automate Desktop

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Posted on by martinmc

I am testing the new Power Automate Desktop (preview) (PAD) and I can see that the implemented Actions are now using the Robin-language (developed by Softomotive).

After looking into one of the action packages I could see that the structure of the packages actually were quite similar to the Robin SDK structure and examples.

I tried creating my own module in Visual Studio and using the Robin.Core included in PAD and managed to implement my own Custom Action in PAD (preview) as a Proof of Content:

The above Actions can look into an XLSX file to get the Sheet Name(s) without the use of MS Office Client.

I then have a few questions as I cannot find information anywhere:

Will Microsoft open for the development of Custom Actions (for users/customers) to be able to implement own Actions, API implemententations etc.
If so - can you share more information about your plan about this?

We missed the Custom Actions in Softomotive and are using the Custom Activities we can develop in UiPath.

Best regards,

Martin M. C.

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Power Automate Desktop

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MegaM00GLE 11 on at

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Poking at this in an effort to get some attention on it. My company is also interested in building/adding custom actions.

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fraenK 2,125 on at

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It would be really great to extend the functionality to close the big gap towards UiPath.
Unfortunately, there is nothing related on the public roadmap until September 2021:
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform-release-plan/2021wave1/power-automate/planned-features#desktop-flows

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KristofferHovla 6 on at

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This could be a game changing feature 🙂
Martin - could you make a guide small to what you did? I'm having trouble getting the action package into PAD

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martinmc 35 on at

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Hi @KristofferHovla

Yes indeed. I am actually still waiting for MS to tell of this could be a future feature. For now I have left the testing of Custom Actions as MS i later versions of PAD have made is more difficult to delevelop Custom Actions - e.g. that the dll needs to be signed with a proper certificate.
However about 6 month ago I posted a step-guide on LinkedIn as a Proof of Content. This might not be the correct approach (and I have not tested it on later versions of PAD).
Please see the guide here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/martinmchristiansen_pad-custom-actions-poc-guide-activity-6779052527498379265-RKuH
(if it is not available, you are welcome to contact me on LinkedIn)

Best Regards
Martin

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Ares Microsoft Employee on at

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Great job, Martin. I read your article in LinkedIn.
Do you have an updated version which based on the latest PAD?

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martinmc 35 on at

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Hi @Ares

Thank you. I have not updated the guide to fit the latest PAD.
The solution was only a PoC to illustrate a long wanted request for PAD.
However I have heard from Microsoft and it seems like they are planning a solution to allow development of Custom Actions.

Best Regards,
Martin

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trco 2 on at

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Can I vote somewhere? 🙂

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yoko2020 495 on at

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It is supported in PAD now.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-automate/desktop-flows/custom-actions

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