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Error message: Parameter 'Folder' Argument must be 'Folder'

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Posted on by JM12345

I'm trying to build a flow which will eventually run a loop. It will read values from a list of individual Excel files and write them to a single master Excel file. I have more or less figured out how to write the steps for the loop, but only when all the individual Excel files are stored into one folder. However, I want to figure out how to deal with a situation where the loop can work even when these individual Excel files are stored in a series of disparate folders.

For reference, the individual Excel files are now stored in various subfolders, all with the same name of 'Docs':

So my first command for PAD is to "Get subfolders in folder", with the folder path as 'File 1', and the folder filter as 'Docs' (see above: File 1 is the main folder in which various subfolders exist):

As far as I can tell, this works when run. PAD correctly collects every folder with the name 'Docs' and stores them in the Variable value: %Folders%

Next, what I want to do is retrieve only the files in these folders with the extension .xlsx, and store them into a %Files% variable so I can run the loop.

But for some reason, I keep getting an error message when I try to use the %Folders% variable as a starting point for this action:

I don't get it...what am I doing wrong?

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Power Automate Desktop

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,255 Moderator on at

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Hi @JM12345 , Hope you are doing well!!

Yeah, the "Get files in folder" action expects a string value for the folder path. However, in the screenshot above, you are passing a list as the input value, which is why the error is appearing.

Please follow the steps outlined below:
Utilize the "Get subfolders in folder" action to retrieve a list of subfolder names. For instance: "Folders (Data type: List)".
Proceed to iterate through the list values using a for-each loop. This allows you to access each folder name individually within the loop as the current item. You'll then pass this current item into the "Get files in folder" action and apply a filter such as "*xlsx".
You'll subsequently receive another list containing all your Excel files.

Please find below the suggested flow for the same use case:

Code(you can copy/paste the below code in your PAD designer screen):

Folder.GetSubfolders Folder: $'''C:\\Desktop\\PA test 1\\File 1''' FolderFilter: $'''Docs''' IncludeSubfolders: True FailOnAccessDenied: True SortBy1: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending1: False SortBy2: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending2: False SortBy3: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending3: False Subfolders=> Folders LOOP FOREACH CurrentItem IN Folders Folder.GetFiles Folder: CurrentItem FileFilter: $'''*xlsx''' IncludeSubfolders: False FailOnAccessDenied: True SortBy1: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending1: False SortBy2: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending2: False SortBy3: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending3: False Files=> Files Display.ShowMessageDialog.ShowMessage Title: $'''test''' Message: Files Icon: Display.Icon.None Buttons: Display.Buttons.OK DefaultButton: Display.DefaultButton.Button1 IsTopMost: False ButtonPressed=> ButtonPressed END

Thanks,
Deenu

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JM12345 20 on at

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Hi Deenuji,
I tried this, but I'm not sure I'm getting the result I want. Here's the setup, it's very similar to your instruction:
When I run the 'for each' loop to get the files, I only seem to be retrieving a single file:
There should be three separate Excel files listed here, I believe (one from each 'Docs' subfolder).

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,255 Moderator on at

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@JM12345
If three Excel files exist in three different folders, then you will indeed obtain each file in three separate iterations, which seems to be working correctly.

If this is not what you intended or if you have a different objective in mind, please let me know so that I can better understand what you are trying to achieve.

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JM12345 20 on at

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Yes, there is an Excel file in each 'Docs' folder, as I said. However, the screenshot I posted, which was the result of the 'for each' loop for the %Files% variable, contains only one Excel file. There should be three extracted there, from what I'm understanding.

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,255 Moderator on at

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@JM12345

If your objective is to scan all the Docs folders within "File 1" folder and extract the paths of all Excel files into a single list, follow the suggested approach below:

Code:
Variables.CreateNewList List=> ExcelFileList
Folder.GetSubfolders Folder: $'''C:\\Desktop\\PA test 1\\File 1''' FolderFilter: $'''Docs''' IncludeSubfolders: True FailOnAccessDenied: True SortBy1: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending1: False SortBy2: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending2: False SortBy3: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending3: False Subfolders=> Folders
LOOP FOREACH CurrentItem IN Folders
Folder.GetFiles Folder: CurrentItem FileFilter: $'''*xlsx''' IncludeSubfolders: False FailOnAccessDenied: True SortBy1: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending1: False SortBy2: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending2: False SortBy3: Folder.SortBy.NoSort SortDescending3: False Files=> Files
LOOP FOREACH CurrentFile IN Files
Variables.AddItemToList Item: CurrentFile List: ExcelFileList
END
END
Display.ShowMessageDialog.ShowMessage Title: $'''test''' Message: ExcelFileList Icon: Display.Icon.None Buttons: Display.Buttons.OK DefaultButton: Display.DefaultButton.Button1 IsTopMost: False ButtonPressed=> ButtonPressed

Thanks,
Deenu

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If I've successfully resolved your queries, please consider accepting this as the solution and giving it a thumbs up . Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

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JM12345 20 on at

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I think that worked:
The ExcelFileList variable now contains the three individual Excel files from the Docs folders. I should be able to run the loop through those Excel files and write to the single master file, as needed.
Thanks Deenuji!

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,255 Moderator on at

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@JM12345
I'm delighted that my answer has helped you achieve your goals. Thanks! Happy automation!!

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