Adding columns to excel and save to Sharepoint

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Posted on by Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee

My ideal flow involves 3 steps -

1. When an email arrives, save attachment to Sharepoint.

2. Add columns to this excel file

3. Copy data from a proprietory software and paste it to the columns we created in Step 2

4. Save this file to Sharepoint

Step 1 is simple, since a template already exists. How do we go about adding columns to this file (step 2) and step 3 and 4?

Thank you!

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Building flows

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Brad_Groux 4,556 on at

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I would not recommend using Excel within your Flow if possible due it it's severe limitations. Instead, I'd recommend utilizing the SharePoint connector to create and utilize a SharePoint List. Also, you cannot add a column, you can only add rows which may include columns - this is the case for both the Excel Connector and SharePoint Connectors.
We'd need far more information to help you with steps 3-4. If you utilized a SharePoint List, you can use the SharePoint Connector, SharePoint API, HTTP Requests, and OData to update the SharePoint list. You can then export the SharePoint List to an Excel spreadsheet as needed.
If this reply has answered your question or solved your issue, please mark this question as answered. Answered questions helps users in the future who may have the same issue or question quickly find a resolution via search. If you liked my response, please consider giving it a thumbs up. THANKS!
v-zhos-msft Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @Anonymous ,

I am afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in Microsoft Flow currently.

You can use the 'Add a key column to a table' and 'Add a row into a table' of excel connector to achieve your step 2 and step 3.

However, these two actions can only deal with the already exist excel file.

You need Select an Excel file through File Browse.

As you said, you need save attachment to Sharepoint first.

So when you create the flow, the excel file hasn't exist.

Best Regards,

Community Support Team _ Zhongys

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Thank you for your response @Brad_Groux .

As a solution to Step 2, is the scenario below possible -

Have an excel file with the column templates (the ones generated from step 1 plus the additional columns I need), and somehow have a flow to copy the data generated in step 1 to the already existing excel template that we are creating?

Even if this is possible, a few challenges that come to my mind is -
1. How can we only select the main data and exclude the column header from file generated in Step 1 to copy data accurately in the template.

2. Since this is a monthly activity, how do we ensure that each month, there is a blank, new template for this?

Thanks!
Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Thank you @v-zhos-msft.

So with this and the limitations,does'nt really make sense to go with the solution. Do you suggest an alternative solution?
More context in my previous response.
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v-zhos-msft Microsoft Employee on at

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Hi @Anonymous ,

In your scenario, first you want to save the attachment in sharepoint.

So the excel is dynamic value.

However the excel connector can only deal with the specific file.

So I am afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in Microsoft Flow currently.

Best Regards,

Community Support Team _ Zhongys

If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.