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Web Automation: When copying main flows from one flow to another, PAD displays error messages of UI elements wasn't found

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Posted on by AutomationGuy

Hi,

I am using Power Automate Desktop and using Web Automation flow in it (with some basic and logical conditions) for a third party site to do some business automation as per the website. I can record and edit in the existing Flow and see the UI elements and variables it creates.

I was trying to see if I can reuse Web Automation functions by copying the Main flows from one Flow to another Flow and then was looking to do further customizations. When I copy those main flows from one flow into another Flow it throws error

Parameter 'UI element': UI element 'appmask'['Recording']['Username']' wasn't found.

I guess the new flow isn't able to identify the UI elements which I have in first flow I created. Can someone throw what options I got to copy some main flows into another flow so I can reuse it instead of recording steps one by one again (which is bit frustrating and time consuming)

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Power Automate Desktop

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joshd111 145 on at

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@AutomationGuy I have the same problem. In my example, I recorded a SharePoint admin function. Then I created a new flow and cut/paste the steps over. The new flow throughs all sorts of errors. Microsoft should provide a way to copy the steps together with the element information.

To avoid this, I suggest that instead of copy/paste, you save the flow under a different name (use the online view of your pad flows and click the three dot menu). Then delete the stuff you don't want and then add any new steps you want for the new flow.

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miketran13 720 on at

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Josh's suggestions are good for now or you must record all steps from the beginning.
Because PAD always creates a new UI Elements when you are using the Web Automation and you can see all the UI Element on the Right Navigation(the second icon after Variable pane) and PAD does not create the UI Elements when copying. So, you will get this error when copying to another flow.

Regards,
Mike

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AutomationGuy 16 on at

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@joshd111 Thanks, So just to understand (as I am a visual learning person) and also that other users who would come back to this issue. You mean inorder to bypass these errors you are saying
Navigate to flow in browser (https://flow.microsoft.com) (or as per Microsoft Country specific flow landing page for ex. for Canada it will be https://canada.flow.microsoft.com/ etc)
Click on My Flows -> Desktop Flows
Click on 3 dots next to the very end of the flow
Click Save As
And save it under any name
And it will sync with your local application of Power Automate Desktop and then you can update the action within it by adding or deleting the actions
Are thse steps I am guessing you are trying to do here?

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joshd111 145 on at

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@AutomationGuy Yes, I expect those steps will work.
From what I can tell, the desktop PAD application is really a web application in disguise; all the information is stored on the web.

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Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Please tell me this is not the long term solution.

Why can't we copy and paste UI elements into other flows...?

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Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Hello @Anonymous

I agree you it is better to have copy & paste functionality for UI elements. 🙂

We can run "Save as ..." command within the Flow Designer in PAD app itself.

Also after changing logic and actions of the copied flow, you can remove all unused UI elements by command below.

Thank you.

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