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Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Automate / Can't copy file from d...
Power Automate
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Can't copy file from document library to other folder with same file properties.

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I want my flow to fill Microsoft word by using document library to fill quick parts in word. Everything seems to be doing just fine, but when I try to copy word file to another folder using flow the quick parts in word don't fill. Is there a way to prevent this? I can't use or try the populate word flow right now and can't request a free trial due to admin permission waiting, so if your solution is required me to use that function, I will try it later. Appreciate any help!

 

Screenshot 2023-06-08 152814.png

Screenshot 2023-06-08 160601.png

Screenshot 2023-06-08 160646.png

Screenshot 2023-06-08 160737.png

Screenshot 2023-06-08 160824.png

And here is what my Microsoft word looks like. It seems fine when open file in original document library.

Screenshot 2023-06-08 162121.png

But when I copy file into another folder it doesn't fill anything except a title part. 

Screenshot 2023-06-08 163152.png

 

 

 

 

 

 

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  • rzaneti Profile Picture
    4,241 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

    Hi @Anonymous ,

     

    Please, confirm if I understood correctly your process: you are manually filling a MS Word template and saving a copy from it in a specific folder in your SharePoint. Then you have a Power Automate flow that it triggered by the creation of a file in this folder and it is expected to copy this file and save it in another folder (/Shared docs/Wayside Site Survey).

     

    In your flow structure, you are getting the content from 'Template.docx', and not from the created document that triggered the automated flow (I don't know if you did it intentionally or not). If you did it by accident and my assumption on your process description is correct, you just have to replace the file identified in your 'Get file content' to the created file from your trigger. 

     

    Let me know if the assumptions here are correct and, if not, please provide more context about your process, especially about the file that triggers the flow.

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    on at

    Hi @rzaneti .

     

    I apologize for the insufficiently detailed information. First, I make a PowerApps that let user fill all of information to SharePoint list items (the one that trigger a flow) and then use that information to update another SharePoint list that has specific information column (in update file properties step) to fill all quick part in my Microsoft word file (word file template is identify in get content step). The new file in second SharePoint list has all of information filled but when I want to copy that file to another folder (in create in folder step) the quick parts didn't fill.

     

    I follow the step from this video Power Automate - From SharePoint to Word - YouTube.

  • rzaneti Profile Picture
    4,241 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

    Hi @Anonymous ,

     

    Thank you for the clarification! This is a very creative use for Power Automate and the first time that I see it! I watched the video and reviewed your flow. I noticed that the main difference between the two processes is that you copy the file and save it in another folder, and the video author doesn't. 

     

    Apparently (and I'm not sure about it, it is just a try), when you copy a file in SharePoint with Power Automate you do not necessarily copy its properties. So you are copying the MS Word template with the quick parts, but the data (properties) used to fill them are not being copied in the 'Copy file' action. If this assumption is correct, you will have to use another 'Update the file properties' action in your copied file. 

     

    Let me know if it works for you or if you need any additional help.

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    on at

    @rzaneti Thanks for replies, 

     

    The update the file properties need to be use with the document library but my new create folder is not a document library type so I couldn't choose it as a path to update. Is there a fuction that create new document library with specific column? or should I wait to just use the populate word document function instead.

  • rzaneti Profile Picture
    4,241 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

    Hi @Anonymous ,

     

    You are correct: apparently the 'Update properties' action won't be useful in this case. If you have the option of use the 'Populate MS Word template' action, it seems to be a good approach (just make sure that your license cover Premium connectors). I have some flows that use this action for similar purposes, and it works perfectly. You will basically combine this action with a 'Create file' action. 

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    on at

    Hi @rzaneti ,

     

    Can you provide me with some example of your flow, I will try it if I get my premium license. Thanks a lot!

  • Verified answer
    rzaneti Profile Picture
    4,241 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

    Hi @Anonymous ,

     

    Sure! I created this quick example to show you how does it work. About the license, you can get the free trial (it is 90 days, if I'm not wrong) to test if this approach works for you before buy it.

     

    Here is the overview of the Word template: this is a simple document with to fields to be filled (name and address). The placeholders were generated by the developer tab in Word as 'Plain Text control fields', but I believe that the you can use the 'quick parts' instead:

    rzaneti_0-1686401201919.png

     

     

    The list is also very simple, containing only two fields (name and address):

    rzaneti_1-1686401252924.png

    This flow contains only 3 steps: the trigger ('When an item is created or modified in a SP List'), the Template filling and the creation of a document with the populated template. You use case is more complex than this, so you may need some adjustments in this logic for include it in your flow:

    rzaneti_3-1686401572819.png

     

    The fields in the 'Populate a MS Word template' action are automatically pulled from the file that I selected, and you can insert as many custom fields as you need. Also, in 'Create file' action, make sure to add the extension .docx in the file name. 

     

    The final result will looks like this:

    rzaneti_4-1686401745115.png

     

     

    Let me know if it works for you or if you need any additional help!

  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    on at

    Hi @rzaneti ,

     

    I need to wait for admin permission to try the premium free trial but I will try your method when my permission comes. Thank you so much!

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