Open last modified file from Downloads

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Posted on by Kosenurm

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Hi,

I have a flow whereby I am saving an .xlsx file from an external portal to Downloads folder.

I am using Get files in folder which match .xlsx and sorting them in Descending order based on Last Modified in order to ensure that the file just downloaded appears at the top; and this saves into a variable called Files.

How can I now open the Last Modified file (which is an excel xlsx) from this action in PAD?

Thanks

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Power Automate Desktop

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VJR 7,635 on at

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Hi @Kosenurm

The %Files[0]% will contain the last modified file.

Just use this in the Launch Excel action.

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Community Power Pla... Microsoft Employee on at

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Thanks Multi Super User, your comment helped my flow

1. I set up a variable with my file path - C:\Users\JohnDoe\Downloads. It created variable called "%ExcelVar%"
2. I then added an action called "Get File in Folder" and attached the variable "%ExcelVar%" to it and filtered the file with the following *yourfilename*, dont forget the *. Then i sorted it by creation time and descended it.
3. I then set another Variable and attached the following in the value "%Files[0]%"
4. I then launched excel and attached the variable of step 3 to it

This worked for me

Thanks again

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PADChecker 5 on at

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Hello everyone & @Anonymous,
I followed your exact steps but I keep getting the same error (excel does not launch with error: Failed to open Excel document %Files[0]%, file related error). See attached a screenshot of my flow:

I tried without the %, changed the "*xls" with the name of the file but nothing. The file is indeed xls and not xlsx, that's why I am placing it like this.

Do you know what I'm doing wrong?

Thank you and best regards

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Steve48 431 on at

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Hi @PADChecker
Line 14 doesn’t look correct. Delete the ‘=‘.
if this helps, please mark as solution.

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Steve48 431 on at

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Also line 15

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eetuRobo 4,572 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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You have Power Fx enabled and that has different syntax. I don't think Power Fx uses %% for variables anymore. Try taking them off.
I suggest you create new flow without the Power Fx enabled:

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PADChecker 5 on at

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Thank you! @eetuRobo That was the issue!

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