if file exists on sharepoint

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Posted on by kkb19

If file exits action power automate desktop is not working for sharepoint folder

I'm trying to save a excel file if the file exists with current month name

eg if july file exists then save the excel with same file

July file is already there but not getting replaced .

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Power Automate Desktop

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@kkb19

How is your flow looks like? Please share some screenshot

Thanks,
Deenuji Loganathan 👩‍💻
Automation Evangelist 🤖
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kkb19 on at

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To get july-2024 i've used current date and then converted it to text and then used it along with my sharepoint link and .xlsx extension

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@kkb19

Could you please specify the exact error you are encountering at the moment? Additionally, try removing the 'if' condition and attempt to save your Excel file directly to SharePoint to check if it can be saved successfully.

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@kkb19

My understanding is that you cannot treat a SharePoint link as a variable to check if a file exists, similar to checking for a local file. SharePoint actions work a bit differently, so consider the following approach:

1. List files from a folder - This will provide a list of all filenames.
2. Use a 'for each' loop to iterate through the list of files returned by SharePoint.
3. This will return the file name in the 'currentitem.Name' variable, where you can verify the presence of a targeted file.
4. Depending on whether the file exists or not, and based on your business rules, create your Excel file accordingly.

Note that you cannot directly save your Excel file in a SharePoint folder. You must first convert the file into binary data, as mentioned in step two, and then use the SharePoint 'create file' action, where you specify the SharePoint URL and other parameters, including the file name and file content (converted binary data).

I hope this is helpful!

Create file action :

Thanks,
Deenuji Loganathan 👩‍💻
Automation Evangelist 🤖
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kkb19 on at

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Hi @Deenuji

Thanks for the above steps.

I dont have access to premium license

I'm able to save the file by adding a shortcut of the sharepoint folder to my one drive and gave reference of that folder, its worked the file in sharepoint is getting updated.

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kkb19 on at

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Hi @Deenuji

Save Excel option sometimes works fine but some times its failing but the file is getting saved in the sharepoint folder, Run is not ending.

Any solution to this please.

Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation.: Microsoft.PowerPlatform.PowerAutomate.Desktop.Actions.SDK.ActionException: Failed to save Excel document System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: SaveAs method of Workbook class failed
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at System.RuntimeType.InvokeDispMethod(String name, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Object target, Object[] args, Boolean[] byrefModifiers, Int32 culture, String[] namedParameters)
   at System.RuntimeType.InvokeMember(String name, BindingFlags bindingFlags, Binder binder, Object target, Object[] providedArgs, ParameterModifier[] modifiers, CultureInfo culture, String[] namedParams)
   at System.Type.InvokeMember(String name, BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object target, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture)
   at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Excel.Common.Extensions.ExcelHelper.InvokeMethod(Object object, String methodName, Object[] methodArgs)
   at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Excel.Actions.ExcelActions.SaveExcelInstance(Object activeWorkbook, String workbookName, FileVariant documentPathSafe, SaveExcelEnum saveSafe, ExcelSaveAsFormatEnum saveAsFormatSafe, String xmlMapName)
   at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Excel.Actions.ExcelActions.SaveExcel(Variant excelInstance, Variant documentPath, Int32 save, Int32 saveAsFormat, String xmlMapName)
   --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
   at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Excel.Actions.SaveExcel.Execute(ActionContext context)
   at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.Engine.Execution.ActionRunner.Run(IActionStatement statement, Dictionary`2 inputArguments, Dictionary`2 outputArguments)

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at

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@kkb19

I didn't get much clue with error details. But alternatively, write your Excel file to a local drive first instead of saving it directly to a SharePoint folder. Once the file is successfully saved to the local drive, you can then move or copy it to the SharePoint folder.

Thanks,
Deenuji Loganathan 👩‍💻
Power Automate Desktop Community Champion 🤖
Follow me on LinkedIn 👥

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