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Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Automate / Zipping files, results...
Power Automate
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Zipping files, results in error "already exists but it isn't a valid zip archive"

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Posted on by 8
Now this error makes senses, however, my action (Zip Files) works if I zip a subdirectory within the folder I'm trying to zip in entirety.
 
I have a large folder structure (C:\Users\Mike Bosko\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects) containing several arcgis projects.  Each project folder has a folder structure of it's own and some files can be large.
 
My action is set as follows:
Archive path: C:\Users\Mike Bosko\Documents\ArcGIS\GIS_Projects.zip
File(s) to zip: C:\Users\Mike Bosko\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\
 
Run like this, I get the error:
 
Correlation Id: 113afcbd-0f94-4667-9cab-a0b17ec9307c
Microsoft.PowerPlatform.PowerAutomate.Desktop.Actions.SDK.ActionException: 'C:\Users\Mike Bosko\Documents\ArcGIS\GIS_Projects.zip' already exists but it isn't a valid zip archive
   at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Compression.Actions.ZipFiles.Execute(ActionContext context)
   at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.Engine.Execution.ActionRunner.Run(IActionStatement statement, Dictionary`2 inputArguments, Dictionary`2 outputArguments)
 
HOWEVER, if I simply select a subfolder inside (aka, one of my individual project folders) it works just perfectly.
 
That is, if the action is set as follows:
Archive path: C:\Users\Mike Bosko\Documents\ArcGIS\GIS_Projects.zip
File(s) to zip: C:\Users\Mike Bosko\Documents\ArcGIS\Projects\Lnaches
 
I'm assuming this has something to do with the folder's size (~40gb) - vs the size of a single project folder (~4gb).  I'm just not sure how to nail down what is causing this error.  I **can** zip the full Projects folder manually without issue.
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  • Suggested answer
    Nived_Nambiar Profile Picture
    18,129 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at
    Hi,
     
    seems like file size is the issue may be, could you try with different options under Compression level and see whether anything works for you ?
     
    Also when error is thrown - does the zip file is created there ?
     
     
    Thanks & Regards,
    Nived N 
    LinkedIn: Nived N's LinkedIn
    YouTube: Nived N's YouTube Channel
    Blog: Nived Nambiar's Blogs
     Found my answer helpful? Please consider marking it as the solution!
     Your appreciation keeps me motivated. Thank you!

     
  • MB-30081925-0 Profile Picture
    8 on at
    Thanks, yes, I've tried different compression methods - all result in the same.  It seems like it barely gets started zipping before it errors out. When doing this manually, it takes about 30minutes - this errors out within 25 seconds of starting the process.
  • MB-30081925-0 Profile Picture
    8 on at
    And NO, the zip file never gets created when zipping the full folder.  It does, however, get created properly when only zipping one of the subfolders. This is truly unfortunate - zip works fine when I run it manually (using File Explorer, Compress to | Zip file).
  • Suggested answer
    Nived_Nambiar Profile Picture
    18,129 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at
    Hi,
     
    so size would be the issue. Just found some useful information over internet regarding same, could you try to execute the zipping via powershell script and see whether that works ?
     
     
    Thanks & Regards,
    Nived N 
    LinkedIn: Nived N's LinkedIn
    YouTube: Nived N's YouTube Channel
    Blog: Nived Nambiar's Blogs
     Found my answer helpful? Please consider marking it as the solution!
     Your appreciation keeps me motivated. Thank you!

     
     

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