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Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Automate / Need Help On Schedule ...
Power Automate
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Need Help On Schedule Flow

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Posted on by 2

Hi Guys, 
There is a question about scheduling issue. As I have developed 2 desktop flows and use time schedule to trigger them on cloud. example as following:
Flow 1 - Run everyday starting from 2:00am. 
Flow 2 - Run once a month, on 15th every month, from 9:00am - 12:00am(15hrs)

Assumptions:
1. Both flow can not change the triggered time.
2. We can not control flow 1 running duration. 

The problem is process 1 might run over 7 hours, which mean completion is later than 9:00am. And if on 15th, two flows will run concurrently, for example at 9:00am, flow 1 still running, and flow 2 is triggered to run. (And as both two flows involved using excel & web, which means both flows will crash.). 

Is there way to avoid this happening? For example,
1. While detecting flow 1 is still running, flow 2 will postpone to run until flow 1 complete.  
2. While detecting flow 2 is being triggered, flow 1 will pause and allow flow 2 complete and then flow 1 continues.
3. Or you guys has any other suggestions, please propose.


Let me know if you need further information and clarification, thanks a lot.

  • Henrik_M Profile Picture
    2,021 Super User 2024 Season 1 on at

    Power Automate should put desktop flows in a queue if there is already something running. Sounds like a none-issue.

  • GaryYa0001 Profile Picture
    2 on at

    Thanks for the reply.
    So, if flow 1 completed at 10:00am on 15th, Flow 2 will be triggered at 10:00am instead of 9:00am?

    Also ,is it possible to pause flow 1 if flow 2 is being triggered? 

  • VJR Profile Picture
    7,635 on at

    At the moment I can think of the below 2 options.

     

    #1. Have both the Desktop flows in the same flow

    Meaning, in Flow 1 have the code as below-

     

    Code of Flow 1 Starts here

    ...

    ...

    Code of Flow 1 Ends here

    Here Call Run a Desktop Flow -> Start Flow 2 here.

    Inside the code check if it is 15th of month and if it has crossed the time of 9 am.

    If >9:00 am then immediately continue the run of Flow 2.

    If less than 9 am (eg; 8 am) then it means still there is 1 hour to start the second flow.

    Have a Wait of 1 hour after which it will kick off the Flow 2.

     

    But yes your Flow will be occupied for that wait of 1 hour. This depends on how long or how short the gap is between the two flows.

     

     

    #2. Have Flow 1 to write something to a Text file something like <Date><Time><Status:Running/Completed>

    In the beginning of Flow 2 have a code to read this text file and check whether the Status is still running or completed. Also check the date to make sure it is from the current day.

     

    Flow 2 will start at its scheduled time (15th 9 am) and keep on checking this file for the status.

    If Status=Running then do nothing. Have a loop that will keep on checking till the status is Complete.

    Since this will keep on checking in every xx minutes, it will come back again to check.

     

    If Status=Completed then Start Flow2.

  • VJR Profile Picture
    7,635 on at

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