Can't extract data from data table - Solution: Turn off PowerFX Features

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Posted on by DC-04061401-0

I wasn't sure about category so I put Process Advisor.

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I'm new to PAD. I'm trying to extract data from a CSV and output it into a web form.

For now I'm just trying to extract data from a CSV file and display it in a message using the Display Message action.

I've used "Read from CSV file" to import the CSV data. This seems to have worked. It's my understanding that it produces a Data Table. I can print the entire data out to a message, but I can't seem to extract certain cells or rows for example. Every notation I've tried has failed.

I tried Set Variable as below, but this just prints the letters in the value box rather than what it points to. I also tried using [0][0] instead of the exact column name, but the result is the same.

So how do I print out cell A3 or row 1?

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Moderator on at

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Hi There,

Ideally it should work if we mention %datatable[0][0]% - it will display first row and first column value.
Below code working fine for me.

You can also use a "For Each" loop to iterate through your datatable and read row values.

If you are still encountering issues after following the above code, ensure that the desktop flow is created with Power Fx disabled, as this feature can sometimes cause problems when using normal syntax after enabling the Power Fx flow.

Thanks,
Deenuji Loganathan 👩‍💻
Power Automate Desktop Community Champion 🤖

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DC-04061401-0 19 on at

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The format you used does not work for me. Here are my steps using screenshots. Private data was deleted from the 1st screenshot.

Read from CSV file Action:

The Display Message Action:

Result and steps:

..

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VishnuReddy1997 2,656 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @DC-04061401-0,

Please find the solution as shown in below image. You just gave double quotes inside the square bracets.

Method 1;

Method 2:

Regards,

Vishnu Reddy

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Moderator on at

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Hello,

can you create a new flow and disable the power fx and try with same action and syntax and make sure you have mention only variable without single and doubles quotes.

And also have you tried for each method as mentioned in previous response.

Thanks,
Deenuji Loganathan 👩‍💻
Power Automate Desktop Community Champion 🤖
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DC-04061401-0 19 on at

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VishnuReddy1997 - please could you show what you put in the box for Display Message?

Deenuji_Loganathan - I already tried the % format as mentioned, but it does not work. I will try with power fx disabled as you suggested if I can't find any other solutions thanks.

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Moderator on at

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Hello there,

Got your issue from your screenshot!! So you have created flow with power fx enabled option.

please create new flow as like below attached screenshot(power fx disabled option) and try with same syntax it should work now.

if my suggestions helps to resolve your issue, consider check “Does this answer your question?” checkbox to close this topic. Thank you

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VishnuReddy1997 2,656 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi @DC-04061401-0,

Please find the solution. Title is my header in csv table and please check whether you enabled headers option in read csv table action.

Regards,

Vishnu Reddy

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DC-04061401-0 19 on at

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So it's working now that I've disabled the Power Fx features in a new flow. That's a really annoying issue, but at least there is a way around it until I need Power FX capability. Thanks for the tip Deenuji.

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Deenuji_Loganathan_ 6,250 Moderator on at

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Hi there,

Since you interested on power fx please find the below syntax.

With Power Fx you can read cell item with ReadCell(DataTableName, RowIndex, ColumnIndex)

In your example:

=ReadCell(DataTable, 1, 2)

Thanks,
Deenuji Loganathan 👩‍💻
Power Automate Desktop Community Champion 🤖
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