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Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Automate / Cannot copy active cel...
Power Automate
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Cannot copy active cells from 1 excel to another excel

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Hello
 
I was trying to copy all active cells in 1 excel sheet "Excellnstance" to another excel "Excellnstance2". I have launched both excels using Launch Excel and there is only 1 sheet in each excel. But an error message pops up saying "Argument "Instance" must be "ExcellnstanceHandle". I provide a screenshot in below. 
 
Does anyone know what does that mean and how do I solve it?
 
Power Automate Forum 2.PNG
Power Automate Forum.PNG
  • lbendlin Profile Picture
    8,726 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at
    There is no concept of "active cells".  You have sheets, tables, and named ranges. Pick whatever is appropriate in your situation and then address these artifacts explicitly.
  • Suggested answer
    CU16071609-1 Profile Picture
    6,255 Moderator on at
    Hi there,
     
    Please consider to follow the below approach:
     
     
     
    Code:(Copy and paste into your power automate desktop designer screen)
    
    **REGION Launch and open the source Excel file, copy the currently selected cells, launch and open the target Excel file, paste the copied cells, and close and save both Excel files
    Excel.LaunchExcel.LaunchAndOpen Path: $'''C:\\Boot\\source.xlsx''' Visible: True ReadOnly: False LoadAddInsAndMacros: False Instance=> SourceExcelInstance
    Excel.CopyCellsFromExcel.Copy Instance: SourceExcelInstance
    Excel.LaunchExcel.Launch Visible: True LoadAddInsAndMacros: False Instance=> TargetExcelInstance
    
    Excel.PasteCellsToExcel.Paste Instance: TargetExcelInstance
    
    Excel.CloseExcel.CloseAndSave Instance: SourceExcelInstance
    
    Excel.CloseExcel.CloseAndSave Instance: TargetExcelInstance
    
    **ENDREGION
    
    Thanks,
    Deenuji Loganathan 👩‍💻
    Power Automate Desktop Community Champion 🤖
    Follow me on LinkedIn 👥

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    If I've helped solve your query, kindly mark my response as the solution ✔ and like my suggestion ❤️  Your feedback supports future seekers 🚀

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