web
You’re offline. This is a read only version of the page.
close
Skip to main content

Announcements

News and Announcements icon
Community site session details

Community site session details

Session Id :
Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Automate / Copy paste excel error
Power Automate
Unanswered

Copy paste excel error

(0) ShareShare
ReportReport
Posted on by Microsoft Employee

Hi All,

 

I'm using Power Automate Desktop for automating a excel task and it involves copy and paste excel action. I'm getting the error "Problem while executing action 'PasteAt'. Failed to paste cells." while the paste action executes. Can anyone provide a solution for this.

 

TIA

I have the same question (0)
  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    Just to note that I had the same problem in a flow that worked for me before... I suspect a regression in a recent version of PAD.

     

    Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.SDK.ActionException: Failed to paste cells. ---> System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.Runtime.InteropServices.COMException: Paste method of Worksheet 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.Actions.ExcelActions.InvokeMethod(Object o, String methodName, Object[] methodArgs)
    at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Excel.Actions.ExcelActions.PasteCells(Variant excelInstance, Variant firstCellCol, Variant firstCellRow, Int32 pasteMode)
    --- End of inner exception stack trace ---
    at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Modules.Excel.Actions.PasteCellsToExcel.Execute(ActionContext context)
    at Microsoft.Flow.RPA.Desktop.Robin.Engine.ActionRunner.RunAction(String action, Dictionary`2 inputArguments, Dictionary`2 outputArguments, IActionStatement statement)

  • MichaelAnnis Profile Picture
    5,727 Moderator on at

    I don't know what the problem is, but as a work around, we should be able to:

    • Select Cells
    • Send Keys {Control}(c)
    • Select Cells
    • Send Keys {Control}(v)
  • Community Power Platform Member Profile Picture
    Microsoft Employee on at

    I noted that it fails when using the Excel 365 version, but with Excel 2016 it works fine... I always confuse myself going back and forth between my laptop and virtual machine versions. I'm a bit confused as I think Office 365's Excel is supposedly 16 just as Excel 2016, but they have different splash screens.

Under review

Thank you for your reply! To ensure a great experience for everyone, your content is awaiting approval by our Community Managers. Please check back later.

Helpful resources

Quick Links

Season of Sharing Community Challenge Launch!

Jump in, show your community spirit, and win prizes!

Kudos to our 2025 Community Spotlight Honorees

Expanding mentorship, skilling, and AI innovation

Congratulations to the May Top 10 Community Leaders!

These are the community rock stars!

Leaderboard > Power Automate

#1
Valantis Profile Picture

Valantis 412

#2
Vish WR Profile Picture

Vish WR 305

#3
David_MA Profile Picture

David_MA 262 Super User 2026 Season 1

Last 30 days Overall leaderboard