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Building a flow to autofill metadata field from a SharePoint filename string

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Posted on by Overused

Hello - I am completely new to the possibility of using Power Automate but I have a repetitive task for a migration project which Automate might be able to help with.

Uploading loads of documents to a SharePoint document library - they all have filenames like:

P.01.18.03.8139$8B1 Document Prevention.xlsm
Q.01.18.03.8140$8B1 Document Prevention - CL151E.xlsm
P.01.22.03.8162$High DP 8P3Y - CL151Q.xlsm
N 01.22.03.8163$8T108 Loss of Overturn - CL151R.xlsm
N01.17.04.2001$EZ2725 Proof Test Procedure.xls

The name consists of a reference code, then a $symbol, then the true filename. I would like to automate the process of removing the string before the $symbol and placing into a metadata field called Reference Code, leaving just the true filename of the string after the $symbol. At the moment, the files are waiting to be uploaded to the document library so I'm guessing that the workflow would start from that point. Any help would be great.

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Building flows

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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Here are two expressions that will get the first Reference Code and second the File Name.

I used a variable in my example, but you can replace that with your dynamic content.

This will get the first part Reference Code:

slice(variables('FileName'),int(0),int(indexOf(variables('FileName'),'$')))

This will get the second part File Name with the extension:

slice(variables('FileName'),add(int(1),int(indexOf(variables('FileName'),'$'))))

Here are photo examples

If you just want the File Name without extension use:

slice(variables('FileName'),add(int(1),indexOf(variables('FileName'),'$')),int(sub(int(lastIndexOf(variables('FileName'),'.')),int(1))))

Here is a photo of that file name without extension:

Let me know if this works for you

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Overused 34 on at

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Thank you for trying to help me - I have fallen at the first hurdle I'm afraid.

This is a flow which would need to take place inside SharePoint so I don't know how to get "Initialise Variable" to pick up the library documents using your method?

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wskinnermctc 6,519 Moderator on at

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Where are the files "waiting to be uploaded"? Are they on your OneDrive? Are they in another system?

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Overused 34 on at

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Thanks for responding.

I was under pressure to upload the files so they are now in the SharePoint document library.
At the moment, I have prepared three separate flows for the process:
1. Copy the filename into the Reference Code field
2. Slice the Reference Code contents and extract only the part before the $
3. Slice the filename contents and extract the part after the $ and rename the file with this part

Thank you for your kind assistance with the slice process and I was able to use that in the flows.
I have all the flows triggered only for 1 file which I select. My next step is to combine the flows and get them to run on all the files in a folder. Its a very slow process for me!

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