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Updating a row in Excel using Forms and Power Automate duplication problem

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Posted on by Nelly834

Hi,

I am currently using Microsoft forms to add responses to an excel spreadsheet, once the same individual posts another response power automate updates the excel spreadsheet, this is working perfectly. However when it updates the spreadsheet it also duplicates the row! How do I stop this as I do not want 2 rows with the same information.

Thank you for your help, I am an absolute novice and have only used these systems for 1 day. Please keep it simple if you can.

Nelly.

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CU-18081211-6 9,270 Moderator on at

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@Nelly834 ,

Some printscreens with your flow will be helpfull ...

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Nelly834 46 on at

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CU-18081211-6 9,270 Moderator on at

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@Nelly834 ,

From myunderstanding you have two flows triggered by the same event "When a new response is submitted". What we have to do is to join this two flows into single one.

First of all we need to check the "number" from the completed form is already in your excel file and based on this check we act differently.

The simpliest way to find if the "number" is already in your excel file is to put a Excel - "Get row" action . Unfortunately, this action does not return an empty array if there is no rows with your condition, it fails.

So you have to manage the following actions based on this behavior. Add two parallel branch actions and set the "configure run after" one for success (you can update the record because exists) and one for fail (you need to create a new one).

Note that this solution will show as failed run when a new item is created (you can add a terminate succeeded to look nice in logs).

Hope it helps !

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Nelly834 46 on at

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Thank you for the swift response. The problem is the number will not exist in the spreadsheet until it is first added by the person using the form, once it is added it will be updated. so until the user completes the form for the first time the spreadsheet will be blank.

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CU-18081211-6 9,270 Moderator on at

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That’s what i said ... if the number does not exists then the get rows action will fail and the add a new row into a table action will create one.

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Nelly834 46 on at

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How do I get to that option of splitting them?

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CU-18081211-6 9,270 Moderator on at

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The ellipsis button ... on each action give you the menu between update a row and add a row

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Nelly834 46 on at

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I understand how to get the extra menu, what I don't understand is how I split the box so you have them side by side like in the Image above.

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CU-18081211-6 9,270 Moderator on at

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@Nelly834

First, create one of the actions, second click the "plus" sign, third select Add a parallel branch.

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Nelly834 46 on at

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It still fails, what have I down wrong?

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