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How to save a PDF Generated with the Experimental PDF() Function in Power Apps

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Posted on by GV-21111608-0

Hi Everyone,

I'm experimenting with the PDF() function in Power Apps. I can successfully generate a PDF from a container. But I'm struggling with the next step: saving the generated PDF. I think I've used every loophole in AI to get the content of the PDF to Power Automate (both classic and V2 connections). I keep ending up with de blob-adress whatever I try.

I even tried things like this: Set(mijnPDFBase64; Mid(JSON(mijnPDF; JSONFormat.IncludeBinaryData); Find("base64,"; JSON(mijnPDF; JSONFormat.IncludeBinaryData)) + 7; Len(JSON(mijnPDF; JSONFormat.IncludeBinaryData)) ));;
(I'm in the Netherlands, that's why the syntax is slightly different.)

I'm looking for the exact formula in PowerApps to call PowerAutomate (something like:

'SavePDF'.Run(
{
file: {
name: "myPDF.pdf";
contentBytes: PDF(containerPDF)
}
}
)

And for the way this information must be received in PowerAutomate. Any help greatly appreciated.

Gert

Categories:

Experimental features

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WarrenBelz 154,797 Most Valuable Professional on at

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Hi @GV-21111608-0,

If you do this
With( { _PDF: With( { _JSON: JSON( PDF(YourPDFTarget), JSONFormat.IncludeBinaryData ) }, Mid( _JSON, Find( ",", _JSON ) + 1, Len(_JSON) - Find( ",", _JSON ) - 1 ) ) }, SavePDF.Run( _PDF, "myPDF.PDF" ) )

and your Flow looks like this (example adding file to SharePoint Library), it should work

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GV-21111608-0 27 on at

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Thank you for your suggestion. The PowerApp says on the run command: Invalid argument (Text). Record expected.

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Power Platform 1919 2,205 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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HI @GV-21111608-0,
Adding to @WarrenBelz response, there is a easy way to do :
i am showing a sample flow, which i generally use.

create a power automate trigger like:

then use create file action (sample processing of the file):

expressions in file name :
@{formatdatetime(utcNow(),'yyyy_MM_dd_hh_mm_ss')}_@{triggerBody()?['file']?['name']}.pdf (u can directly paste this or use dynamic content)

expressions in file content :
@{triggerBody()?['file']?['contentBytes']}

then use Create share link :

in the file parameter use the id from previous step (dynamic content). - adjust the scope and link type as per requirment.

and finally add Respond to a Power App or flow action. (here i added the web url generated from the previous step (dynamic content)

full flow pic:

Now from Power Apps side:

use this power fx inside a button:

Set(

pdf_file,

PDF(Screen1) // sample pdf generation

);

Launch($"{

AttachementTest.Run( //dummy flow name replace with original name

{

file: {

name: "new_pdf",

contentBytes: pdf_file

}

}

).weblink}?download=1"

)

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GV-21111608-0 27 on at

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This call finally did the trick. No need for base64ToBinary any more. This seems to be a recent update.

MakePDF.Run(

{

contentBytes: PDF(cntPDF; {ExpandContainers: true;

DPI: 200});

name: "temp.pdf"

};

Concatenate(

"Filename - ";

Text(Now(); "yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss");

".pdf"

)

)

And just two steps in PowerAutomate as described by PowerPlatform 1919: When PowerApps calls a flow and Create file.

Since the filename contains an extra variable (not shown in this example) passed from the PowrApp I create the filename in PowerApps and pass it on to

Unfortunately the parameter web URL does not seem to be available. We can do without it.

Thanks for your support.

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