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Power Platform Community / Forums / Power Apps / Link a PowerApps form ...
Power Apps
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Link a PowerApps form to a created Excel Sheet

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Posted on by 4
Hello and apologies, unsure if this is a PowerApps or PowerAutomate question. I am relatively new to both programs.

In my case, measurements are taken at different locations on a daily basis and recorded in Excel Tables. Presently this data is taken manually and stored in a large number of Excel sheets, all in one OneDrive or Sharepoint location. This is shown below.



We planned to use PowerApps to create an app that can automate this process by doing the following:
  1.  Copy a master copy of the checklist Excel file to the folder when a button on the app (Start) is pressed.
  2.  Name the new copy of the checklist to a specific format with the date and time denoted
  3.  Link the app to the new copy of the checklist Excel file.
  4. Allow the fields to be filled in via a vertical gallery form.
So far I have achieved Steps 1 and 2 using a simple PowerAutomate flow within PowerApps but am uncertain if Step 3 is possible. I have also previously made Gallery-style input forms before (Step 4) and am aware of how to link my data tables, but only to edit one existing Excel sheet, not a self-created new copy.



Wondering if this idea is even possible. Have done some degree of research on this forum already.

Thank you.
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  • Suggested answer
    Michael E. Gernaey Profile Picture
    53,429 Super User 2025 Season 2 on at
    HI
     
    Realistically you can but it would be something you should do in Power Automate. 
     
    1. I would do steps 1-2 in one Flow.
    Then save the path to the new file, either sending it back to the Canvas App to hold onto its path, or make sure you have an Environment Variable where you have the path (minute the filename)  that can be read in Flow for steps 3 and 4
     
     
    2. You would let the users fill out data. Whenever you want to save (either each row or not), you would pass that information to the second flow.
    the second flow would receive the data and the file name (or possibly the filename and entire path).
    The flow would dynamically fill in the File Name from the Input you passed from the Canvas App.
     
    The only thing not clear to me is... do people need to go back hours , days, weeks later to fill in the sheet?? Will there be multiple ones that they can edit at later times.
     
    The last question is because if you need that, you need to have a link table. A table that would map the old name and path to the new (copied) name and path, then in the UI, they would select which file they want to modify, you would instead grab the COPY names based on the original name.
     
    But I am not sure you even need that, but its all there as an option.
     
    Yes, you can do what you want, I merely expression a couple ways of doing it.
     
     
  • TW-26070538-0 Profile Picture
    4 on at
    Hello, thanks for the response @FLMike

    Do you mind giving me rough examples (screenshots) of how to pull this off? It would be greatly useful to me as a new user.

    Namely just the setup of the Environment Variable (to a path) or how to send the path directly back to the canvas app or link it to the second flow, it has not been immediately intuitive to me from just the official website. For example, if I am setting up a vertical gallery with inputs (in the image as shown) the only data sources I have an option to use are manually selected tables from the Excel files in my folder. Sorry if this is asking a bit much.

    Secondly it would actually be useful to have this feature so I may look into it, but due to the nature of the data (taking multiple readings at different times at one site) it might get a bit messy, so we may just edit the Excel files directly if it's necessary.

    Thank you!

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