Automatically open a word doc file after creation in a powerapp

[markikav]

Hi PA Community 

Is it possible to have Power Automate (web) or PowerApps automatically open a word doc after it is created?

I've seen use cases where the file path can be activated in powerapps and user clicks the link and file opens but have been asked to do the following

1. In PowerApps user clicks button to create a letter draft 

2. PowerApps sends all required data to the Flow which uses a predefined template to populate , create the new file and store it in a library.

3. New file (word doc) should then automatically open for the user once created, can be either desktop word file or web version.

Any help to achieve most appreciated!

Thanks '

Mark 

[fchopo]

Hi @markikav 

You could do the following:

1) When user clicks Power Apps button -> Trigger workflow to create word file, and store it in SharePoint.

2) When workflow ends -> Return to Power Apps the url of the new word document (e.g: https://... sharepoint.com/sites/mySite/Documents/SampleWord.docx).

3) From within Power Apps, call Launch function ( e.g Launch("https://...sharepoint.com/sites/mySite/Documents/SampleWord.docx) and it will open the newly created document.

Probably you need a delay before calling the Launch function, as Power Automate may take some time to create the document.

Hope that helps!

Ferran

[markikav]

Hi @fchopo 

Thanks for this, sounds promising.

So I just need to put the delay and Launch functions inside a label on the screen, then once the url is passed back through the flow it auto fires and doc opens ?

if so perfect!

Thanks

[fchopo]

Hi @markikav 

You could use a timer object and when you call Power Automate workflow, wait 30 seconds or whatever times could take approximately, and then use the Launch function.

Here's an excellent post on how to use timer object in Power Apps to use it as a wait or delay function: How to introduce Delay or Wait in actions in Power apps canvas apps - Debajit's Power Apps & Dynamic...

Hope that helps!

Ferran

[JessTob123]

Just following up on this - this is exactly the case I'm trying to figure out also.   Can you share more information about the launch function within a flow?    I have created the file from a word template and saved to a SharePoint document list.    Thank you for any guidance you can provide!