Copy changed row to a new file

[Jcar1]

Good morning - I am plugging away at a set up but thought I would ask if I am looking for the impossible.  I have a master file in excel that I want power automate to detect a change to the master file, copy the entire row that had the change to another excel workbook.  Is that part possible.  I went into this thinking it would be easy but can't find anything concrete yet.  I honestly expected to be able to type my needs into the AI generated flow producer and get something to work with out of it. 

The end result of the flow will have four tables on the master file to review for changes.  However the destination file does not need to be that complicated (or it can be if needed) - I can make separate tables or just have a list that I can sort accordingly of all the updated information. 

Thanks in advance for any guidance, advice or assistance.      

[FLMike]

Hi @Jcar1 

What you want to do is possible, but NOT exactly how you want it.

You want a trigger (when the file or online changes), but they do not exist.

So you do this

1. Create a Scheduled Flow that runs 1 - X times a day

NOTE Your Excel must have a Table around the data or you cannot query/list/read/update it

2. If the spreadsheet/data has a table on it, then use List Rows in a Table (Excel Action)

2b. If NO table then use Create Table Excel Action

3. Add an Apply to Each after #2 so you can iterate through the rows

4. Determine if a row has changed (I have no idea how you would be able too) without more details

5. If its changed, then use the Excel Action - Add a Row to a Table, writing the changed data into it

NOTE again your destination excel must have a table around the data if it doesnt already exist, same as #2

Now if you have no idea of knowing if a row has changed you could do this

1. Make a copy of the file to start

2. Compare the rows in the possibly Updated/Created Excel file to the rows in the Master copy

Anything that doesn't exist in the Master, add it using the Add a Row to a table Excel Action

Anything that has changed, process that change and then write the change to the Master.

So your master is always being updated POST processing, so that if processing fails you dont accidentally make changes to your master excel.

I hope this helps.

If I have helped you, I would really appreciate if you please Mark my answer as Resolved/Answered, and give it a thumbs up, so it can help others

Cheers

Thank You
Michael Gernaey MCT | MCSE | MCP | Self-Contractor| Ex-Microsoft
https://gernaeysoftware.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgernaey

[Jcar1]

Thank you for this information @FLMike .  This is very helpful!  I have been trying to trigger this from when an item or file is modified.  Do you not think that is possible?  If not, I am ok with this being a manual or a scheduled flow given its end purpose.  I have also been struggling in my research with how it knows which line to select of the table that has changed to just select that one.  Another complicating factor is the master excel file has four tables and data moves from table to table sometimes as it changes. 

I don't need the destination file to only pick up the last change as I can go through and pretty quickly filter the older stuff out.   

Thank you again! 

[FLMike]

Hi @Jcar1 

Technically yes that trigger should work, although... I've always found in these types of scenarios to do a daily check versus this, but if you can make it work.

Unfortunately, there is no way to know which one changed in the excel and go right to that line.

If I have helped you, I would really appreciate if you please Mark my answer as Resolved/Answered, and give it a thumbs up, so it can help others

Cheers

Thank You
Michael Gernaey MCT | MCSE | MCP | Self-Contractor| Ex-Microsoft
https://gernaeysoftware.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelgernaey