Detecting if a folder exists in Sharepoint Library

[Hammy2012]

Hi All,

I am looking for functionality to detect in a flow that if a folder exists in a sharepoint library - the overall flow converts a .doc to docx and I want to copy the old .doc to another sharepoint library and keep the same folder structure from the original sharepoint library meaning the folder structure needs to be created and detected to see if it already exists (as there are a lot of files need converting). I have posted the flow below in order:

I have tried using the list folder method but it gives a JSON error. The overall thing I am looking for is just a method to detect if a folder exists using 'folder path dynamic content'. 

Thanks

Matt

[abm · Accepted solution]

Hi @Hammy2012 

I wrote a blog about this how to find a folder exists using dynamic content. Please see the link below.

https://mydevexperience.wordpress.com/2020/02/08/power-automate-how-to-find-a-folder-exists-dynamic-...

Thanks

[jonw98]

Hi @abm , 

I'm encountering an error which says "The response is not in a JSON format." at the 'List folder' step when I did a test run. Any solutions to this?

[abm]

Hi @jonw98 

This thread is already answered so it will be better to create a new one. Could you please create a new thread and let me know? Also post a screen shot of your flow and the error details of the step from run history.

Thanks

[erickdev05]

You've probably already solved this, but I'll leave this to others, since I din't found other thread with this subject.

Just configure the run after of your next action (after the parallel branch) as follow:

PS: @abm thanks for the blog post.

[AgainOpen]

Ho @erickdev05  how were you able to add more than one function to the run after? i only get one option.

[sky_sats]

I found a simpler way to find the folder is existed or not.

Using GET rest api, Uri will be 

_api/web/GetFolderByServerRelativeUrl('/sites/YourSiteName/Shared Documents/YourTargetFolderPath')/Exists

To check get .Exists return in IF step

body('Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint')?['d']?['Exists']

To delete the folder, use the same Uri but the HTTTP method is DELETE instead of GET.

[georgeee]

@sky_sats Thanks for this. Can i ask how you managed to put/get d.Exists into the condition to check if its true or not?

[sky_sats]

body('Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint')?['d']?['Exists']

[Olivier_d]

Hi @sky_sats - could you please elaborate and explain where exactly you need to pass the above request body('Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint')?['d']?['results']? 

thanks!

[sky_sats]

Sorry I can't get your question. Maybe you can tell me what you are trying to achieve? 

[WendieFWTX]

I know this is a old thread but when I tried the solution I got the wrong result. So, after some thought, I came up with a fairly simple solution that works every time using the "Get files (properties only)" action.

To make it dynamic you need to have the folder path and the name of the folder.

I have two string variables:

• Folder path - this is the path to the folder you are testing for
• Folder name - this  is the name of the folder you are testing for

And one integer variable:

• Folder ID if Exists - the default value is 0

Then, in the "Get files (properties only)" action, use a oData Filter Query to search for the folder name:

FileLeafRef eq '@{variables('Folder name')}'

Tip: limit the result by setting the "Top Count" to 1

Next, set the "Folder ID if Exists" variable to the ID of the result.

Then add a condition to test if "Folder ID if Exists" is greater than 0

So when I run it, I get this result if the folder exists:

In my example, the folder exists where it should be.