Get File Content not pulling updated content even with a Delay action

[JBird1]

I have a flow that makes several changes to an Excel file, then copies the Excel file to a unique folder, leaving the original for the next flow run, however, the Get File Content action that is supposed to get the updated content, is pulling the blank file content from before the changes. I have added a delay action before Get File Content and tried up to a minute delay, but I'm still only getting a blank file.

I know the update row actions work since the original file does show the updates, but the new file created in the unique folder does not show the updates.

Am I doing something wrong, or is this just a bug?

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @JBird1 

May i know where are you making changes in excel file ?

[JBird1]

Hello!

I've formatted the section that needs to be filled in as a table. The Update Row actions put the data in the highlighted cells.  Then it's supposed to Get File Content with the updated rows & save it in a unique folder.

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @JBird1 

One question again,

Does the earlier excel file should be kept as blank or should it be having the updated after creating a new file out of that data?

[JBird1]

Ideally, I want the file to be kept blank after the new file is created to prevent any erroneous data remaining in future runs. 

Originally, I used Update a Row actions to add all the info, then use that content to create a new file in a unique folder, then Update a Row actions to blank it all back out. When I noticed this problem I took out all of the actions that cleared the data, but I'm still getting a blank file in the unique folder.

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @JBird1 

Why don't you try like this ?

1. Copy that template excel to destination location

2. Use update row action to update that copied file

Does this method help you ?

[JBird1]

I can't get the Update Row action to work without an existing file for it to read. Is there a way to use the Update Row action on a file that does not exist when the flow is being built, but will exist by the time the action is triggered?

Here's what I'm running into:
I can't finish filling out the required info in the action without selecting a file.

With a file selected, I can finish filling out the action.

But if I try to change the file to what the new file will be named or even just remove the file, it breaks the action.

[Nived_Nambiar · Accepted solution]

Hi @JBird1 

Try this approach 

Assume i have an excel like below

I need to update column Description and Zip for Country A.

So i designed the flow like this

1. Copy the template file to a destination folder .

2. Get all tables list in the File copied to destination location.

3. Pass the required parameters in update row action to update destination file.

See flow below

Expression used:  first(outputs('Get_tables')?['body/value'])?['Id']

[This takes first value of table ID]

Here we specify key column (here it is Country), Key column value (A), then we pass json with values of column we need to update (here it is Description and Zip)

This is how you can give a try.

This would work !!!

[JBird1]

That did it! I still had the same problem with Get File Content later in the flow to add it as an attachment in Send an Email v2, however, changing to Get file content using path fixed the problem. The new file in the unique folder and the email attachment have the updated info every time, now.

Thank you for your help!