Recurring flow for Sharepoint folder check

[Nacarato]

I need to create a recurring flow that checks at the end of the day if a sharepoint folder was updated or not, that is, that triggers a notification if no new files entered in that folder at the end of the day.
I tried with the LIST FOLDER option but I could not find the right way to set the conditions to get the result I expect.

Can you tell me if this possibility exists?

[creativeopinion · Accepted solution]

@Nacarato You need to use a Get files (properties only) action. This action returns both files and folders. With a Filter Query, you can target folders only.

However the Last Modified date in the outputs references the last time the folder has changed. Not the last time files have been added to the folder. 

What you'll need to do is check a SharePoint folder to see if any files have been added that day. Is there a specific folder or folders that you want to check?

[trice602]

Hi @Nacarato ,

If you strictly want to count the number of files in a folder and determine if a new one was added, here's the easy button:

I have a simple worksheet with a table and has the previous number of files in this folder and a key column.  I currently have 3 files in this subfolder (or folder of your choice).

You would change your trigger to recurrence and run once a day.  Here's the flow:

First compose:

File counter excel table:

The condition:

Then lastly here, on the yes side, if the file count changed, you want to update for the run tomorrow.  This is the value of the original compose.  Also, in your example, you would add Send Email (V2) on the yes side.

As described, this is the easy button, there are a lot of ways to do this but to just count files and see if a new one was added, this works too.

[Nacarato]

Yes, what I need is to check that in a specific subfolder of sharepoint no file was uploaded on that day.

[Nacarato]

Ok, but users upload files to that folder daily, different amounts of files, I just need a notification to be sent if no files are uploaded at the end of the day.
Is there a way to modify the configuration of this button to work like this.
Thanks in advance

[trice602 · Accepted solution]

Hi @Nacarato ,

Yes, when I was referring to the "Easy button", I was using it as a metaphor for an easy flow.  

Yes, so if you want to send an email if there were no files added, you would have a Send Email (V2) action on the No side of the condition, reminding your manager, no files were uploaded today.

You would keep the update a row on the Yes side because if the file count changed from the previous day, you need to update your file counter for the tomorrow's run.    Please mark as a solution.

Here's the entire flow with the trigger you want too. This runs at 6 PM, set your time zone accordingly.

I like to use an excel table as a counter (for many things) because it is easy to understand and implement.

[Nacarato]

And with this configuration, what option can I use to check that the files listed do not correspond to the current day?

[creativeopinion]

@Nacarato You should be able to check the files that have been uploaded on that day by adjusting your Filter Query and adding a Convert time zone action. 

Get Start Start of Day Timestamp

Since SharePoint stores date/times in UTC format, you will need to add a Convert time Zone action above the Get files (properties only) action. 

In the base time insert an expression to get the current date at 12: 00am. 

formatDateTime(utcNow(),'yyyy-MM-ddT00:00:00')

For the Source time zone, select your local time zone. For the destination time zone, select (UTC) Coordinated Universal Time.

Get Files Only

As mentioned previously, the Get files (properties only) action returns Files and Folders. To filter out the folders only, use a Filter Query.

FSObjType eq 0

Add two additional conditions to your Filter Query.

Created (will look at the Created Column) because that column contains a date and time you need to specify the starting date/time and ending date/time you'd like to filter your files by. 

You'll check to see if the Created date/time is greater than 12AM today.

and Created ge '@{body('Convert_time_zone')}' 

and is less than the time your flow is running.

and Created le '@{triggerOutputs()['headers']['x-ms-user-timestamp']}'

Add a Compose action below to count the number of Files returned.