cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
Reply
RohanWadiwala
Frequent Visitor

SharePoint 'Copy File' action does not replace existing file when 'If another file is already there' flag is set to 'Replace'

Hi Team,

I'm trying to copy a excel file from one SharePoint library to a subfolder in the same library.

I want to make sure that if the file of similar name exist then it should get completely replaced by the file being copied.

Hence, in the  SharePoint 'Copy File' action I specified the 'Replace' flag for 'If another file is already there' property.

 

But now everytime I run the flow, instead of replacing the file the original files still persist.

have u experienced this issue before? If so how did you circumvent it.

 

Ps..

- I tried to delete the file using the 'Delete File' action before running the 'Copy' option, but it always gives me error saying the file is opened and cannot be deleted.

- The file is not opened by anyone else (as only I have access to it)  and in the error its mentioned its opened using my credentials. hence I suspect some issue with releasing control once copy operation is done. (not sure thoe)

 

Capture.PNG

1 ACCEPTED SOLUTION

Accepted Solutions
v-litu-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @RohanWadiwala,

 

There are serval tips about Excel file locked for editing.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/excel-file-is-locked-for-editing-by-another-user-6fa93887...

 

Generally, the Excel file will be locked after you edit it, if you want to delete them, you should wait about 10 minutes.

I tested on my side and find the Replace of the copy file action is not work temporary, as a workaround, I choose to delete the file then create a new one in the other folder with the same name by using original file content:

Annotation 2020-07-08 170029.jpg

 

Best Regards,
Community Support Team _ Lin Tu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

View solution in original post

4 REPLIES 4
v-litu-msft
Community Support
Community Support

Hi @RohanWadiwala,

 

There are serval tips about Excel file locked for editing.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/excel-file-is-locked-for-editing-by-another-user-6fa93887...

 

Generally, the Excel file will be locked after you edit it, if you want to delete them, you should wait about 10 minutes.

I tested on my side and find the Replace of the copy file action is not work temporary, as a workaround, I choose to delete the file then create a new one in the other folder with the same name by using original file content:

Annotation 2020-07-08 170029.jpg

 

Best Regards,
Community Support Team _ Lin Tu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

Although this solution works... it is creating a workaround for the original issue rather than answering the original issue.

 

The original issue is that the Copy file (SharePoint) action with 'Replace' does not do what it is supposed to do.

  • If there is a file with the same name in the destination folder, it should replace that file.
  • This is clearly how the action is supposed to work.
  • However, the original file in the destination folder is not overwritten.

 

Having a workaround only goes so far. The real issue here is that the action does not work correctly. Power Automate is difficult / not user friendly and the 'help' content is minimal. Having struggled to create a flow, it is enormously frustrating and disheartening for it to fail inextricably... because something is broken... then spend an hour online trying to find out how other people fudged it.

 

I don't want to create a multi-action workaround because the correct single action does not work. Yes, I get it, if it's the only way, then I'll use it... but can somebody help with the actual original problem?

 

Is there any way to get the single action Copy File (SharePoint) to work as expected???

SunilPrakash
Frequent Visitor

I was able to achieve this by simply using Create file action instead of Copy file with replace which is deleting the file. When we use the Create file action and if there is a file already in the destination it will add the other version to it.

 

My flow is as follows.

 

SunilPrakash_0-1655476458306.png

 

@A2T_Admin Totally agree-"copy file" STILL doesn't do what it's supposed to. What's the point of having the "replace" option if it doesn't work? I've tried numerous workarounds, and none of them copy an existing file over to a different location. Super frustrating. 

Helpful resources

Announcements

Community will be READ ONLY July 16th, 5p PDT -July 22nd

Dear Community Members,   We'd like to let you know of an upcoming change to the community platform: starting July 16th, the platform will transition to a READ ONLY mode until July 22nd.   During this period, members will not be able to Kudo, Comment, or Reply to any posts.   On July 22nd, please be on the lookout for a message sent to the email address registered on your community profile. This email is crucial as it will contain your unique code and link to register for the new platform encompassing all of the communities.   What to Expect in the New Community: A more unified experience where all products, including Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio, and Power Pages, will be accessible from one community.Community Blogs that you can syndicate and link to for automatic updates. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this transition. Stay tuned for the exciting new features and a seamless community experience ahead!

Summer of Solutions | Week 4 Results | Winners will be posted on July 24th

We are excited to announce the Summer of Solutions Challenge!    This challenge is kicking off on Monday, June 17th and will run for (4) weeks.  The challenge is open to all Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, Copilot Studio & Power Pages) community members. We invite you to participate in a quest to provide solutions to as many questions as you can. Answers can be provided in all the communities.    Entry Period: This Challenge will consist of four weekly Entry Periods as follows (each an “Entry Period”)   - 12:00 a.m. PT on June 17, 2024 – 11:59 p.m. PT on June 23, 2024 - 12:00 a.m. PT on June 24, 2024 – 11:59 p.m. PT on June 30, 2024 - 12:00 a.m. PT on July 1, 2024 – 11:59 p.m. PT on July 7, 2024 - 12:00 a.m. PT on July 8, 2024 – 11:59 p.m. PT on July 14, 2024   Entries will be eligible for the Entry Period in which they are received and will not carryover to subsequent weekly entry periods.  You must enter into each weekly Entry Period separately.   How to Enter: We invite you to participate in a quest to provide "Accepted Solutions" to as many questions as you can. Answers can be provided in all the communities. Users must provide a solution which can be an “Accepted Solution” in the Forums in all of the communities and there are no limits to the number of “Accepted Solutions” that a member can provide for entries in this challenge, but each entry must be substantially unique and different.    Winner Selection and Prizes: At the end of each week, we will list the top ten (10) Community users which will consist of: 5 Community Members & 5 Super Users and they will advance to the final drawing. We will post each week in the News & Announcements the top 10 Solution providers.  At the end of the challenge, we will add all of the top 10 weekly names and enter them into a random drawing.  Then we will randomly select ten (10) winners (5 Community Members & 5 Super Users) from among all eligible entrants received across all weekly Entry Periods to receive the prize listed below. If a winner declines, we will draw again at random for the next winner.  A user will only be able to win once overall. If they are drawn multiple times, another user will be drawn at random.  Individuals will be contacted before the announcement with the opportunity to claim or deny the prize.  Once all of the winners have been notified, we will post in the News & Announcements of each community with the list of winners.   Each winner will receive one (1) Pass to the Power Platform Conference in Las Vegas, Sep. 18-20, 2024 ($1800 value). NOTE: Prize is for conference attendance only and any other costs such as airfare, lodging, transportation, and food are the sole responsibility of the winner. Tickets are not transferable to any other party or to next year’s event.   ** PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED RULES for this CHALLENGE**   Week 1 Results: Congratulations to the Week 1 qualifiers, you are being entered in the random drawing that will take place at the end of the challenge.   Community MembersNumber SolutionsSuper UsersNumber Solutions Deenuji 9 @NathanAlvares24  17 @Anil_g  7 @ManishSolanki  13 @eetuRobo  5 @David_MA  10 @VishnuReddy1997  5 @SpongYe  9JhonatanOB19932 (tie) @Nived_Nambiar  8 @maltie  2 (tie)   @PA-Noob  2 (tie)   @LukeMcG  2 (tie)   @tgut03  2 (tie)       Week 2 Results: Congratulations to the Week 2 qualifiers, you are being entered in the random drawing that will take place at the end of the challenge. Week 2: Community MembersSolutionsSuper UsersSolutionsPower Automate  @Deenuji  12@ManishSolanki 19 @Anil_g  10 @NathanAlvares24  17 @VishnuReddy1997  6 @Expiscornovus  10 @Tjan  5 @Nived_Nambiar  10 @eetuRobo  3 @SudeepGhatakNZ 8     Week 3 Results: Congratulations to the Week 3 qualifiers, you are being entered in the random drawing that will take place at the end of the challenge. Week 3:Community MembersSolutionsSuper UsersSolutionsPower Automate Deenuji32ManishSolanki55VishnuReddy199724NathanAlvares2444Anil_g22SudeepGhatakNZ40eetuRobo18Nived_Nambiar28Tjan8David_MA22   Week 4 Results: Congratulations to the Week 4 qualifiers, you are being entered in the random drawing that will take place at the end of the challenge. Week 4:Community MembersSolutionsSuper UsersSolutionsPower Automate Deenuji11FLMike31Sayan11ManishSolanki16VishnuReddy199710creativeopinion14Akshansh-Sharma3SudeepGhatakNZ7claudiovc2CFernandes5 misc2Nived_Nambiar5 Usernametwice232rzaneti5 eetuRobo2   Anil_g2   SharonS2  

Check Out | 2024 Release Wave 2 Plans for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform

On July 16, 2024, we published the 2024 release wave 2 plans for Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Platform. These plans are a compilation of the new capabilities planned to be released between October 2024 to March 2025. This release introduces a wealth of new features designed to enhance customer understanding and improve overall user experience, showcasing our dedication to driving digital transformation for our customers and partners.    The upcoming wave is centered around utilizing advanced AI and Microsoft Copilot technologies to enhance user productivity and streamline operations across diverse business applications. These enhancements include intelligent automation, AI-powered insights, and immersive user experiences that are designed to break down barriers between data, insights, and individuals. Watch a summary of the release highlights.    Discover the latest features that empower organizations to operate more efficiently and adaptively. From AI-driven sales insights and customer service enhancements to predictive analytics in supply chain management and autonomous financial processes, the new capabilities enable businesses to proactively address challenges and capitalize on opportunities.    

Updates to Transitions in the Power Platform Communities

We're embarking on a journey to enhance your experience by transitioning to a new community platform. Our team has been diligently working to create a fresh community site, leveraging the very Dynamics 365 and Power Platform tools our community advocates for.  We started this journey with transitioning Copilot Studio forums and blogs in June. The move marks the beginning of a new chapter, and we're eager for you to be a part of it. The rest of the Power Platform product sites will be moving over this summer.   Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer to the launch. We can't wait to welcome you to our new community space, designed with you in mind. Let's connect, learn, and grow together.   Here's to new beginnings and endless possibilities!   If you have any questions, observations or concerns throughout this process please go to https://aka.ms/PPCommSupport.   To stay up to date on the latest details of this migration and other important Community updates subscribe to our News and Announcements forums: Copilot Studio, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Pages

Users online (1,767)