Word doc from sharepoint list to planner task

[Jeclark]

I am trying to build a flow that once a sharepoint list has a status of approved, it automatically creates a planner task. I also want the flow to take an attached word doc from the list and attach it to the planner task. I would like to accomplish this without Power apps and with the actual document attached, and not just a hyper link. ChatGPT is telling me the planner connector may not be able to do that, but it hasn't been updated since 2022 and I cannot find anything that doesn't include adding JSON (which I am unfamiliar with) to the list. Does anyone know if this is possible in power automate?

Thank you!

[creativeopinion · Accepted solution]

@Jeclark If you take a look at all the two Create a task Planner actions available in Power Automate—unfortunately, none of them offer a way to attach a file to the task. 

What you need to do is create the task first then use the Update task details action. Also, I'm unsure of how you plan to trigger your flow. For my example—I'm using a manual trigger and the Get Item action. You'll need to adjust this to suit your requirements. 

By using a manual trigger, it can help speed up your flow runs as you can quickly trigger to test without needing to make any changes in your SP list. Once you've built your flow—adjust the trigger. 

Tip: Remember to rename your actions to keep your flow organized!

Condition Check (optional)

You can add a Condition check if you'd like to ensure your SP item has an attachment before continuing on with your flow.

Add the rest of your actions to the YES branch.

Get Attachment

You'll need to get the attachments from your SP List. Add a Get Attachments action to your flow. 

Reference this section of one of my YT Tutorials where I cover how to get a single attachment from a SP item. The Get attachments action will return a collection of items (even if you only have a single attachment attached to your SP item). 

When you use the dynamic content from that action, it'll automatically nest it inside an Apply to Each action—which isn't necessary in this case. 

For more tips and tricks on the Apply to Each action—check out this YT Tutorial: 3 Mistakes YOU 🫵 are Making with the Apply to Each Action in your Microsoft Power Automate Flow

Run a test. Take a look at the outputs of the Get attachments action. To avoid the Apply to Each action—you'll need to use an expression to access the dynamic content using the dynamic content key. The dynamic content key is the text in red between the double quotes.

Compose the Attachment Dynamic Content

This step is optional, you can insert the expressions directly into the Update task details action. However, I prefer to use Compose actions so that I can test and verify the output before using them in subsequent actions.

Insert a Compose action to store the attachment name (if you don't plan to use the attachment name in your planner task—you can omit this)

Add an expression. Insert this:

?[0]['']

The zero will grab the first item returned in the Get attachments action.

In between the single quotes, you'll need to enter the dynamic content key. In this case, it's DisplayName.

Press the UP arrow key to go to the start of the expression and select the Dynamic content tab. 

Insert the body dynamic content from the Get attachments action. 

This expression will return the Display Name from the SP Item attachment.

Repeat the same step but for the AbsoluteUri (aka the link to the attachment).

Create a Task

Add a Create a task action to your flow. Fill out all the necessary fields.

Attach Attachment to Task

Add an Update task details action to your flow. In Task Id field, insert the Id from the action above.

In the References Alias - 1 field, insert the output from the Compose action storing the attachment display name. This is why it's important to rename your actions so you know which dynamic content belongs to which action!

In the References Resource link - 1 field, insert the output from the Compose action storing the attachment link. 

Run a test. Verify that the attachment has been attached to your planner task.

Hope this helps!

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You might be interested in this YT Tutorial: 

How to Send SharePoint List Attachments 📎 via Email with Power Automate

In this tutorial I cover:

✅ How to attach a single SharePoint list attachment to an email

✅ How to use the Filter Query to Filter SharePoint List Items by a Single Choice Column

✅ How to use the Filter Array action to Filter SharePoint List Items that have an Attachment

✅ How to use turn on Pagination and Set a Threshold in the Get Items action

✅ How to us the Top Count field in the Get Items action

✅ How to use the Get Attachments Action

✅ How to avoid the Apply to Each Action

✅ How to use the Get File Content Action

✅ How to Edit an Expression

✅ How to use the Compose Action

✅ How to Get Multiple SharePoint Attachments

✅ How to use the Append to Array Variable Action

[Jeclark]

Thank you! This worked!