I want to use flow to execute a daily powerapp trigger to another flow.

[martinav]

Ok, did you follow that?

I want to run a flow on a daily schedule.  I need it to run my powerapp, and generate some data statistics, and then take those numbers and send out a notification.  I wanted to send the data out using the new Powerapps - Send Push Notification action.  But, The powerapp would need to be running to do all of the data collection.  I do not want to leave powerapps running on the server.  Is there any way to do this with flow commands?  Respond to Powerapps can push stuff to powerapps... but can I use it to execute stuff???

Thanks!

[mr-dang]

Hi @martinav,

It sounds like you want flow to run a PowerApp that will in turn trigger another flow.

Question:

• Can you share what the PowerApp is calculating that cannot be done in Flow?

You might be interested in the Flow Management connector. I'm assuming you are already using a kind of recurrence. Well, a flow that is set to recur daily can execute a few actions in Flow Management that can get your flows, start and stop your flows:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/connectors/flowmanagement/

In any case, if you want a 'serverless' experience, I suggest building out your solution in Flow. 

[martinav]

Yes, Recurrence will work fine.  Its pushing and pulling from an powerapp from within the flow is the question.  Unless there is a way to do sql lookups and lookups in sharepoint, and then doing counts and other math with the results in flow, it will need to be in powerapps.  I'm not sure how flow management helps with that piece.

[v-xida-msft]

Hi @martinav,

Could you please share bit more about your scenario?

Do you want a flow to trigger your PowerApps app? How do you want to run your PowerApps app from a flow?

Further, could you please share a bit more about the stuff that you mentioned?

Currently, we could trigger a flow from a PowerApps app via adding PowerApps Button trigger within a flow. Triggering a PowerApps app from a flow (Microsoft Flow) is not supported in Microsoft Flow. If you want to trigger a PowerApps app from a flow (Microsoft Flow), I afraid that there is no way to achieve your needs in Microsoft Flow currenrly.

If you would like this feature to be added in Microsoft Flow, please submit an idea to Flow Ideas Forum:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Flow-Ideas/idb-p/FlowIdeas

More details about triggering a flow from an app, please check the following article:

Start a flow from an app

Best regards,

Kris

[martinav]

I have a powerapps app that pulls in data from three sources, does some filtering, sorting, and counting of records.  I need the total of those records to be communicated on a weekly basis if not nightly basis.  I want this to be an automated process.  As the data changes, these totals will change.  Since all of my work is being done in my powerapp, it needs to run in order to generate the results.  I am not sure that I can replicate the same functions in flow actions using "expressions".  Since it is already done in my powerapp, I would not like to have to do it again in a flow.

One thing I thought of doing was to copy my app, have this unique app run on my server (24/7) and set a timer within it to push out the data via flow every day.  I did not like the idea of having to run a flow on my server.  Do you know what implications that might have?  I'm pretty sure that would work, though.  Yes?

[mr-dang]

---

@martinav wrote:

I have a powerapps app that pulls in data from three sources, does some filtering, sorting, and counting of records.  I need the total of those records to be communicated on a weekly basis if not nightly basis.  I want this to be an automated process.  As the data changes, these totals will change. 

---

It's good that you've been able to figure out how to solve your problem in PowerApps. And I can understand the frustration of rebuilding a solution.

But given your requirements for automation and given the nature of the tasks you would do in PowerApps (it's just filtering, sorting, counting), this job is more suited for Flow--to be exact, Flow was made for scenarios like this. The Recurrence trigger in Flow will activate your actions without needing a 24/7 server. There's fewer moving parts--you're not reliant on the server, browser, and timer control in your PowerApp working. 

Here's a few resources to help you out:

Filtering in Flow (the context here is for writing records, but the filter part is relevant)

http://johnliu.net/blog/2018/6/do-bulk-insertupdate-in-microsoft-flow-with-two-simple-elegant-filter...

Get a count of rows:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/General-Flow-Discussion/How-to-get-a-count-of-the-number-of-rows...

BUT, if what you're really asking here is if there's a way for a Flow to open a PowerApp and click a button, that would fit well as a suggestion in the Ideas forum.

Mr. Dang

__________________

[martinav]

There are simple functions in flow per your examples.  However, nesting functions toghether.  Not sure it is even possible.  Here is an example of what I am doing inside the powerapp dashboard I have created.

"Operations "&CountRows(Filter('Engineering Change Notice', Value(ECN_x0020_Status_x0020_Powerapps0)=4 && Oper_x0020_Appvl=false))&"/"&CountRows(SortByColumns(Filter('Engineering Change Notice',  Value(ECN_x0020_Status_x0020_Powerapps0)=4 And Oper_x0020_Appvl=false And Engrg_x0020_Release_x0020_Date<=DateValue(Latedate2.Text)), "Part_x0020_Number"))

Where:

This is done in a lablel named LateDate2, and a editable field that contains the desired number of days allowed before "late".

Today()-TextInput1.Text

The datesource 'Engineering Change Notice' is a sharepoint list.  

So, was there something wrong with having a powerapp running on the server 24/7 that would drive these notifications?

[Powee]

I am currently stuck in the same place. Could you please tell how u overcame this issue

[martinav · Accepted solution]

@Powee,

I actually did not.  At this point, I have a button in my powerapps that initiates a dump of the data into a flow that distributes to the users.  My filters and other data manipulation being done in my app is far to complex to try to put into a flow.  The filter language used there overwhelmingly complicated, and the expression builder in Flow is so limited in view (just a short one-line window).  If the languages were the same, it might be easier to do.  At this point, its a manual push from my app.

[PowerFox]

Currently looking for a similar solution.

I have an HTML table in Power Apps where the raw data from a gallery is reshaped into readable content with concat functions and if statements. A button in Power Apps triggers Automate to send a report in a PDF file. (Thank you Shane Young, you're the best)

If only Microsoft Automate could invite itself in the Power App and push that button with a scheduled trigger...that would open so many doors.

Rebuilding this report with flow is too much of a pain and not even sure that if it's possible. I'm going to give Power BI a shot to see if it can be done in a user friendly way.