Import + Export files to and from sql server

[lilangelskb]

The context. The anlysis program was inititally created in MS Access. It contains some values and formulas than cross references new data with a result based on states location and rates of each record. the results are then exported to excel files on the file folder. 

What this powerapp should do

1. the user selects the file of records to be analyzed  using an import function
   • and it is copied into the database for analysis either into a a collectionif thats possible or straight to the source table in the database.
2. Then the user selects the analyze button
   • and it sends the sql cmd with MS Flow and runs a stored procedure which does the analysis and stores the reults in a table(this step works perfectly from the powerapp in preview).
3. The user exports the data
   • from the results table  in SQL or a collection of the connected results table.

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I'm hiting a wall with steps 1 and 2

what file types can be imported to the collections? The tutorial file provided by MS worked for PriceList but how do I replicate that process.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/powerapps/maker/canvas-apps/create-update-collection

Or is there another way to let the user chose the data source to be imported? It says zip files?xml files? Also what about text files? or excel ? 

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The very next phase this is leading up to is the below API being fully automated, triggered by a new file creation. The data files can be of any data type in future, excel was just used for simplicity and testing purposes. The files would also be recieved, analyzed and sent fully synchronous without user intervention.

[v-micsh-msft]

Hi,

Currently there is no proper way for PowerApps to import files like Zip, xml, or Excel.

There is an idea submitted on this:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/PowerApps-Ideas/Attach-a-file-to-form/idi-p/20596

PowerApps handles Data based on connections, for example, if you would like to get data from Excel file stored in OneDrive for Business, then under PowerApps you would need to add the OneDrive for Business connection first.

After that, choose the Excel table from the selected Excel file.

So I am afraid currently Step 1 is not available.

Regards,

Michael

[lilangelskb]

Thats such a basic function,  I'm not even sure what my next move should be. 

What about the next step to make it fully synchronous using flows and connectors. Does powerapps work anything like an API, or should i just work with Flows and connectors without powerapps to acomplish my data analysis?