Copy and Replace stuck

[PowerUser999111]

Hi All! 

I have an issue with a power automate flow I built. It is a simple flow that is copying files from one SharePoint Library to another. It had been working well for quite some time. Recently, I noticed that the most recent run was stuck for >2 days on a step where the flow copies the files and replaces them in the receiving library. I tested it by deleting all the files in the receiving library and it worked fine. But when I had it try to replace it got stuck again. Have others encountered this issue? Is there a way to resolve it getting stuck on the replace step? 

Edit: As an addition point. When I switch the "If another file is already there" to "copy with a new name", that works as well. So I'm certain it's something to do with the replacing function. 

Thanks

[wskinnermctc]

There might be an issue with duplicate names of the files or folders. 

[PowerUser999111]

Thank you for replying. Could you please elaborate on what you mean? Previously the flow was replacing files in the receiving library when it was the same as the one in the originating. Now it just gets stuck when trying to replace. 

[wskinnermctc]

I don't know for sure that it is your problem, especially without seeing the flow. However, I know that sharepoint will have a problem with trying to make two folders with the same name or two files with the same name. 

I realize you have selected Replace, but depending on how your flow is running, it might still be a problem because it is happening too fast or not in the order you expected.

Once again, I can't say for sure that is the problem, but I'm guessing that it probably has something to do with the names.

I would test it with a small amount of files without folders and see if it works.

Then test it with a single folders that are empty and see if it works.

Then test it with a single folder that has multiple levels of folders within.

Then test it with a folder that has files within it and see if it works.

Then test it with a folder that has multiple levels of folders that have files within.

Might help narrow down where the problem is happening.

[PowerUser999111]

I have been playing around with this a little more and think you may be right here but I don't know how to fix it... The basic outline of the flow is:

1. Get files (properties only), with a filter query to filter based on the value of a column in the originating SharePoint library and exclude certain file extensions.
2. Apply to each (previous output is values from above filtered get files action)
   
   1. Copy files, with the "File to Copy" field as "Identifier" from step 1.

Could the issue be that the copy files action is pulling the Identifier from the first get files action? I think this could be resulting in it getting the details for ALL files with each loop, including many names, which is resulting in the flow getting confused because there is not a single name to compare the file to when its trying to replace?

My question now is: How do I get the copy file action to reference the identifier from the apply to each value so that it gets the information from an individual file instead of all the files from the first action? 

[wskinnermctc]

It is from the individual Apply to Each.

If you have a "Get Files" step that returns multiple items (even if it returns only 1) then power automate will always put values from that Get Files into an Apply to Each and then take actions on the individual items accordingly.

You won't be able to make a Get Files and put an item's dynamic content (Identifier) into a step without it triggering an Apply to Each.

Basically, I don't think that is the problem. It is using the Apply to Each correctly to the single item. 

A good way to test is to put in a Compose action and put the value (Identifier) into the Compose and then run the flow to see what the value is looking like when the flow is run. It should be that individual item value Identifier.

[wskinnermctc]

Does your "Get Files (properties only)" include Folders along with the Files? So then the Copy File step is trying to copy a Folder?

[PowerUser999111]

hmm ok.... back to the drawing board then I guess. I thought I was getting multiple values when I put a compose in the apply to each but maybe I just did it wrong. The library I am getting files from does not have folders. It is just one big library with files in it and columns for different views.

[wskinnermctc]

I made a quick example of using a compose step you can try.

Here is one of the results and showing the Document Library that was the source.

It is only showing that single file Identifier for the picture file  "DataverseLogo.png"

The Identifier value is: Try%2ba%2bNew%2b%2bLibrary%2b_Names%252fDataverseLogo.png

[PowerUser999111]

You were right. I just redid it and got the individual values in the compose. 

[wskinnermctc]

So we're basically back to the initial problem of the flow working, but sometimes an individual flow will continuously run, could consider it failing, and we don't know why.

[wskinnermctc · Accepted solution]

Maybe try to adjust the flow, I don't know if this will work for you. Depends on how frequent the files in the primary folder are changed or modified.

It seems like you want to copy/backup a document library.

The easiest way is to try what you are doing which is get the library and then copy to/overwrite the storage library.

But that is not working, sometimes.

This is also inefficient since it is dealing with files that may not need to be recopied.

Could you set up the flow to trigger "When a File is created or modified", and just copy over or add that individual file?

[PowerUser999111]

I had a few minutes to try it using the trigger you suggested. This seems to work well. Interestingly, the replace function works again when I do it with this method. There must have been something off with the get files step in my original flow. 

Two questions:

1) is it more efficient to use "When a file is created or modified" or "When a file is created or modified (File properties only)" SharePoint action? 

2) If the source library is rather large but I'm only interested in copying a subset of files, it seems doing the flow this way could cause it to run quite often and unnecessarily. Is there a good way to make it run only when a modified or new file has a specific value in a column? 

Thank you again! 

[wskinnermctc]

For question 1:

I was just typing quickly and didn't check. Your options will be:

• When an item or file is modified 
• When a file is created or modified properties only 

You will most likely use the "When an item or file is modified" since the alternative with properties is Triggers the flow when you create a file, and each time you modify the file properties in the selected SharePoint folder. The trigger does not activate if you add or update a file in a subfolder. If the flow is required to trigger on subfolders, create different flows for one or more subfolder(s).

For question 2:

In this case you might be able to use the When a file is created or modified properties only and put it on the selected folder. Or you can use it and then in the Settings of the trigger you can adjust the "Trigger Conditions" to only apply to that column. You'll have to look up how to do trigger conditions elsewhere, I'm not very knowledgeable about them.

[PowerUser999111]

Thank you for the information. I used this to answer question 2 and it works well now: https://www.spguides.com/power-automate-trigger-conditions/.