Unable to add Instant Flow to Solution

[Anonymous]

Hi

I have created a flow of type "Instant". When I tried to create a solution and add existing instant flow it doesn't appear in the "outside solution" tab. I'm able to see flows created using other types(Scheduled, Automated).

Could someone suggest how to add Instant Flow to a solution?

[paul_matthews]

Hi

My understanding is that instant flows are currently not available in solutions.

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/powerapps/maker/common-data-service/solutions-overview#known-limita...

Hope this helps

[Reigningfear]

Hello,

I am running into the same issue. I reviewed the known limitations and I assume by "button triggered flow", they mean instant flows. That is a little confusing because I interpreted that as PowerApp buttons. 

[mrpowergage]

I know we're a year later, just for anyone coming back here, I've successfully added an instant flow to a solution

[Praveenp]

Could you please provide the details on how you added existing instant flows to the solution?

[mrpowergage]

you can't add existing instant flows to the solution. You have to set some other kind of trigger, and then you can.

[MarrinerDev]

It seems like this now works with the instant PowerApps V2 trigger, but not the original version.

i.e. Flows I created with the V2 trigger show up in the Add Cloud Flow list for a solution, but Flows with the original PowerApps trigger do not.

I have now been able to successfully add a PowerApps V2 Instant triggered Flow to a solution and confirm that it works as expected.

[Reigningfear]

Was notified that this thread still had some activity. My workaround thus far has been to create the flow using an accepted trigger such as a scheduled trigger and then adding it to my solution. Then, once it's added, change the trigger to manual. It seems to work fine and I've used this workaround for numerous flows.

However, I'll definitely keep an eye out for @MarrinerDev's observation as that would be much easier.

[byrnep]

Looks like adding while in the solution also works, and so does if you create it in the App itself.

[JJUELKE]

seem to be still a open topic in backlog list to fix? Tried to...

1. adding an existing instant flow to a new solution = does not work, flow is not listed 

2. changing an existing instant flow (delete existing instant trigger and replace with an "PowerApps V2 trigger" = does not work, flow is not listed 

3. creating a new instant flow via "add" inside a solution = does work!

4. "ZIP Export" of an a instant flow is only available via make.powerautomate.com but not via make.powerapps.com

[JoaoSantos489]

I have come up with the same problem....

Reading all your answers on this topic I can now share my experience

There was only 1 way I managed to add an existing instant cloud flow with PowerApps trigger to a solution.

I changed the trigger to V2. 

[Shwetank]

I was facing a similar challenge, and considering it was a large flow with several actions in it, I didn't want to recreate the flow in a new solution. As the option for adding existing flow isn't available for instant flow, I exported the flow and placed the flow file in a exported solution. Finally imported the new solution, which worked like a charm.

[Thomsog1]

Hi @Shwetank,

Do you have an example of what you did (a screenshot would be awesome if you have one)? When I open up the zipped export of the solution it has a "workflows" folder with JSONs, but the export of my Power Automate has a whole bunch of individual files there so I don't really know what goes where.

[robcaretta]

@Shwetank- could you provide some screenshots and details to what you did to add an instant flow to a solution? I am interested in the steps used as well. 

[Shwetank]

How to add an Instant flow to a Solution ?

Please note, Out of the box, we cannot add an instant flow to a Solution. The approach which I used here is:

1. Created a new Solution and added a sample flow there with possibly all the connection references I had, for e.g. a dummy flow with SharePoint, OneDrive, Mail actions. If your instant flow has any other connection reference use that as well in your dummy / sample flow.

Note: Make sure the name of both sample flow and actual instant flow is same.

2. Once the sample flow and solution is created. Export the solution and extract the extract the zip file.

3. The extracted solution file will have following files:

4. Open this extracted folder in VS Code.

5. Under Workflows folder you will find a file, which is the actual flow definition of your sample flow.

6. Now, on Power Automate portal, Export the Instant flow as well. which you want to add to the solution.

7. Again Extract this zip file and you will be find a .json file here, which is your flow definition for Instant flow.

8. Open this .json file of Instant flow as well in VS Code. 

9. In step 5. We did open another VS Code. Under Workflows folder navigate to the .json file and open the section of Connection references:

10. Copy these connection references and paste them into the .json file you opened in Step 8.

11. Now, make sure your all the actions are using these new connection references. You can do this by replacing all the connection references with the new values of connection references.

12. Once changes done in Step 11, copy this .json file of Actual instant flow, and paste this in the solution where we created the sample flow (replace the sample flow with actual instant flow)

13. Compress the extracted files again, and Import the solution. 

[robcaretta]

@Shwetank- Thank you for the write-up. I wasn't able to quite follow steps 7-12. When I export the original flow from power automate the structure of that is different from what you find for a flow inside of a solution. Even the JSON is formatted differently too. Here are 2 VS Code sessions side-by-side. Left is the flow, right is the solution.  Any clarity you can provide here would be appreciated.

[kbl2]

helloo. I have the same problem. I tried your workaround and changed the trigger from powerApps v2 to a recurrence but it doesn't work on my end. I still cannot see the flow when I try to add it in a solution. I have created quite a long flow and the last thing I want to do is to redo it. 😞 Your reply would be appreciated. thank you!

[MiC96]

Here what worked for me! Please mark as answer if it works for you!

• Create an automated flow
  • You MUST use Power Apps as the trigger
• If you don't use Power Apps as the trigger, the flow will be invisible to Power Apps

Good Luck!

[ktaylor1]

I've run into this several times when building a child flow that uses a manual trigger outside the solution. The easiest way I found to work around this issue is to export a copy of the flow first. Then delete the manual trigger and replace it with an automatic trigger, such as 'when a new sharepoint item is created'. Obviously, any areas that you had the inputs from the manual trigger will be erased. I use variables to store those values, so its easy to leave those variables blank temporarily. Also, child flows require you use the power apps response connector. You'll get an error if you try to save the flow, so you'll have to remove that connector for this work around.

The updated flow will not automatically be visible in the solution. Do a save-as so you get a copy. That copy will immediately be visible in the solution. Import the copy, then delete the automatic trigger and replace with an manual trigger. Add back your inputs and update the variables and add back the Power App response.

A bit of a pain, but the fix took 5-10 minutes to complete. If you want to restore the original flow, you can import your original exported copy.