Updating a row in Excel using Forms and Power Automate duplication problem

[Nelly834]

Hi,

I am currently using Microsoft forms to add responses to an excel spreadsheet, once the same individual posts another response power automate updates the excel spreadsheet, this is working perfectly. However when it updates the spreadsheet it also duplicates the row! How do I stop this as I do not want 2 rows with the same information.

Thank you for your help, I am an absolute novice and have only used these systems for 1 day. Please keep it simple if you can.

Nelly.

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834  great so number is not response id in your excel. I will give you complete solution screens.

Thanks

Hardesh

[craigyappert]

The problem is that you have no unique identifier for the record that you can attach any updates to. So what you'll need to do is capture an email address or phone number or maybe member ID, make it required so you can match on that .

[Nelly834]

There number is a unique identifier, every person using the form has a their own staff number.

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834 

Please follow step by step-

Please see red arrow- here i used compose output of number. you can directly supply number here as i supplied in Add row in a table.

When excel rows are more than 250 :

Note- List row in a table pull 256 records by default. go to setting and enable pagination like this-

Thanks

Hardesh

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834  i did not use filter query here. when there are lots of record in excel then you need to use filter query to fetch required row.

And i have used SharePoint document library to store excel sheet.

Thanks

Hardesh

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834  if you see previous steps will work when there is no record in Excel sheet. So for this, as i suggested you, use compose and store number then use filter query which will fetch record based on number.

Please update previous step screen by this.

Thanks

Hardesh

[Nelly834]

Hi, I am not good at this stuff at all and am just learning, can you explain the part I have circled please. 

[gabibalaban]

@Hardesh15 

There is no problem...always a good solution is a good solution ! And yours is better by far 🤗

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834  i have used length function in expression and passing Value of List row present in a table from dynamic tab.

length(outputs('List_rows_present_in_a_table')?['body/value'])

Copy this and paste in expression --> make sure your action- list raw present in a table has same name as mine

Thanks

Hardesh

[Nelly834]

It runs without problem now but does not update my excel speadsheet. That is still blank.

[Nelly834]

 it is adding a row to excel but the row is empty

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834  please share your Action-List row present in a table.

[Nelly834]

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834  Check your Filter query. I have used Number(My excel column) eq Compose output.

Thanks

Hardesh

[Nelly834]

Also mine has apply to each and then it says select an output from a previous steps?

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834 You are not following my screens carefully. you are selecting data from list row present in table in both excel connector.

Thanks

Hardesh

[Nelly834]

I have to apologise, you are probably pulling your hair out having to deal with me but I genuinely am struggling with this, I don't understand what excel connector is.

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834  No worries. Whatever you are using like Add row in a Table, update row etc we usually called them Excel connector or Actions.

Delete List row present in Table data from Add row and update row action then drag and drop those action out of loop then delete both loops. After that add following from get response details dynamic content.

Thanks

Hardesh

[Nelly834]

I am sorry I still do not understand, when I add the yes and no it puts the apply to each. I do not know what you mean by loop? and I do not know where to drag and drop from, as I said I am a complete novice to this system and computers altogether.

[Hardesh15]

@Nelly834  Okay. Loop means Apply to each. Anyway delete both Apply to each and recreate with same as shown in previous post screen.

Or see

Thanks

Hardesh