IF File Does Not Exist

[TTC]

I would like to check if a file does exist in the folder then launch excel and do the rest of the script, but if the does NOT exist continue with the script to find the next file, if does exist do your things, if not continue to the next code.

For now, if the file does NOT exist in the folder, the script will break because when excel launch it will throw an error cannot find the file in folder path. But I need for the script to continue because the customer did not send their file.  I already send a second request to the customer at the beginning of the script, if they did not send it, I want to script to continue without breaking.  This is what I have.  Please show me the step in PAD (Power Automate Desktop) so I can see it.  Thanks an advance!

[CFernandes]

@TTC You can simply use "If file exists" and provide a file path...

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[MichaelAnnis]

If you are doing this for a bunch of files, the files probably shouldn’t be hard keyed. 

usually we have something along the lines of:

Get Files to %Files%
For Each %CurrentItem% in %Files%
    Launch Excel

    ‘Do other things

    Save and Close Excel

End (for each)

if you really want to continue the way you are doing:

if file exists %filepathandname%
    ‘Do actions

end(if)

[TTC]

I am not sure if understand either the solution.  I know if the file does exist in the folder, the script will continue do whatever I am asking it to do.  But, I want when the file DOES NOT EXIST, I want the script to continue on Line# 90 to launch the next file if it is find it (of course, I will put another 'if file does not exist' statement),  again if it's NOT FIND IT, go the next script.  After the IF file exists statement, I need an 'Function' to jump all the actions and to continue with the next code.  As I expected, the script break because there's no file in the folder.  But I do know, it's because the customer did not send their file. For that reason. I want the script to continue without breaking.

This is what I have, please correct me and make any changes you think is the best and let me see your step in PAD.

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @TTC 

Instead of using harcoded file exists action, why don't you put all file path in a list and then iterate through it and then if file exists, do the required actions

Refer this flow design 

(Note: file seperator becomes \\ as you see in list even if you type \ in set variable action )

[MichaelAnnis]

Niced said the same thing I did, but if you are intent on just skipping the items when it doesn’t exist, then do the second one I posted:

If file exists

     ‘Do all actions here

End(If)

Put everything from launch excel to save and close excel in the IF statement, and that way, if the file doesn’t exist, it won’t perform any of those steps and will skip down to END. 

[TTC]

Hello Both,

I know I made a mistake somewhere, but I am try to match what Nived sent, but I am getting an error on my end.

When I try the script with no file, it skips and goes to the end, but when I try with a file in the folder, it does the same thing.  Something I did and cannot figure it out.  Can you help please?  Below is the error when I try to match it.

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @TTC 

You should intialize the list like this 

without using %% , it would be considered as string

Also one more mistake i found in your code is the loop item 

see in your case, you are taking Files_List as loop iteration item , it is wrong. You should design like below 

Hope it helps !

[MichaelAnnis]

@Nived_Nambiar is right. You are just missing your brackets and commas that turn your variable into a list. Good luck. 

[TTC]

Hello Guys,

Ok, now I think I match everything, but it won't launch the excel file.  It skips everything to go to the end.

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @TTC 

There is some issue in how you define the variables within list. 

see below 

Hope it helps !

[TTC]

I don't understand what I am doing.  I try everything.  Is there a way, you can fix this for me so I can plug it in on the set variable?

%[\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\%FormattedDateTime2% Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\%Folder_Name%\\Daybreak Fast.xls]% %[\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\%FormattedDateTime2% Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\%Folder_Name%\\Seamates Intermodal.xls]% %[\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\%FormattedDateTime2% Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\%Folder_Name%\\TRN Logistics.xls]%

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @TTC 

Try this 

%['\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\' + FormattedDateTime2 + 'Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\' + Folder_Name + '\\Daybreak Fast.xls', '\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\' + FormattedDateTime2 + 'Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\' + Folder_Name + '\\Seamates Intermodal.xls', '\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\' + FormattedDateTime2 + 'Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\' + Folder_Name + '\\TRN Logistics.xls']%

Hope this helps !

[TTC]

After the script read the 'Set Variable' and the Loop 'For each File in File_List' it goes to the end.  It won't launch the excel step even though there's a file in the folder.

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @TTC 

seems like at the end, there is a double backslash coming before file name. 

Not sure why it is happening as hardcoding the file path as list element does not create any problem. Seems like it occurs while concatenation 

@MichaelAnnis , Do you know why this occurs like above ?

So as a quick fix, while iterating each element, could you use replace operation on iteration element to replace \\ with \

[TTC]

Hi Nived,

I remembered you told me everything get double backslash.  At first, it was kind like very weird for me, because I need seen any path get double slashes.  I thought it has to do with PA.  Sure, I can replace all the double backslashes to a single slash and I will let you know.  Thanks!

[TTC]

It won't delete the backslash that before the file name.  Every time I delete it, PA put it right back.  But if delete all the double backslashes I receive a syntax error.  This seems to be very weird.

[TTC]

Hello Guys,

Any updates on this bellow?

%['\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\' + FormattedDateTime2 + 'Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\' + Folder_Name + '\\Daybreak Fast.xls', '\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\' + FormattedDateTime2 + 'Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\' + Folder_Name + '\\Seamates Intermodal.xls', '\\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\' + FormattedDateTime2 + 'Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\' + Folder_Name + '\\TRN Logistics.xls']%

[TTC]

If I disabled the loop and the IF statement the script work without issue.  Once I put both loop and the IF statement back it skips the entire process.  The goal is if there's a file exist in the folder go ahead do the actions, but if there's NO FILE, then skip the actions and go to the next excel launch and so on...  Right now, if I remove the loop and the IF statement it will work when a file exist in the folder. if not, the script is breaking because is looking for the file inside the folder.  Please can someone let me know how to make this work?  Thanks an advance!

[Nived_Nambiar]

Hi @TTC 

Sorry for late response, 

For the above thread on where i have talked to replace the \\ with \ before filename, how you have did that , could you please show ?

Also i could see all files are coming under same folder, then why don't you use get files in folder action to retrive all files under the folder \\nas1\\HDrive\\Accruals & Carrier Reviews\\' + FormattedDateTime2 + 'Accruals\\Troy Corporation T860\\Carrier Statements\\' + Folder_Name  and loop through it ?

Would it help ?