Power automate error - Failed to attached excel document

[Skandesh]

I am using a flow which was working perfectly fine until some time ago.

Now suddenly it is giving an error that Power automate "failed to attach excel document".

I have double checked the path of the file. It is correct.

I have attached, the screenshot of the error

Request you to provide resolution.

[Agnius]

In order for PAD to attach to an Excel document, the document must be open in the background when the flow runs. Is that the case here? If it's not open, you should use Launch Excel instead of Attach to running Excel.

[Skandesh]

My excel file is open in the background and as I said the flow was working until now.

The error it shows is "Excel document cannot retrieve filenames"

I have also tried launching excel. That also does not work.

Could you provide a solution that will enable PAD to read excel file names

[Agnius]

I have never encountered this error myself. Have you installed any updates to PAD or MS Office lately?

[Skandesh]

No.

I even tried uninstalling and reinstalling power automate. But it is still showing the same error.

[Agnius]

In that case, I would recommend reporting this as a bug to MS support.

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[Skandesh]

Can you assist me with the support email Id or which community where i have to send this. I have never reported a bug before.

[Agnius]

If you have a paid subscription for PA, you can do it via here: https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com/support

If you do not, you will need to do it via the Feedback hub in PAD: 

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If I have answered your question, please mark it as the preferred solution. If you like my response, please give it a Thumbs Up.

I also provide paid consultancy and development services using Power Automate. If you're interested, DM me and we can discuss it.

[Skandesh]

I have the paid subscription. 

I clicked the link you provided but i am unable find where to post the query.

It would be extremely helpful if you could provide the exact location in the link where i need to post the query

[Agnius]

Click the "Get Help + support" button at the top of the screen and follow the wizard.

[Skandesh]

I cannot find the "Get Help + Support" button

Can you share a screenshot of your screen so i can find it ?

[eetuRobo]

Is it possible for you to change the Excel file location to local folder? Now it is in OneDrive folder and that could cause some issues. Or if the file needs to be in OneDrive folder then try moving it first to you local folder and opening it there and then when saving moving it back to OneDrive folder.
If not then you could try using the Excel Online (Premium) -actions.

[Agnius]

Have you navigated to https://admin.powerplatform.microsoft.com/support ?

It should take you to "Help + support" section by default, unless you don't have access to it in the admin center:

[Skandesh]

No I am unable to see this tab when i click the link.

I have attached a screenshot of my screen.

[Agnius]

Seems like you do not have the permissions to create a support ticket. This is likely handled by the Power Platform admins in your organization. Please contact them for help.

[Skandesh]

Can explain how to use excel online with power automate for desktop

[eetuRobo]

If you have Premium license (paid subscription) you can use Excel Online (Business) -actions. 

I would first recommend just trying to open the excel from local folder with the normal Launch Excel -action. Just to troubleshoot.

Maybe the OneDrive folder has some restrictions that doesn't give you permission to open the Excel file?

[Skandesh · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your assistance.

I was able to resolve the issue by pasting all the data into a new excel file.

It seems that particular file was causing issues.

Now it is working properly.

[Dirtworm]

I was having the same issue as your original screenshot where attach to excel kept failing, and was able to fix it without remaking any files or moving them off OneDrive, so wanted to share even though it's resolved! 

When launching an Excel document it requires the .FullName property of the file, which includes the file path (like in your screenshot).

When using 'Attach to running Excel', it won't find the .FullName property, and looks for the .Name property instead (just the file name and extension). Unfortunately the .FullName is what it automatically fills in when you select the file manually, which is frustrating.

Here's an example including a block error check to make sure the document isn't already open (not sure if that's needed for your flow). It's set to skip to end of block when attaching fails, which skips the go-to flag that would skip the regular launch, had attaching been successful. 

I'm using variables to run through multiple files, but these would be the properties based on your file name:

Name: NSDL Bond Information.xlsm

FullName: C:\Users\...\NSDL Bond Information.xlsm

[sfos83]

As with many others, I am having issues in opening an excel file. 

If I use the command 'Launch Excel' and include the entire file path manually, it works fine:

But if I use one of the variables produced by 'Get File', it will not. I've tried both methods of Launch Excel and Attach to Excel, with no luck.

The filename can change each time, so I cannot simply use the file path from where I want to open it.

Here's the message box I get with 'Get File', which is the exact file path:

If I then try to Launch Excel, I must put in the extension as such:

Else I get this message:

So I include the '.xls' at the end and when I run the flow I get this error:

Note how it is trying to open the filename with '.xls.xls' at the end? 
It's appending the .xls already...but then demanding I include it too.

Has anyone figured out how to circumvent this? I'm pulling my hair out!

Thanks!

Steve