Create a link which force excel to open link in desktop app

[FaNullone]

Hi Everyone,

I'm trying to build an approval flow (with 'Start and wait for an approval'), which involves opening .xlsm file from SharePoint (with macro). Default link, generated by "create sharing link", opens the file in Excel online - and I want my users to be able to run macro. But for some of my users there is no "Open in Desktop app" button, so I want to force file to be opened in Desktop app - and after a couple of days trying I'm unable to find a solution.

Tried so far:

1) adding "ms-excel:ofe|u| + Sharing link" instead of "Sharing link" into 'Item link' field (sharing link generated by SharePoint connector): I get an empty space where link to file should be, flow runs ok, no errors - just a blank space;

2) Creating SharePoint list with "hyperlink" column, with hyperlink generated by concatenating "ms-excel:ofe|u|" and "link to item": error "Action 'Create_item' failed", error details: 

Invalid URL:

ms-excel:ofe|u|https://***.sharepoint.com/sites/****/Shared%20Documents/0%20%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F%20%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C_%D0%BD%D0%B0%20%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5/%D0%9C%D0%A4_%D0%A1%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%8F%20%D1%87%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C****.xlsm?d=w8842df49e05b476293a0b6493ccd468d.
clientRequestId: 8cce3a20-0352-4258-911e-0ee49c8d2d11
serviceRequestId: 8cce3a20-0352-4258-911e-0ee49c8d2d11

Maybe someone has already had such request, and there is an obvious way I'm missing? Any help is appreciated.

[v-litu-msft]

Hi @FaNullone,

Hyperlinks must begin with http://, https://, mailto:, news:, ftp://, file://, /, # or \\. Or Create item will report error.

Your idea is great, and I think it will be useful, and I try some methods to add the link into hyperlink column, but there is no way could add a link start with "ms-excel:ofe|u|" into the SharePoint column.

The only method I tried out is putting the link into the Email and send out:

Best Regards,
Community Support Team _ Lin Tu
If this post helps, then please consider Accept it as the solution to help the other members find it more quickly.

[FaNullone · Accepted solution]

Thank you, Lin. Unfortunately, your method is not exactly fits since I need to send this link via Approval action, and it doesn't support HTML within message body.

Though couple hours after my post I was able to find solution that works for me (and they say nothing good happens after 2 am). It's possible to use markdown in approval requests, so if you put text formatted like this: 

[Power Automate](https://flow.microsoft.com) , it'll provide you with the link in the approval email: Power Automate

Fortunately, it works fine for links I need

ms-excel:ofe|u|https://***.sharepoint.com/

without protocol specified in the beginning of the link.

Marking my response as a solution in case someone will have the same problem.