Populate word template - can't find template elements

[Denis1]

Hello all, 

I have an issue with the following action "Populate a microsoft word template".

I've done what's indicated here:

https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/generate-word-documents-in-your-flows/

And here:

https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/Word-Online-Business-Connector-Populate-a-Microso...

But I get the same strange error message when selecting the word file:

The selected file doesn't contain template elements.

clientRequestId: "............. "

 It actually worked once with a simple test word file and only one control and then never again... 

The file is stored on OneDrive (Business). 

Thanks, 

Denis

[v-yamao-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @Denis1,

Could you share a screenshot of your flow?

I have made some tests on my side, the issue could not be reproduced by me.

First, I added content control in Word document, insert multiple Plain Text content controls in the document.

Then started a flow likes below, which is working properly.

Could you please try again with it?

Please check the doc on how to add content controls for a reference:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/about-content-controls-283b1e29-0b77-4781-b236-2d02c1cce1c2

Best regards,

Mabel

[Denis1]

Hello @v-yamao-msft,

the issue was that I was not using the plain text controller. thanks for this help !

Best, 

Denis

[clinton]

I was using rich text - this seems as though this is not supported yet.

plain text works.

haven't tried the other contoller types yet

[guru981]

Same problem, but if you want insert <cr> the plain text control doesn't work

[clinton]

You can create your template with plain text elements, then fomat the text in word - this seems to work

[Guru98]

Thanks, but i think i don't understand your answer.

I haven't control on the text inserted, this means that i haven't idea how many CR are in the text

Could you please clarify.

Thanks a lot

[clinton]

Ok I misunderstood your question, yeah passing cr into your plain text field won't work...

I suspect you would have to do this at tempalte level and have multiple elements for plain text

[danmitchell36]

@Denis1 ,

You need to make sure to add the content controls in the document.

See this blog below: 

https://www.dmcinfo.com/latest-thinking/blog/id/9838/overview-of-microsoft-flows-new-word-online-con...

[Krs1]

Even more frustratingly Microsoft doesn't appear to support adding plain content controls via Word for Mac. I cannot use this feature.

---

[Anonymous]

After careful step by step analysis of what was causing the issue for me I discovered that hyperlinks in the text of the document were the cause. Apparently the parser used in PowerAutomate Flows cannot deal with hyperlinks anywhere in the document and crash causing the error.   I remove the "link" in the link text and it read the file fine and found the text fields.

[Jiral]

Bonjour,

J'ai un problème pour générer un modèle Word.

Je crée un fichier dans OneDrive Enterprise et j'obtiens ce fichier pour remplir mon modèle de document Word mais je ne peux pas remplir le Dynamic File Schema.

illustrate my problem

[blackgirlmagic]

@ALL these solutions are only supported on Windows machines. If you are trying to replicate the same, use a windows VDI or alternate authorized device