How to download Excel files from Website by selecting a date

[SA_VOH]

Hi,

I am frequently using a URL and this is in public domain and there is no need to login. This URL is:-

https://wbes.nrldc.in/Report/STOANew

When i visit this URL, i would like to select a Date from Date Picker and this date shall be the yesterday one. Eg. today is 19-June-22 and i would like to select 18-June-22. Then i shall click "Show Data". This is shown by an image below:-

1st Image

After clicking "Show Data", i will get some tabulated data, which i can then save as Excel file or Csv or PDF. However i choose Excel only. This is shown in next image and numbered as 3 (Tabulated Data) shown on website and 4 (I choose Excel).

2nd Image

These steps are repeated everyday. Although i have Organisational Account but no the premium one, can i automate these steps using PAD? Even automation to some extent will also be helpful

Please help.

[VJR · Accepted solution]

Hi @SA_VOH 

Yes that's absolutely possible and PAD or any RPA tool are used for such repetitive activities :).

I used the recorder and recorded the actions you mentioned above and was able to download the Excel file.

This is how the flow looks like, but you need to record it on your PAD editor so that you capture the UI elements.

For step #3, use previous day instead of the 18-6 hard coded I have used.

The file that got downloaded was this:

FullSchedule--STOA-Details-ALL-ALL-ALL(209)-18-06-2022.xlsx

So yes go ahead.

Don't wait. Just Automate :).

[SA_VOH]

Hi VJR,

Thanks for the reply. But i am facing a issue in selecting a date (which will be Current date -1). Actually i got current date and Time, through Search Action, and selected date only. However, the moment i enter the variable "CurrentDate -1", it says the input text should be text and there is a mismatch.

The screenshot is enclosed:-

Image

How can i solve this error. Further, is there any way from where i could specify the folder in which the downloaded Excel files will drop.

Regards,

[Ankesh_49 · Accepted solution]

@SA_VOH Use this action and pass your parameters to get current date - 1

Thanks
Ankesh

[SA_VOH]

Dear Ankesh_49,

I tried the above method and i selected the "date" only from Currentdate and time. However, although no error is coming in the PAD, and the variables passed in date are ok, the execution is having a problem.

It takes the current date only and doesn't subtract it by 1. So date is 19-June-22 only. May be time is creating some issue, as the DatePicker is taking value i.e. 18-06-2022 00:00:00 and causing error

If this issue could be resolved then i would like to know how to store the downloaded files in a specific folder. As per my search, this can only be done if browser is Internet Explorer. Or if you could suggest something that's better.

Regards,

[VJR · Accepted solution]

If time is causing the issue get only the first 10 chars of the date

Give Wait actions wherever necessary.

[Ankesh_49]

@SA_VOH Please try to use the logic suggested by @VJR .

"how to store the downloaded files in a specific folder" use files or folders action and explore it a bit. 

[VJR · Accepted solution]

Every browser points to the same "Downloads" folder unless manually changed.

- Your file will be download there too

- Use Get files from folder. This has an option to sort by date time

- Once sorted, the topmost file will be the one that you just downloaded

- Now you can use Move files to move it to another folder

[SA_VOH]

Hi VJR,

Thanks for resolving my issue. Now i will explore more of PAD. Just one more query.

If i say that i want this process to be unattended then i think i will have to Opt for Premium Subscription - to get the ability to run flows automatically. 

Or else everyday i have to go to PAD and select the flow and run the same.

I would also like to thank Ankesh_49 for providing help to resolve my issue.

Regards,

[Ankesh_49]

Thank you @SA_VOH . I am glad that it helped.

@SA_VOH For unattended mode,  subscription would be required.
However, if you want to give it a try:) You can make a schedule flow which will control other flows. Make endless loop to run other desktop flows. But after system restart, you need to kick off manually your schedule flow.

[VJR]

- As of now no option in PAD to schedule desktop flows. You will have to call it from a Cloud flow and schedule the cloud flow. Yes you would require the appropriate license for it.

• You can upvote the idea here.

- Haven't tried it but saw a link here that talks about scheduling a desktop flow without a cloud flow.

- As a side note, not many know this but if you think @Ankesh_49's response has also helped you to achieve a solution then you can mark multiple posts as a solution on this same thread.