I am trying to schedule a flow to run daily by using OCR to read current time on desktop and when matches with the set time it will trigger the remaining steps of the flow. While the flow runs successfully when I'm logged in, the OCR engine fails to boot when the laptop is locked. Is there any workaround to schedule a desktop flow or fire up the OCR engine in unattended mode? Thanks a lot!
P.S. since I'm using a company laptop, I can't schedule a basic task e.g. PING.exe to trigger the PAD flow when the laptop is locked without batch job right and the file is saved on a network drive (basic task can be executed using IP without issue though, again, when logged in). I also don't have a premium subscription of PA so I can't schedule a cloud flow to trigger the PAD flow.
Would greatly appreciate any help and wishing you all a happy holiday season!
Solved! Go to Solution.
Hi @cmdk_14
A loop "like" structure will be needed because you want it to run it again and again on a daily basis.
Step numbers 1 to 5 have to be run every single time.
Note that these are not efficient ways.
A premium subscription would have been best which allows scheduling of flows but I remember you do not have that.
If you have to run only an Excel macro then you don't even need PAD.
Just schedule the macro in the already available Windows Task Scheduler.
How To Automatically Run Excel VBA Macros Daily (thespreadsheetguru.com)
Hi @cmdk_14
Just trying to understand a bit more.....
..using OCR to read current time on desktop..
Is there any specific you are using OCR to read the current time?
Are you unable to use the Get current date and time action for some reason?
If you have a Virtual desktop machine and trying Image automation, you can still get the timezone of that machine using the above action.
Thank you so much for the quick reply! I stumbled upon a Youtube video suggesting to use OCR to schedule flow but I agree that using 'get current date and time' would be a more sensible solution - currently I have the flow on a loop from 1 to 9999999999999999999999999999, is there a better way to run the flow as it is constantly going through all the steps to check if the current date/time matches with the one set in the "IF" condition?
Thanks again!
If the "If" condition is at the very beginning right after getting the current time then it won't have to go through all the steps.
Can you share your Flow steps to suggest any discrepancies.
Hi VJR, thanks again for replying, bear with me for the clumsy writing/ flow as I'm not a pro and am only working on this as part of the company's automation project:
Would it be possible to have PAD get the current date automatically to trigger the remaining steps without setting a loop?
Extremely grateful for your help!
Hi @cmdk_14
A loop "like" structure will be needed because you want it to run it again and again on a daily basis.
Step numbers 1 to 5 have to be run every single time.
Note that these are not efficient ways.
A premium subscription would have been best which allows scheduling of flows but I remember you do not have that.
If you have to run only an Excel macro then you don't even need PAD.
Just schedule the macro in the already available Windows Task Scheduler.
How To Automatically Run Excel VBA Macros Daily (thespreadsheetguru.com)
Hi VJR
Apologies for the radio silence I hope you had a great time with your family on Christmas day!
Running an xlsm file/vbs using task scheduler would definitely be much better than having PAD looping the whole flow every single second, I will have a chat with IT to see if it's possible to grant me appropriate right to enable tasks to run while logged out.
Sorry for the delay and thank you so much again for your help!
This weekly series is our way of helping the amazing members of our community--both new members and seasoned veterans--learn and grow in how to best engage in the community! Each Tuesday, we will feature new areas of content that will help you best understand the community--from ranking and badges to profile avatars, from Super Users to blogging in the community. Our hope is that this information will help each of our community members grow in their experience with Power Platform, with the community, and with each other! Have you ever wondered how your fellow community members earn the different ranks available? What is the difference between an Advocate and a Helper, a Solution Sage and a Community Champion? In today's #TuesdayTip, we share the secrets and tips to help YOU keep your ranking growing--and why it's so important to our communities. What are community ranks? - Power Platform Community (microsoft.com) Get the details in this Knowledge Base article that shows you what ranks are, how they are achieved, and what they mean to you as you engage with other community members on a regular basis. Once you start your journey in the community, ranking up, you'll find the benefits. So get busy with those kudos, solutions, and more! We can't wait to see how you rank!That's it for this week. Tune in for more Tuesday Tips next Tuesday and join the community as we continue to get "Back to Basics."
After all the planning and preparing, the annual Microsoft Power Platform Conference is finally here! We are excited to see so many of our community in Las Vegas this week. To help make sure you don't miss any of the workshops, sessions, and events we have planned, make sure to check out this handy Community One-Sheet, and download the pdf today! Make sure to stop by the Community Lounge to meet @hugobernier, @EricArcher, @heaher_italent, and @AshleyFelts from our team!
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Are you attending the Microsoft Power Platform Conference 2023 in Las Vegas? If so, we invite you to join us for the MPPC's Got Power Talent Show! Our talent show is more than a show—it's a grand celebration of connection, inspiration, and shared journeys. Through stories, skills, and collective experiences, we come together to uplift, inspire, and revel in the magic of our community's diverse talents. This year, our talent event promises to be an unforgettable experience, echoing louder and brighter than anything you've seen before. We're casting a wider net with three captivating categories: Demo Technical Solutions: Show us your Power Platform innovations, be it apps, flows, chatbots, websites or dashboards... Storytelling: Share tales of your journey with Power Platform. Hidden Talents: Unveil your creative side—be it dancing, singing, rapping, poetry, or comedy. Let your talent shine! Got That Special Spark? A Story That Demands to Be Heard? Your moment is now! Sign up to Showcase Your Brilliance: https://aka.ms/MPPCGotPowerSignUp Deadline for submissions: Thursday, Sept 28th How It Works: Submit this form to sign up: https://aka.ms/MPPCGotPowerSignUp We'll contact you if you're selected. Get ready to be onstage! The Spotlight is Yours: Each participant has 3-5 minutes to shine, with insightful commentary from our panel of judges. We’re not just giving you a stage; we’re handing you the platform to make your mark. Be the Story We Tell: Your talents and narratives will not just entertain but inspire, serving as the bedrock for our community’s future stories and successes. Celebration, Surprises, and Connections: As the curtain falls, the excitement continues! Await surprise awards and seize the chance to mingle with industry experts, Microsoft Power Platform leaders, and community luminaries. It's not just a show; it's an opportunity to forge connections and celebrate shared successes. Event Details: Date and Time: Wed Oct 4th, 6:30-9:00PM Location: MPPC23 at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, NV, USA
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