Dynamic content in File & Table inputs - Excel (Business) connector "List rows present in a table"

[efialttes]

So I am thinking on a Manual Trigger is a trigger initiated by a user from a Sharepoint Document Library for a selected file, in my case an Excel file. The next step I would like to achieve is to List rows present in a table, assuming all files stored in the Sharepoint Library are excel files with the same table structures.

The scenario is detailed in moredetail here: https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/Building-Flows/Excel-Business-problems/m-p/107609

According to Microsoft's Flow team response; Microsoft flow support to select a file from the picker in the "Excel (Business)" connector currently, but choosing a dynamic content in the "File" field to select a file is not supported in Microsoft flow "Excel (Business)" connector currently.

Although the inputs on both action "List rows present in a table" blocks are apparently the same,the inputs on select a file from the picker is a friendly format of the file identifier,you couldn't choose a dynamic content in the "File" field to select a file.

So If I want to choose a dynamic content in the "File" field to select a file, there is no way to achieve it in Microsoft Flow currently.

As suggested, I am submitting an idea to Flow Ideas Forum.

[amandalee]

The List rows present in a table action is useless without being able to set the file id dynamically. It doesn't make any sense the way it has been built. I hope they fix this soon!

[hjaf]

This is a HUGE issue for me and its possibly the 3rd time I have attempted various workarounds. There is no way, you cannot update the file in a prior step because the connector apparently locks the file at launch and keeps it locked for as long as the flow is running.

Why should we be able to input dynamic data into fields that does not allow for it?

This is supposedly possible with the exel online (OneDrive) connector so a workaround is to copy a file to a onedrive location and use that connector instead. Alas, my company DLP don't allow for that connector so i am unable to test /confirm this workaround myself.

At the current time, it seems that this connector allows only a one way information flow.  You can put data into new excel files by updating a template and then copying the template, but there is no way to get data from excel documents into flow, unless the document already exists at the time of the flow being designed.  This is an incredibly huge limitation in my opinion. 

[jrg999999]

Huge problem.

Just spent hours trying to work around this.

[amandalee]

.

[amandalee]

Work around for excel online (Business) connector is to move the file to another location in Sharepoint with "Replace". Then when you list all rows present in a table you can query the file in the new location as the file id never changes which avoids the need to set the file id dynamically. No need to move or copy the file to excel online (OneDrive) either.