Microsoft Power Automate Overview

2016

1. Automate the collection and processing of information. 2. Manage the approval process for documents/information.

A connector allows Power Automate to access information stored in different systems.

<p>It can save time and reduce the risk of errors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate can be used to automate a wide range of tasks, but the specific tasks that can be automated depend on the availability of connectors for the relevant data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate can be even more powerful when used with other Microsoft Power Platform applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To effectively utilize the full potential of Power Automate and its integration with other Microsoft tools.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By automating routine tasks and increasing efficiency, Power Automate allows individuals to focus on more fulfilling and impactful aspects of their jobs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Traditional tutorials focus on specific recipes or workflows, while this excerpt emphasizes learning the underlying components and mechanics of Power Automate to create adaptable workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The constant release of new features and enhancements makes it difficult for any book to stay completely up-to-date.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The analogy highlights the limitations of learning only specific workflows and the importance of understanding the underlying components and principles to create adaptable and versatile workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Connectors, triggers, and actions are analogous to basic ingredients, forming the foundation for creating diverse workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The book aims to teach the fundamental components and principles of Power Automate, enabling users to create adaptable and customized workflows rather than just replicating specific scenarios.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate doesn't directly support impersonation in cloud flows, which is a feature that allows running actions with elevated permissions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Impersonation allows running a sequence of actions with elevated permissions, granting temporary access to enhanced privileges.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Desktop flows and business process flows are presented as distinct from regular cloud flows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The three listed types of cloud flows are instant, automated, and recurrent, each activated by different triggering events.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate is described as a constantly evolving product with frequent releases of new features and enhancements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A seeded license provides a user with a certain level of free access to Power Automate, enabling them to explore its features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Triggers and actions are the fundamental building blocks of Power Automate flows, each performing specific functions within a workflow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The book aims to equip the user with the necessary tools and skills to expand their knowledge of Power Automate and effectively utilize it for transforming their daily workflow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author advocates for exploring Microsoft's Power Automate documentation as a source of comprehensive information on its various components and functionalities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding the fundamental components and principles allows users to create customized and adaptable workflows that go beyond specific scenarios, enabling them to address various needs and challenges within their workflow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The document argues that migrating from SPD to Power Automate is necessary primarily because SPD workflows are being deprecated by Microsoft, meaning that they will eventually stop being supported. This would make SPD an unreliable and risky workflow solution in the future. Even though Power Automate has limitations, it is considered a better long-term solution because it's actively developed and supported by Microsoft.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The text highlights two main benefits of using citizen developers: 1. Citizen developers can automate repetitive tasks, freeing up professional developers for more complex projects, and 2. Citizen developers, by understanding business needs, can improve the efficiency of processes through custom solutions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>SPD 2010 workflows ran within the software context of SharePoint, making them susceptible to slowdowns if the site experienced performance issues. SPD 2013 workflows, however, ran as a separate process, thus avoiding the performance issues inherent in their earlier version.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The document mentions the use of recurrence triggers that store the flow's state in a data source to continue processing after a timeout, and periodically waking up the flow to resume processing as workarounds for the 30-day timeout limitation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The document highlights that there are currently no automated tools for migrating SPD workflows to Power Automate, making the process entirely manual and requiring significant effort and attention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>SPD workflows are being deprecated by Microsoft due to their limited functionality and lack of ongoing development, prompting the shift towards Power Automate as a more advanced and actively maintained platform.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate surpasses SPD workflows by offering access to a broader range of data sources beyond SharePoint, along with enhanced functionality and capabilities for manipulating this data.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The main drawback of using a Service Account with a premium license is the associated cost, which is a potential barrier to adoption for organizations with limited budgets.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate fosters collaboration by enabling citizen developers from various departments who share a common business language to collaborate directly on implementing solutions, reducing reliance on professional developers as intermediaries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate connects flows to specific data sources, preventing the creation of reusable flows that can easily be applied to multiple dynamic connections, unlike SPD workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The document emphasizes that citizen developers can manage many tasks that would otherwise require professional developers, reducing the need for a larger and more expensive development team.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The document stresses the importance of transitioning to Power Automate as soon as possible to avoid facing deadlines and potential data loss associated with the deprecation of SPD workflows, which will ultimately cease to be supported.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Despite its limitations, Power Automate is recommended over SPD workflows due to its ongoing development by Microsoft, wider data access capabilities, and increased functionality, even though migrating requires manual effort and potential workarounds for some features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The document suggests using a Service Account with a premium license for general HTTP calls because Power Automate requires a premium license for web service calls outside of SharePoint.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The document suggests that Power Automate is a broader and more advanced platform than SPD workflows by highlighting its ability to access a wider range of data sources and its greater functionality beyond SharePoint.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because Citizen Developers can handle tasks themselves instead of waiting for professional developers, the turnaround time is significantly reduced.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Standard connectors are included in Power Automate's basic licensing, while premium connectors require additional licensing for their use. Standard connectors connect to readily available data sources, whereas premium connectors allow access to more specialized, potentially sensitive data sources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Seeded licenses are Power Automate features integrated into other Microsoft 365 licenses (like those for Office 365). They offer a basic level of Power Automate functionality, often including standard connectors, without requiring additional Power Automate-specific purchases.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>While the Power Automate free license allows accessing standard connectors, it restricts access to premium connectors and data sources that often necessitate separate licensing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Microsoft 365 licenses typically include 'seeded' Power Automate features, providing access to standard connectors and basic functionalities. Additionally, many data sources, like SharePoint, are accessible within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Apps and Power Automate are both part of the Microsoft Power Platform, a suite of tools designed for low-code/no-code development. Microsoft 365 licenses often include 'seeded' versions of Power Apps and Power Automate, allowing Microsoft 365 users to leverage these tools within their existing ecosystem.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cloud flows operate completely within the cloud, connecting to various services and applications online. Desktop flows, on the other hand, are designed to interact with user interfaces on a user's local computer, automating repetitive tasks within Windows or web applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Business process flows provide a structured, pre-defined sequence of steps for completing complex tasks. Unlike standard automated workflows, they guide human users through a process, ensuring consistency and compliance with established procedures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Seeded licenses usually offer limited access to premium connectors, advanced features like desktop flows, and may disallow using on-premises data gateways. These features typically require standalone Power Automate licenses or specific add-ons.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>On-premises data gateways act as bridges between cloud-based Power Automate flows and data sources residing on local computers or servers. They enable Power Automate to securely access and process data that is not publicly accessible on the internet.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Power Platform environment provides a dedicated space for storing and managing Power Automate flows, Power Apps, and related Dataverse tables. It allows for isolation, version control, and the organization of different components and users.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Microsoft Dataverse serves as a cloud-based data store that can be accessed and utilized by Power Automate flows. It provides a robust platform for storing, managing, and manipulating data that can be integrated into various automated workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Factors like the type and complexity of workflows, the specific data sources used (standard or premium), the number of users, and the presence of on-premises data all influence the choice of Power Automate license. Balancing functionality, cost, and regulatory compliance is crucial.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The free Power Automate license offers a low-cost entry point for experimentation and learning but severely limits access to essential features. It restricts access to premium connectors, restricts the number of flows and runs, and limits the ability to interact with data sources requiring additional licensing. While beneficial for beginners, it falls short in real-world scenarios requiring more extensive automation capabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Each Microsoft 365 or Dynamics 365 tenant includes a default environment with limited storage capacity. Creating additional environments and expanding storage capacity often require purchasing additional licenses or plans, as storage limits directly affect the number of flows and data storage capacity available within the Power Platform environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Seeded Power Automate licenses offer a cost-effective advantage as they leverage existing Microsoft 365 subscriptions. They provide access to standard connectors and basic automation features, making them suitable for simple workflows and integrations within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. However, they lack access to advanced features like desktop flows, premium connectors, and on-premises data gateways, limiting functionality for more complex or specialized use cases. Their inclusivity within Microsoft 365 makes them readily available for basic automation needs, but their limitations may necessitate an upgrade to more comprehensive Power Automate licenses for greater flexibility and functionality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The ability to trigger desktop flows from a cloud flow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It doesn't allow triggering desktop flows from cloud flows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'per-flow' license covers multiple users running a single flow, whereas the 'per-user' licenses allow a single user to run multiple flows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Five.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Attended flows run on a user's computer, requiring their interaction, while unattended flows run on a remote computer or virtual machine without user intervention.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An add-on license for each computer (bot) where the unattended flows are executed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pay-as-you-go charges are incurred only for the months when premium licensed applications or flows are actually used, whereas the traditional model requires an annual commitment regardless of usage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides the billing mechanism for tracking and charging usage of premium licensed applications and flows within a Power Platform environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides a baseline storage capacity for Dataverse data, with additional usage charged separately per GB.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The use of premium connectors in cloud and desktop flows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides full functionality of paid licenses, including access to premium connectors, except for the creation of additional environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The creation of flows triggered by actions within a Power Virtual Agents (PVA) bot.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The flows must be triggered by actions within the PVA bot and cannot be triggered from other sources, such as Power Apps or other applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Through a Microsoft 365 global admin requesting a trial license on the Billing page of the Microsoft 365 admin center or by signing up for a trial directly through the Power Automate website using the 'Start free' button.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Users must have a work or school account.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The most appropriate license would be a Dynamics 365 Enterprise, Professional, or Team Member license. These licenses come with a seeded Power Automate license that permits modifying and extending Dynamics 365, including the use of the Dataverse connector.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Dataverse connector, despite being included with the Dynamics 365 seeded license, cannot be used to create a separate CRM system. Essentially, it cannot replace existing Dynamics 365 functionality to avoid licensing costs. For instance, you cannot build a CRM system based on a less expensive Dynamics 365 Team Member license using the Dataverse connector.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Related Power Apps' refer to Power Automate flows that directly support and expand the functionality of a specific Power App. This includes flows triggered by the Power App or those triggered automatically, such as on a schedule, when a new file is added, or if the flow operates on the same data source as the Power App. With a Power Apps license, these 'related Power Apps' flows gain access to premium connectors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A 'per-user' Power Apps license grants unlimited application access for a single user. A 'per-app' license allows a user to run a single application shared with them. Both models include Power Automate use rights. For 'per-user' licenses, these rights cover all flows, while for 'per-app' licenses, access is limited to flows directly triggered by the specific application.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate standalone plans are needed when Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, or Power Apps licensing doesn't cover the required capabilities. One scenario is automating business processes that don't directly relate to a Power App, such as using a 'per-user' Power Automate plan without RPA. Another is incorporating RPA features using desktop flows, requiring the 'per-user with RPA' plan.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>RPA stands for Robotic Process Automation. In Power Automate, desktop flows are associated with RPA, allowing automation of tasks involving interactions with desktop applications. The &quot;per-user with RPA&quot; Power Automate standalone plan is specifically designed for this purpose, providing access to desktop flow capabilities for automating desktop-based processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>For scenarios like collecting data and generating reports without a dedicated Power App, the appropriate standalone Power Automate plan would be the 'per-user without RPA' plan. This plan provides access to Power Automate functionalities without the RPA features associated with desktop flows, making it suitable for general-purpose automation tasks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>For automating repetitive tasks with desktop applications like form filling, data extraction, and data copying, the appropriate Power Automate standalone plan would be the 'per-user with RPA' plan. This plan specifically includes access to desktop flows, the mechanism for automating processes within desktop applications, making it ideal for tasks that involve interaction with these applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'per-flow' Power Automate standalone plan focuses on individual flows rather than entire users. It's particularly advantageous when an organization has specific, isolated automation needs without a broad requirement for user-level access to Power Automate. Imagine a situation where a single, complex business process requires automation. Utilizing the 'per-flow' plan can cost-effectively automate this flow without assigning a full Power Automate license to each user involved in the process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Microsoft 365 seeded license for Power Automate provides basic capabilities and allows for custom connections, but limitations apply, including not having RPA or access to premium connectors. A Power Automate 'per-user' plan without RPA offers more robust features, including access to premium connectors, but it does not include RPA functionality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An organization could use a Power Apps per-user license for individuals who need to develop and interact with Power Apps, while simultaneously using a Power Automate 'per-user' plan without RPA for those who need to automate processes not directly tied to a Power App. This scenario allows for granular licensing based on specific user needs and workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Key considerations include the specific automation needs, whether RPA features are required, the types of connectors needed (standard, premium, or custom), and whether the automation is primarily related to Power Apps. If these needs exceed what the other licensing models offer, a Power Automate standalone plan may be necessary.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Combining a Power Apps per-user license with a Power Automate 'per-user with RPA' plan can be an effective strategy for organizations with extensive Power Automate usage. This combination provides access to all Power Automate features, including premium connectors and RPA capabilities, catering to diverse automation needs within the organization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>With 'per-app' Power Apps licenses, access to premium connectors through Power Automate is limited to flows directly triggered by the specific application. In contrast, 'per-user' licenses grant broader access to premium connectors for all flows, regardless of the triggering application. This restriction can limit functionality and flexibility for 'per-app' license users.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cloud flows operate within the Power Automate cloud and are triggered by events or actions in the cloud, while desktop flows automate desktop-based processes, interacting with applications and UI elements on a user's computer. Desktop flows are directly associated with RPA functionality, allowing for the automation of tasks involving interactions with desktop applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An organization could use a Power Apps 'per-app' license for specific applications that need access to premium connectors, while employing a Power Automate 'per-flow' standalone plan for isolated automation tasks. This approach enables cost savings by only licensing the necessary Power Automate flows instead of assigning a 'per-user' plan to each user.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To outline a repeatable set of tasks, often divided into stages, that can be followed to ensure a consistent and high-quality outcome.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Only a Power Automate trial with premium features allows access to premium connectors and advanced automation capabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Microsoft 365 trials are limited to 30 days and cannot be renewed, which restricts the duration of any associated Power Automate trial.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Template flows provide a pre-configured starting point, simplifying the process of building a flow and reducing the initial effort required.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Authorization ensures that the flow has the necessary permissions to access the connected services, such as OneDrive, and perform the desired actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Clicking the 'Save' button in the upper-left corner of the flow editor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To illustrate how to utilize a basic Power Automate template flow, from initial setup through connection authorization to final flow execution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Using the &quot;Try free&quot; link on the Power Automate website or by clicking the &quot;Go Premium&quot; link within Power Automate Desktop.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Work or school accounts are required to access and utilize premium features, including premium connectors, within a Power Automate trial.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Microsoft 365 Business Basic is considered the most cost-effective option for long-term use beyond the 30-day trial period.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides access to pre-built template flows that can be used as starting points for creating automated workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It allows users to quickly and easily create a basic automated workflow that performs a specific task, eliminating the need for complex manual configurations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The slash symbol (/) serves as a separator within the folder path, indicating the hierarchy of folders and files involved in the flow's actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides access to the flow's description and related details, enabling users to navigate back to the flow's overview.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Users need to sign in to authorize the connections, granting the flow specific permissions to access and interact with the connected service.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Users need to click the 'Save' button in the upper-left corner of the flow editor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Work or school accounts provide access to premium features, such as premium connectors, within a Power Automate trial.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two main types of Power Automate licenses discussed are the per-user trial license and the Power Apps Developer Plan. The trial license is temporary, lasting up to 90 days, and offers access to premium features. The Developer Plan is free, doesn't expire, and provides access to all premium features but is restricted to development and learning purposes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The primary limitation of the Developer Plan is that it only provides a single developer environment. This environment cannot be used for production applications or flows, limiting its use to learning and development. Users must move their applications to a different environment to use them in production.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Windows operating systems include a license for Power Automate Desktop (PAD), which allows users to run attended desktop flows. This license does not cover unattended flows or desktop flows triggered from cloud flows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The two primary components of a Power Automate cloud flow are triggers and actions. Triggers initiate a flow by responding to specific events or user actions, while actions carry out the tasks within the flow based on the trigger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Webhook triggers fire immediately upon the occurrence of an event, while polling triggers check for changes at regular intervals, potentially delaying the flow execution. This difference affects the timeliness and responsiveness of the flow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>This statement highlights the importance of allowing sufficient time for polling triggers to activate during testing. Failure to observe this timeframe may lead to erroneous assumptions about flow functionality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author states that Power Automate is constantly evolving, which can make it challenging to keep up with new features and best practices. He advises users to be adaptive by relying on core principles and understanding the building blocks of Power Automate rather than focusing solely on specific &quot;recipes.&quot;</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding the configurations of triggers and actions is crucial for ensuring the proper execution of a flow. These configurations allow users to tailor the triggers and actions to their specific needs and data sources, ensuring accurate and efficient workflow execution.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Impersonation in SPD 2010 workflows allows workflows to execute tasks with the permissions of a specific user. While Power Automate does not directly use impersonation, the concept is relevant because it highlights the importance of using service accounts or delegate access for tasks requiring elevated permissions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The three listed types of cloud flows are automated, manual, and scheduled flows. Automated flows are triggered by specific events, manual flows are initiated by user interaction, and scheduled flows are executed at predetermined intervals.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author recommends that users familiarize themselves with the Power Automate connectors, which are the building blocks for connecting to various data sources and services.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The &quot;seeded license&quot; refers to a pre-existing Power Automate license that may be included with other Microsoft products, such as Microsoft 365 or Dynamics. This license often limits access to premium features but can be a starting point for users with existing Microsoft licenses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The author highlights the challenge of needing to use service accounts or delegate access when workflows require elevated permissions. This is because Power Automate security limitations restrict the use of personal accounts for such tasks.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An action performs specific tasks such as creating, updating, retrieving, or deleting information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Connectors provide access to triggers and actions specific to data sources, facilitating interaction with those sources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Automated cloud flows are triggered by events in a data source, such as an email arrival or record modification.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Instant cloud flows are triggered manually by user actions, while automated flows occur automatically based on events.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Scheduled cloud flows run automatically at set intervals or specific times, based on a recurrence trigger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Desktop flows and business process flows represent advanced automation capabilities within Power Automate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To use premium connectors, users must possess a license that includes these features.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Conditional actions evaluate results from previous actions to determine which subsequent actions to execute.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Desktop flows automate repetitive desktop tasks where no appropriate connector exists.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Automated cloud flows enable automation of processes without human intervention, increasing efficiency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cloud flow instances will time out after running for 30 days.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The first step involves selecting the type of flow to create based on the desired triggering mechanism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Each action takes input from the previous action, processes it, and outputs information for subsequent actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A user must provide a work or school account to sign up for a Power Apps Developer Plan.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Sharing a flow prompts the user to start a trial.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By selecting their developer environment in the Environments drop-down.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The trial has time limits that may hinder comprehensive learning.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides free access to learn Power Automate without time constraints.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Navigate to the Power Apps website, click 'Try free', and fill in your work or school email.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They should enter their work or school email address and password.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To minimize repeated requests for providing user information.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate allows for greater flexibility and integration across applications.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They must understand the necessary background information and license requirements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Prebuilt templates serve as the easiest starting point for building flows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Having the right credentials to access the Developer environment is essential.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It navigates the user to the Power Apps Designer for further use.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The action 'Start and wait for an approval' is synchronous, meaning the flow pauses until all approvals are received before proceeding. 'Create an approval' is asynchronous, allowing the flow to continue without waiting for responses until the action 'Wait for an approval' is processed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because the 'Outcome' typically holds a comma-separated list of responses from all approvers. If any approver rejects the document, the approval process stops accumulating further responses. Therefore, checking for 'Reject' ensures accurate evaluation of the condition.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It allows users to create flows using everyday language interpreted by AI. However, it currently only supports English and works best with flows involving Microsoft products and connectors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Modified by Email' retrieves the email address of the person who last modified a file, which is used as the recipient of the email notification about the approval status.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Markdown formatting allows users to structure and enrich the text of the approval request, making it more readable and informative for the approvers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It evaluates logical statements and executes different branches of the flow depending on whether the condition is true or false. In the example, it checks the 'Outcome' of the approval to determine whether to send an approval or rejection email.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Since there's one manager per user, this type ensures the approval process is completed when the first manager responds, simplifying the workflow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It specifies the person responsible for approving or rejecting the request. In this instance, the dynamic content entry 'Get Manager (v2)' is recommended to automatically determine the relevant manager.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To send different email notifications depending on the outcome of the approval. One email is sent if the status report is approved, and another if it is rejected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides a list of predefined and dynamic values that can be used within various actions of a flow, allowing for dynamic behavior and customization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A synchronous action pauses the flow until it is completed, while an asynchronous action allows the flow to continue without waiting for it to finish.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides a short and descriptive title for the approval request. Clear and informative text, like 'Status Report Approval,' is generally preferred.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides a brief description of the request to inform the approver about the reason for the approval. It helps the approver make an informed decision and understand the context of the request.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Because the free license does not provide access to certain data sources or API calls, requiring the use of these accounts for extended functionality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Other actions, like sending notifications, updating data sources, or triggering other flows, could potentially be added to each branch to manage the approval outcome further.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Office 365 version of Visio with a Plan 2 license is required to create Power Automate templates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Using Visio allows you to create a flowchart of the flow's logic without needing to provide specific details about each action, making the process more streamlined and less time-consuming than directly creating the flow in Power Automate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The BPMN Basic Shapes stencil provides a set of pre-defined shapes representing different elements of a Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) flowchart.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You are instructed to create a Business Process Modeling Notation (BPMN) flowchart.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You can export the Visio workflow as a template and then import it into Power Automate</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It can provide a starting point for building flows when you know what you want to accomplish but don’t know how to start.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The suggested flow still needs a lot of manual work to be fully functional, including filling in fields and details, and the AI may not always suggest the most efficient or accurate flow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Planning helps avoid restructuring the flow later, which can be very time-consuming.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Planning with Visio allows you to focus on the flow's structure without the need to provide detailed action information, while the flow designer requires you to do so.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Visualizing a flow using Visio is particularly useful for collaborating with others or working with a client, helping everyone understand the flow's structure and logic.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Triggers initiate a flow based on specific events, while actions represent tasks that can be executed in response to those triggers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The free license often has limitations on the number of flows you can create and the number of operations you can perform within those flows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Dynamic content allows users to insert variable data at runtime, facilitating the customization of triggers and actions according to specific needs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Cloud flows are triggered by events from a cloud service, while desktop flows are triggered from a user's desktop.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An on-premises data gateway provides a secure and reliable connection between Power Automate and on-premises data sources, enabling access to data that is not accessible directly from the cloud.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Users can modify the settings of triggers and actions to alter their operational behavior under different conditions and requirements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>JSON is used to format and reference dynamic content, enabling the structured exchange of data between different components of Power Automate workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Seeded licenses are often included as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription and are considered basic, providing limited functionality compared to standalone licenses.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Grasping the core mechanics empowers users to create more versatile and innovative workflows, rather than being limited to predefined recipes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The trigger must be changed from 'For a selected file' to 'When a file is created (properties only)'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>'Get my profile' action needs to be removed.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By using the expression <code>first(triggerBody()?['value'])?['ID']</code> in the Id field.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The User Principal Name (UPN) field must be changed to 'Modified by email'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It removes necessary data elements for later actions and alters the flow's security context.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Templates provide valuable examples and foundational actions useful for building customized flows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>To ensure the flow properly responds to scenarios where the expected file may not be present.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Triggers now fire for each individual file rather than using an array of files.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The key challenge is finding a template that fits the exact scenario you want to accomplish.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'To' field must be updated to 'Modified by email'.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>They may include outdated triggers and actions that do not correspond with the current functionality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It uses a manual trigger.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You can narrow down your search by using the search box or sorting by popularity, name, or publish date.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Change the name of the flow to 'Request manager approval modified' and click Save.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Each card shows the trigger, connections, a descriptive title, the creator, the type of flow, and usage statistics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>By analyzing the actions and patterns used in templates to inform their flow design.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You should wait for the list of connections to authenticate and check for green check marks next to each connection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It provides access to variables and actions relevant to the flow's current context.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Log in to <a href="https://make.powerautomate.com">https://make.powerautomate.com</a> and select the Templates tab.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Consider the impact of the change on the flow's logic and necessary data elements.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Templates often do not provide a perfect match for every scenario, requiring users to modify them.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The description provides additional context and details on what the template does, aiding in selection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>It signifies that each connection has been successfully authenticated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Categories are predefined groupings like Top picks, Remote work, and Approvals that help organize templates.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You must click 'Save' in the upper-right corner to save your completed flow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>No additional information is needed; it uses regional settings and device location as inputs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Follow the specific guidance provided in Chapter 4 for troubleshooting.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Templates are categorized into groups like Approval, Data collection, and Remote work.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Older templates may not function as expected due to changes in triggers and actions that have occurred since they were created.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An automated trigger ensures the flow runs automatically each time a specified condition, like a file upload, is met.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Creating a flow with deprecated actions can result in instability and potential failure of the automated processes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You would create a flow from scratch if no template matches your specific scenario or if the available templates use deprecated actions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Understanding each action allows users to troubleshoot issues and modify flows effectively when they break.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>First, navigate to the My flows tab and select 'Automated cloud flow' from the '+ New flow' drop-down.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The flow sends an approval request to the manager of the person who uploaded the status report.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You type relevant keywords in the 'Search all triggers' field to find and select the appropriate trigger, like 'When a file is created.'</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>After creating a trigger, you must add at least one action to the flow to enable saving it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The first action is typically to identify and select the manager of the person uploading the status report using the 'Get manager' action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'Modified By Email' entry is used as the input for the 'Get manager' action to identify who the report uploader's manager is.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Many people use templates as opaque code, creating flows without understanding the underlying actions and triggers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Thinking through a scenario helps outline necessary steps and ensures that the flow addresses all required tasks sequentially.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Using current, non-deprecated triggers and actions in the flow guarantees stability and reliability.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Labeling tasks provides clarity on the actions and triggers represented in the flow, ensuring accurate mapping in Power Automate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Export panel allows users to select shapes in the Visio diagram and associate them with specific triggers and actions in Power Automate.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You must click the Export button, confirm the flow name, and wait for the connectors to authenticate before creating the flow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The trigger defines the starting point of the flow, and choosing the correct one ensures that the workflow initiates accurately based on the intended event.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Positioning these icons visually defines the outcomes of conditions, guiding users to understand the approval or rejection paths in the flow.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>You need to sign in and edit the imported flow to fill in any additional details required for its operation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mapping enhances precision by directly linking visual elements to functional actions, allowing for an intuitive workflow creation process.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gateways represent decision points in the workflow, allowing for conditional paths based on specified criteria.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ensuring there are no issues guarantees a smooth export process, minimizing the risk of errors that could impede the flow's functionality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Selecting specific actions allows for targeted automation that aligns with organizational processes, enhancing workflow efficiency.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The Search box simplifies the identification of relevant connectors and actions, saving time and improving accuracy in the flow configuration.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Triggering the correct actions ensures that the flow behaves as intended, responding accurately to the decision paths established in the diagram.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Using shapes in Visio provides a visual framework that simplifies the understanding and planning of automation workflows.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A successful export facilitates the automated execution of previously manual processes, improving efficiency and reducing human error.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Citizen developers are non-technical employees who create applications using low-code/no-code platforms like Power Automate. They differ from professional developers in that they have business knowledge but lack formal programming training. Citizen developers leverage pre-built components and visual interfaces to automate tasks, whereas professional developers write code in complex languages for custom solutions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A sales representative could use Power Automate to automatically consolidate monthly sales reports received as Excel attachments into a single, comprehensive report. They would configure a flow that triggers when new emails arrive with attachments, extracts data from the Excel files, combines the information, and generates a final email report to send to senior management.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate allows organizations to automate tasks, reduce manual efforts, and streamline processes. In today's digital economy, businesses rely heavily on data processing and efficiency. Power Automate empowers organizations to respond to this need by eliminating bottlenecks and improving productivity without requiring extensive coding expertise.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Low-code/no-code development utilizes visual interfaces and pre-built components, allowing non-programmers to create applications. Traditional software development requires professional programmers with coding skills to write code in languages like C# or JavaScript.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate's extensive data source integration allows users to automate tasks across various systems and applications. This enables seamless workflow automation, regardless of where data resides, making it a versatile solution for businesses with complex data environments.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate desktop flows provide a mechanism to interact with legacy systems that lack modern APIs or connectors. They can automate tasks by mimicking user interactions on traditional application interfaces, enabling automation of older systems.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The other four applications within the Microsoft Power Platform are:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Power Apps:</strong> Enables building custom applications accessible across devices.</li> <li> <strong>Power BI:</strong> Creates data-driven reports and visualizations for business intelligence.</li> <li> <strong>Power Virtual Agents:</strong> Builds chatbots for customer and employee interaction.</li> <li> <strong>Power Pages:</strong> Creates websites to showcase business data to internal or external users.</li> </ul> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Connectors in Power Automate act as bridges between the platform and different data sources, enabling the automation of tasks across various systems. This flexibility allows users to connect to a wide range of applications and services, expanding the potential for workflow automation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate offers a cost-effective, simpler solution compared to traditional development. Citizen developers can easily build and manage automation workflows without requiring specialized programming skills, reducing reliance on scarce developer resources.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Examples of business processes that can be automated using Power Automate include:</p> <ol> <li> <strong>Customer Service:</strong> Automate email responses to frequently asked questions, trigger notifications for customer issues, and gather feedback surveys.</li> <li> <strong>Finance:</strong> Reconcile bank statements automatically, generate expense reports, and track project budgets.</li> <li> <strong>Marketing:</strong> Automate social media posting schedules, generate email newsletters based on customer profiles, and analyze campaign performance.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

<p>While Power Automate excels for many tasks, limitations exist for heavily customized, data-intensive, or security-sensitive workflows. Complex processes might require coding expertise that falls outside the scope of Power Automate's low-code capabilities.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The ability to customize connectors expands the range of systems that can be integrated with Power Automate, addressing scenarios where pre-built connectors are unavailable or insufficient. This empowers organizations to automate workflows involving unique or proprietary applications, further extending the platform's usefulness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Power Automate could automate inventory management in a manufacturing company by connecting to various systems (like ERP software and warehouse systems). This would enable automated tasks such as: tracking stock levels, triggering purchase orders when inventory falls below a threshold, and notifying stakeholders of stockouts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The integration of Power Automate with Power BI allows users to automatically generate reports and dashboards from data collected and processed by their workflows. This creates a seamless data pipeline for business intelligence, simplifying analysis and decision-making.</p> Signup and view all the answers