How to Learn Microsoft Power Automate - Full Tutorial (2022)

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide on how to learn Microsoft Power Automate. By following these steps, you will understand how to create automated workflows, utilize templates, and leverage AI Builder to process data efficiently. This tutorial is suitable for beginners and those looking to enhance their automation skills.

Step 1: Install and Set Up Power Automate

• Go to the Office website and log in with your Microsoft account.
• Navigate to Power Automate from the Office applications.
• Familiarize yourself with the interface, including the dashboard and the "My Flows" section.

Step 2: Create Your First Automated Cloud Flow

• Start by selecting "Create" from the left-hand menu.
• Choose "Automated cloud flow" to set up a flow that triggers on receiving an email with attachments.
• Set up the trigger:
  • Use the "When a new email arrives" action.
  • Specify conditions if necessary (e.g., filter by sender or subject).
• Add the "Apply to each" action to handle multiple attachments:
  • Use the output from the email trigger as the input for this action.
• Inside the "Apply to each" action, add the "Create file" action:
  • Select OneDrive for Business as the file storage.
  • Specify the folder where attachments should be saved.

Step 3: Explore Power Automate Templates

• Click on the "Templates" section to access pre-built flows.
• Browse through categories or search for specific templates relevant to your needs.
• Open a template to see how it works and the actions used.
• Use templates as a learning resource to understand how to structure your own flows.

Step 4: Understand Different Flow Types

• Learn about various flow types:
  • Automated Cloud Flows: Triggered by events (e.g., receiving an email).
  • Instant Cloud Flows: Manually triggered by user action.
  • Scheduled Flows: Runs at specified times or intervals.
  • Business Process Flows: Designed involving human input.
  • RPA with Power Automate Desktop: Automates tasks on your desktop.

Step 5: Work with Dates and Times

• Use the "Current time" and "Convert time zone" actions to manage date and time in your flows.
• Create dynamic file names by formatting date and time:
  • This ensures that every file saved has a unique name.

Step 6: Utilize AI Builder for Document Processing

• Access the AI Builder feature in Power Automate.
• Create a flow that processes documents such as invoices:
  • Start with a trigger (e.g., when a new document is uploaded).
  • Use the "Extract information from invoices" action.
• Ensure the Excel file where data will be saved is formatted as a table:
  • This is crucial for data to be correctly processed and stored.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you learned how to set up Microsoft Power Automate, create automated flows, explore templates, understand different flow types, manage dates and times, and utilize the AI Builder for document processing. For further learning, consider experimenting with more complex flows or joining online communities such as Discord to connect with other automation enthusiasts. Happy automating!