power automate attach browser with wildcard

Daniel Parker

3 min read

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01-03-2025

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Power Automate's browser automation capabilities are powerful, but sometimes you need to handle files with unpredictable names. This article shows how to use wildcards within Power Automate's "Attach File" action to handle files with varying names, greatly enhancing the flexibility of your automation flows.

Understanding the Challenge: Dynamic File Names

Many automation scenarios involve interacting with web browsers to download or upload files. The problem arises when file names are not consistent. For example, you might download reports named "Sales Report_2024-10-26.pdf" one day and "Sales Report_2024-10-27.pdf" the next. A static file name in your Power Automate flow would fail on the second day. This is where wildcards become crucial.

Solution: Wildcards in the "Attach File" Action

Power Automate's "Attach File" action, typically used within a "Get File Content" or similar action, allows you to specify a file path using wildcards. This enables you to select files even if only part of their name is known.

Here's how it works:

• The Wildcard Character: The asterisk (*) acts as a wildcard. It represents any sequence of characters.
• Example: If your files are always named "Sales Report_YYYY-MM-DD.pdf," you could use Sales Report_*.pdf as your file path. This selects any file starting with "Sales Report_" and ending with ".pdf," regardless of the date.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Start a new Power Automate flow: Begin with a blank flow, choosing the appropriate trigger (e.g., recurring schedule, manual trigger).

2. Add the "Get File Content" Action: This action retrieves the contents of the file from a specified location (this will likely involve using a browser automation action prior to this step to navigate to the download location).

3. Select the File Location: In the "File path" field, enter your path including the wildcard. For example, if the files are downloaded to C:\Downloads\, use C:\Downloads\Sales Report_*.pdf. Ensure this path is accurate; incorrect paths will cause the flow to fail.

4. Handle Multiple Matches: If multiple files match your wildcard, the flow will usually only pick up the first file found. To deal with multiple files, you may need to add additional logic within your flow, such as looping through a list of files obtained using a different method (e.g., listing files in a folder). This depends on how many files you're expecting and whether you need to process all matching files.

5. "Attach File" Action: After retrieving file content, add the "Attach File" action to your email, or other action where you need to include the file. Reference the output of the "Get File Content" action as the source of the file.

Advanced Wildcard Usage & Considerations

• Multiple Wildcards: You can use multiple asterisks within the file name to represent multiple unknown character sequences. For instance, Sales Report_*_*_*.pdf is valid.
• Question Mark Wildcard: The question mark (?) represents a single character. Use this when you know the exact number of characters, but not the characters themselves.
• File Extensions: Always specify the file extension (e.g., .pdf, .xlsx) to avoid accidentally selecting unintended files.
• Error Handling: Incorporate error handling to deal with situations where no files match the wildcard or other unexpected issues during file retrieval.

Example Scenario: Automated Report Attachment

Let's imagine an automation where you need to attach the latest daily sales report to an email. The report is downloaded to your Downloads folder with a name like "Daily Sales Report_20241028.csv".

1. Browser Automation: Use Power Automate's browser automation actions (e.g., "Launch Browser," "Click," "Type") to navigate to the report download page and trigger the download.

2. "Get File Content" Action: Use C:\Users\<YourUserName>\Downloads\Daily Sales Report_*.csv as the file path.

3. "Attach File" Action: Attach the file to your email.

This approach allows the automation to work regardless of the exact date in the file name.

By using wildcards effectively, you can create robust Power Automate flows that handle dynamic file names and data, unlocking new levels of automation for tasks involving web browsers and file management. Remember to carefully plan your wildcard expressions to ensure they accurately target the desired files. Test thoroughly to avoid unintended consequences.