Workflow logs in Microsoft Power Platform are records or data sets that allow you to track and analyze the performance of a particular system. Workflow logs maintain chronological records of events related to task automations within a workflow. They provide deep insights into the status, errors, start and end times of any action or process within the system.
Management and Use of Workflow Logs
Workflow logs are crucial during investigations to troubleshoot performance issues or unexpected behavior within a workflow. Understanding how to access, analyze, and interpret workflow logs is an essential part of functioning as a Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant.
To access workflow logs in Power Platform, proceed to the desired workflow and click on the workflow’s name. Scroll to the bottom of the workflow information page. There, a list of associated logs appears, providing detailed information about various operations that occurred as part of this workflow.
In case of troubleshooting, logs can be filtered based on specific criteria to quickly and easily locate any issues or errors. These logs offer precise insights into the occurrence of any issue, along with the details regarding the time of occurrence and the steps leading up to the problem.
Retention and Cleanup of Workflow Logs
It’s also crucial to consider the retention and cleanup of workflow logs. Over time, logs can accumulate and consume valuable storage space. Microsoft Dynamics 365 allows you to set retention policies for these logs based on your needs.
Go to ‘Settings’, then ‘Data Management’, and finally to ‘Data Cleanup’. From here, you can define how long you want to keep your workflow logs. For example, you may choose to retain logs for errors but delete logs for successful executions after a certain period. Remember, the deletion of logs is a permanent action and cannot be undone.
Keeping Your System Optimized
Regularly monitoring and managing your workflow logs can help maintain an efficient, optimized system. It aids easy troubleshooting, reduces storage costs, and enhances user experience. As you prepare for PL-200 Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant exam, remember the importance of workflow logs, and practice examining them effectively.
This is a comprehensive guide to managing workflow logs in the Microsoft Power Platform. Hopefully, the insights and techniques shared above provide tangible ways to maintain workflow logs, ensure system optimization, and adequately prepare for the PL-200 Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant exam.
Practice Test
True/False: The system logs of Power Automate can be viewed in the Power Automate admin center.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The logs can be accessed in Power Automate admin center for deeper analysis and troubleshooting.
Which of the following can you utilize to manage workflow logs in Power Automate?
- a. Flow run history
- b. Errors and warnings
- c. Alerts
- d. User activity
- e. Usage analytics
Answer: a, b, c
Explanation: Flow run history, errors and warnings, and alerts are all parts of the logging capabilities offered in Power Automate, providing crucial monitoring and troubleshooting resources.
In Power Automate, workflow logs can be exported to which of the following?
- a. Excel
- b. PDF
- c. Word
- d. All of the above
Answer: a
Explanation: Workflow logs can be exported directly to Excel only, not to PDF or Word.
True/False: Workflow logs automatically delete themselves after 90 days.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: In Power Automate, workflow logs are automatically purged after 90 days.
Which tool can be used to analyze Power Automate workflow logs across different environments?
- a. Power BI
- b. Power Query
- c. Power Platform
- d. Power Apps
Answer: a
Explanation: Power BI offers powerful data analytics capabilities, enabling users to analyze workflow logs across different environments.
True/False: Workflow logs can be used to troubleshoot failed flows.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Workflow logs provide detailed information about each run of the flow, which can be used to troubleshoot failed flows.
Can log retention period be customized in Power Automate?
- a. Yes
- b. No
Answer: b
Explanation: Power Automate has a fixed 90-day log retention period which cannot be customized.
What is the maximum number of runs that can be viewed in the Run History of Power Automate?
- a. 10
- b. 28
- c. 100
- d. 500
Answer: c
Explanation: The Run History in Power Automate shows the last 100 runs of the flow.
True/False: All user activities in Power Automate are logged and can be audited.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Power Automate logs all user activities which can be used for audit purposes.
Multiple Select: Which of the following are Logs Inspection Tools provided by Microsoft.
- a. Azure Monitor
- b. Power BI
- c. Log Analytics
- d. Datadog
Answer: a, b, c
Explanation: Azure Monitor, Power BI, and Log Analytics are monitoring and analytics tools provided by Microsoft. Datadog is not a Microsoft product.
Interview Questions
What is the purpose of workflow logs in Microsoft Power Automate?
Workflow logs provide detailed information about the execution of workflows, including when they start and complete, any errors that occurred, and the values of variables during execution.
How can you access the workflow log for a specific flow in Power Automate?
You can access the workflow logs by going to Power Automate, selecting “My Flows”, clicking on the specific flow, and then selecting the “Run history” tab.
Can you delete workflow logs in Microsoft Power Automate?
Yes, it’s possible to manually delete workflow logs. However, these logs also automatically delete after 30 days for flows in an environment and 28 days for flows owned by individual users.
How can you troubleshoot a flow that failed using workflow logs?
By examining the detailed error messages and trace information in the workflow logs, you can identify the step where the flow failed, and understand the reason for the failure.
Is it possible to export workflow logs?
Yes, the logs of a single run from the run history can be downloaded in .csv or .json format for further analysis or archiving purposes.
What kind of information can you obtain from the workflow log?
Workflow logs can provide details like the start and end times of the runs, actions triggered, any errors that occurred during execution, and the inputs and outputs of each step.
How are workflow logs useful for administrators?
Workflow logs allow administrators to monitor and troubleshoot flows, identify any issues or errors, and assess overall performance and efficiency of the workflows.
Is there any cost associated with storing workflow logs in Power Automate?
Yes, storing workflow logs consumes your Power Automate capacity. Therefore, it’s recommended to delete unnecessary logs to manage your capacity.
Can the workflow logs be integrated with other monitoring tools?
Yes, Power Automate provides built-in integration with Azure Application Insights, enabling administrators to send workflow logs to App Insights for advanced analysis and reporting.
Are workflow logs available for all types of flows in Power Automate?
Yes, workflow logs are available for all types of flows including automated, instant, and scheduled flows.