Create and manage cloud flows

In this post, we will delve deeper into how to efficiently develop and handle cloud flows using the Power Platform’s capabilities.

1. Creating Cloud Flows

To get started with creating cloud flows, you need to follow the steps below:

• Navigate to the Power Automate home page.
• Click on “+ Create”
• Select “Automated cloud flow”
• Provide a name for your cloud flow, then select the trigger you want to use and click “Create”.

It’s important to define clearly what will trigger your flow.

2. Understanding Triggers

Triggers are the starting point of any cloud flow. They are a specific event which instigates the flow.

For example, you can have a simple trigger such as “When an email arrives”, or a more complex one such as “When an item in a SharePoint list is modified”. The robust list of available triggers gives you flexibility in creating custom cloud flows tailored to your business needs.

3. Building Actions

Once your trigger is defined, you need to identify what the flow should do – this is known as an action. Actions are tasks that are performed when your flow is triggered.

To add an action to your Cloud Flow:

• Click on “+ New Step”.
• Select “Add an action”.
• In the search box, type the action you want to use, then select it from the drop-down menu.
• Fill in any necessary details for your selected action.

An action could range from sending a notification via email to creating a new item in a SharePoint list.

4. Using Expressions and Dynamic Content

In cloud flows, expressions serve as a way to manipulate or evaluate data. On the other hand, dynamic content allows you to use data passed from previous steps in your current action.

Expressions are essential when creating more complex flows. For example, you can create an expression to calculate the days between two dates or to manipulate a string of text. Dynamic content would then allow you to use the result of that expression in later steps in your flow.

5. Saving and Testing Your Cloud Flow

After you’ve completed setting up your triggers and actions, you need to save your cloud flow.

You also have the option of testing your cloud flow to make sure it functions as expected. You can either manually trigger the flow or use data from previous flow runs for testing.

6. Managing Cloud Flows

After a cloud flow has been created, you can manage it from the Power Automate home page. Here you can see all your flows and their statuses (On/Off), view the history of run flows, edit, delete or share your flows.

In conclusion, understanding how to create and manage cloud flows is vital in optimizing business process automation using the Power Platform. The design of cloud flows includes elements such as easy-to-define triggers and actions, which makes it simplified for developers in the course of their preparation for PL-400 Microsoft Power Platform Developer exams. The ability to incorporate expressions and dynamic content further contributes to the creation of more complex, customized, and dynamic processes.

Practice Test

True or False: Cloud flows in Microsoft Power Platform are used for automation, modeling, and analyzing data across business areas.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Cloud flows in the Microsoft Power Platform allow users to automate, model, and analyze data across their different business areas, making them ideal for process automation.

What is the main purpose of cloud flows in Microsoft Power Platform?

• A. Automation of business processes.
• B. Analyzing data
• C. Modelling data
• D. Creating apps.

Answer: A. Automation of business processes.

Explanation: Cloud flows in Microsoft Power Platform are primarily used for the automation of business processes throughout different areas of the business.

Which of the following you need to manage a cloud flow?

• A. Power BI
• B. Power Automate
• C. Power Apps
• D. Charts

Answer: B. Power Automate

Explanation: Power Automate is a part of the Microsoft Power Platform that is specifically designed for creating and managing cloud flows.

True or False: Microsoft Power Platform Cloud flows cannot interact with other systems using APIs.

• True
• False

Answer: False.

Explanation: Cloud flows can interact with other systems and databases using APIs. They support multiple connectivity options including REST APIs and OData.

True or False: Testing your cloud flow is not necessary, as Microsoft Power Platform automatically handles any errors.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Although Microsoft Power Platform does handle many errors, it’s essential to test your cloud flow to ensure it works as expected.

When do you have to use cloud flows in Power Automate?

• A. When you want to automate a business process.
• B. When you want to analyze a large amount of data.
• C. When you want to complete a one-time project.
• D. When you want to build complex applications.

Answer: A. When you want to automate a business process.

Explanation: Cloud flows are best suited for automating business processes across different business areas.

True or False: You can share a cloud flow with your colleagues from the same organization.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Cloud flows can be shared with others in the same organization, allowing for team collaboration and process automation.

True or False: Cloud flows can only be triggered manually.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Cloud flows can be set up to run manually, on a schedule, or in response to certain events or triggers.

Which types of triggers can be used in cloud flows?

• A. Manual
• B. Automated
• C. Scheduled
• D. All of the above

Answer: D. All of the above

Explanation: Cloud flows can be set up to be manually triggered, automatically triggered by certain events, or scheduled to run at certain times.

True or False: A cloud flow can only start with one trigger.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Each cloud flow only has one trigger, but it can have multiple actions and conditions after the trigger.

True or False: Cloud flows in Power Automate can’t deal with array data.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: Power Automate allows the use of array data within a cloud flow, with many array functions available to handle such data.

What is the maximum run duration for a single execution of a cloud flow?

• A. 5 minutes
• B. 24 hours
• C. 30 days
• D. 1 hour

Answer: C. 30 days

Explanation: The maximum run duration of a single execution of a cloud flow is 30 days.

True or False: Cloud flows are capable of handling errors and exceptions automatically.

• True
• False

Answer: False

Explanation: While Power Automate provides options for handling errors and exceptions, these have to be defined and implemented in the cloud flow by the developer.

True or False: You can integrate cloud flows with Microsoft Teams.

• True
• False

Answer: True

Explanation: Cloud flows can be integrated with Microsoft Teams, allowing you to automate activities and responses based on Teams data or events.

Which type of cloud flow runs in response to an event?

• A. Manual
• B. Automated
• C. Scheduled
• D. Interactive

Answer: B. Automated

Explanation: Automated cloud flows run in response to an event or a change in data.

Interview Questions

What is Microsoft PowerFlow?

Microsoft PowerFlow (now known as Power Automate) is a service that helps you create automated workflows between your favorite apps and services to synchronize files, get notifications, collect data and more.

What are cloud flows in Microsoft Power Automate?

Cloud flows are automated processes or workflows that run in the cloud. They trigger flows to run on an event, or on a schedule, or as a part of a business process.

What are the three types of cloud flows in Microsoft Power Automate?

The three types of cloud flows are automated, instant, and scheduled. Automated flows are triggered by an event, instant flows are triggered manually, and scheduled flows run at specific times.

How are cloud flows created in Power Automate?

Cloud flows can be created using Power Automate’s visual flow designer, which allows you to select a trigger, and then define the tasks to run once the flow is triggered.

How can a cloud flow be triggered in Power Automate?

A cloud flow can be triggered in different ways depending on the type of flow. Automated flows are triggered by an event, instant flows are triggered manually by a user, and scheduled flows are triggered by a set schedule.

What is the purpose of actions in Power Automate flows?

In Power Automate flows, actions are the operations that follow a trigger. Actions can carry out a wide range of operations including creating a record in a database, sending a notification, or making a REST API call.

What are expressions in Power Automate?

Expressions in Power Automate are a type of formula that can be used to manipulate, or format data within a flow. They can be used in conditions or to configure the input or output of actions.

How can you manage the run history of cloud flows in Power Automate?

The run history of cloud flows in Power Automate can be managed through the “Runs” page in the flow’s details. Here, you will find details of all the runs including the inputs, outputs, and status of each action.

What is a flow checker in Power Automate?

Flow checker in Power Automate is a tool that helps you to validate your flows and find any errors or issues that might impact their performance.

Can flows be exported and imported in Power Automate?

Yes, flows can be exported and imported in Power Automate. Flows are exported as a .zip file which contains the flow definition and other resources used by the flow. They can then be imported into another environment using the Import option in Power Automate.

How can you share a cloud flow in Power Automate?

A cloud flow can be shared in Power Automate by adding others as owners or run-only users. Owners can edit the flow, and run-only users can only run the flow.

What is a connector in Power Automate?

A connector in Power Automate is a proxy or a wrapper around an API that allows the underlying service to talk to Power Automate. Power Automate provides connectors for various Microsoft and non-Microsoft services.

What are premium connectors in Power Automate?

Premium connectors in Power Automate provide access to services and systems that are not available with the standard connectors. They usually offer more advanced features, but require a premium plan to use.

What are expressions in Power Automate?

Expressions in Power Automate are a way to add dynamic content and advanced logic to your flows. They can be used to manipulate values, perform calculations, or work with strings and dates.

Can a cloud flow in Power Automate be tested?

Yes, a cloud flow in Power Automate can be tested. You can either manually trigger the flow using the test feature, or wait for the trigger event to occur naturally.