Flow control is an essential aspect of developing a robust and efficient application. It involves managing the order in which the actions within the flow are executed, as well as deciding what to do if an action fails or generates an error. In the context of Microsoft Power Automate RPA, flow control mechanisms help in creating a more responsive and efficient application. In this article, we’ll discuss how to configure flow control in both cloud and desktop flows, with a focus on loops.
Cloud Flows
Conditional Flow Control
The most basic type of flow control in cloud flows is conditional operations. These can be created using the Condition control. Here is an example:
If Value1 > Value2
Then perform Action1
Else
Perform Action2.
The If condition checks whether Value1 is greater than Value2, and if true, Action1 will be executed. If false, Action2 will be executed.
Loop Flow Control
Loops are used in a flow to repeat a set of actions until a particular condition is met. The Do until loop is a popular loop control in cloud flows. Here is an example:
Do until Value1 == 10
Perform Action.
Value1 = Value1 + 1.
In this case, the action will be repeated until Value1 becomes 10.
Error Handling
Error handling is another form of flow control mechanism. It executes a set of actions if an error is found in the flow. Here is an example:
Try
Action1
Catch
if error, then Perform Action2
Here, the Try control executes Action1. If an error is detected during the execution of Action1, then Action2 will be executed.
Desktop Flows
Conditional Flow Control
Just like cloud flows, conditional operations can also be created in desktop flows. Here is an example:
If Value1 == Value2
Then Perform Action1
Else
Perform Action2.
Loop Flow Control
In desktop flows, a popular loop control is the For each loop. Here is an example:
For each item in a list
Perform Action.
Here, the specified action will be performed for each item in the list.
Error Handling
Error handling in desktop flows can be set up using the Try catch control. Here is an example:
Try
Action1
Catch
if error, then Perform Action2
In conclusion, configuring flow control in both cloud and desktop flows, including loops, is critical for creating a responsive and efficient application in Microsoft Power Automate RPA. By understanding how to set up these mechanisms, developers can effectively control the execution order of actions in a flow, making their applications more robust and error-resistant.
Practice Test
True/False: “Flow control” refers to the sequential execution of steps in a flow.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Flow control includes techniques for managing the flow of execution in a cloud or desktop flow, such as loops, conditionals, and switches.
Multiple select: What situations could demand the use of flow control for managing execution? (Select all that apply)
- a. When you want to skip certain steps based on conditions
- b. When you need to create a loop until a certain condition is met
- c. When you want to make your flow look more complex
- d. When you have too many steps in a flow
Answer: a, b, d
Explanation: Flow control is useful when you want to manage execution based on conditions (option a), create loops based on a condition (option b), or break down complex flows into manageable steps (option d). However, it is not used to purposely make the flow complex (option c).
Single Select: Which of the following is NOT a flow control function in Microsoft Power Automate?
- a. If
- b. While
- c. For
- d. And
Answer: d. And
Explanation: In Microsoft Power Automate, If, While, and For are flow control functions whereas “And” is a logical operator, not a flow control function.
True/False: You cannot use loops in a cloud flow in Power Automate.
- True
- False
Answer: False.
Explanation: Loops are one of the methods for managing execution in a cloud flow. They help in iterating over a collection of items, depending on the condition specified.
Single Select: In Microsoft Power Automate, the ‘Do until’ action is used for:
- a. Doing a particular action till a condition is met
- b. Doing a particular action a set number of times
- c. Doing a particular action whenever a condition is no longer met
- d. Doing a particular action once irrespective of conditions
Answer: a. Doing a particular action till a condition is met
Explanation: The ‘Do until’ action in Power Automate is used to perform an action continuously until the specified condition is met.
Multi-Select: Which of the following are parameters for the ‘Do until’ action in Microsoft Power Automate? (Select all that apply)
- a. Limit
- b. Count
- c. Timeout
- d. Interval
Answer: a. Limit c. Timeout
Explanation: ‘Do until’ action in Power Automate has parameters Limit and Timeout. Count and Interval are not part of this action’s parameters.
True/False: Desktop flows in Power Automate do not support error handling and flow control.
- True
- False
Answer: False.
Explanation: Desktop flows in Power Automate support both error handling and flow control.
True/False: Flow management includes the ability to manage versions of your flow in Power Automate?
- True
- False
Answer: True.
Explanation: Flow management in Power Automate includes version tracking and restoration, error handling and correction, and performance monitoring.
Single Select: The ‘Loop over a list’ action is used for?
- a. Doing a particular action a set number of times
- b. Doing a particular action until a condition is met
- c. Iterating over a collection of items
- d. Doing a particular action once irrespective of conditions
Answer: c. Iterating over a collection of items
Explanation: The ‘Loop over a list’ action is used for iterating over a collection of items and performing a certain task on each of them.
Multiple Select: What are the basic constructs of flow control in Microsoft Power Automate? (Select all that apply)
- a. Decisions
- b. Loops
- c. Variables
- d. Powers
Answer: a. Decisions b. Loops c. Variables
Explanation: Decisions, Loops, and Variables are basic constructs for controlling the execution flow of a power automate flow. “Powers” is not a relevant term in this context.
Interview Questions
What is flow control in cloud and desktop flows?
Flow control refers to the decision-making capability in Microsoft Power Automate. It includes loops, conditions, and switches that control the flow of execution in cloud and desktop flows.
How can a loop be implemented in a Power Automate flow?
A loop can be implemented in Power Automate by using the ‘Apply to each’ control, which runs the same actions for every item in an array.
What is the ‘Do until’ control in Power Automate cloud flows?
The ‘Do until’ control in Power Automate is a loop structure that runs actions until a specified condition is met.
How can a flow iterate over a large list of items in Power Automate?
Power Automate’s ‘Apply to each’ control is perfect for this type of scenario. It allows the flow to iterate through each item in an array or a large list.
Can a ‘Switch’ case be used in Power Automate for flow control?
Yes, the ‘Switch’ case control in Power Automate is used to evaluate expressions and redirect the flow based on the value of those expressions.
How will you configure flow control within Power Automate’s desktop UI flows?
Desktop UI flows interact with desktop applications. Flow control here can be set up using actions like “If”, “Loop”, and “Switch”. These controls help to automate repetitive tasks based on rules or conditions.
What is a ‘Scope’ in Power Automate’s flow control?
A ‘Scope’ is not a form of flow control but rather a container for actions, conditions, or loops. It helps in organizing the flow and managing errors within a flow.
What functionality does the ‘Terminate’ control provide in Power Automate?
The ‘Terminate’ control is used to stop the flow execution based on some conditions. It also allows the developer to assign a status of ‘Succeeded’, ‘Failed’, or ‘Cancelled’ to the termination.
How can the execution of a particular action be controlled in Power Automate using flow control?
Execution of actions can be controlled using conditions. The “Condition” control does a Boolean check and branches the flow into “Yes” or “No” paths based on the outcome.
What is the function of ‘Configure run after’ in Power Automate?
‘Configure run after’ setting allows the flow to decide when the next action should run. This could be after the success of a previous action, its failure, or its skipped status.
Can flow control manipulate data in Power Automate?
Yes, flow control can be used to manipulate data. An example would be the ‘Apply to each’ control where operations can be performed on each item within an array.
Can multiple conditions be implemented in Power Automate?
Yes, Power Automate supports multiple conditions using the ‘And’/’Or’ functionality within the ‘Condition’ control.
Can variables be used in Power Automate’s flow control?
Yes, variables can be used within actions and conditions in Power Automate and can be defined using the ‘Initialize variable’ action.
How many actions can be performed within a single ‘Apply to each’ loop in Power Automate?
There is no defined limit to the number of actions that can be performed within a single ‘Apply to each’ loop.
Where can loop controls be used in Power Automate?
Loop controls can be used in Power Automate’s cloud flows, desktop flows, and business process flows, to iterate over a list of items or repeat actions until a certain condition is met.
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