Understanding how to create a cloud flow is an important facet of preparing for the PL-500 Microsoft Power Automate RPA Developer exam. Cloud Flow, a component of Microsoft Power Automate, aims at automating tasks and workflows between your apps and services. With this, repetitive tasks can be automated, errors reduced, and productivity scaled.
Creating A Cloud Flow from Scratch
To create a new cloud flow from scratch, you have to:
- Log in to the Power Automate Website.
- Click on the “Create” button in the left menu pane. A screen will appear with options to choose from based on what you want your flow to accomplish.
- From this available options, choose “Instant cloud flow”.
- Set the name of your new flow, select the trigger from the provided list, and then click on the “Create” button.
- Subsequent stages will involve adding actions your cloud flow should perform based on the trigger you selected.
We can break down the elements of a Cloud flow into TRIGGERS and ACTIONS for a better understanding:
- Triggers: This is what initiates a cloud flow. One example of a trigger could be receiving an email in your Outlook account.
- Actions: These are tasks that the cloud flow performs after a certain trigger. For instance, following the earlier example; an action could be saving the email attachment to OneDrive.
Types of Cloud Flow
You can create three types of cloud flow depending on what you want to achieve:
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Automated: This type of flow starts when an event occurs. Hence, the need for a trigger to set them into action.
e.g., When an email arrives (Trigger), save attachments to OneDrive (Action).
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Button: These begin when a button is clicked. They are manual flows that require user intervention to start or stop.
e.g., On clicking a button (Trigger), send a daily report via email (Action).
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Scheduled: These flows are launched at specific times.
e.g., Send an email (Action) every Friday at 9:00 AM (Trigger).
Creating a Simple Cloud Flow: An Example
Let’s create a simple instant cloud flow – When a new item is successfully added in SharePoint, an email notification will be sent. The steps include:
- Select “Instant cloud flow” after clicking “Create”.
- Set the flow name and choose “When a new item is created” from SharePoint triggers, then click “Create”.
- Set the site address and list name in the following dialog box.
- Next, add an action, select “Send an email” from Office 365 Outlook.
- Set the details of the email which includes: recipient, subject, and body. Click “Save” after you are done.
To test this flow, create a new item in your SharePoint. You should receive an email notification if the flow is working correctly.
In summary, creating a cloud flow in Microsoft Power Automate simplifies task automation within your applications. Whether they are automated, button or scheduled flows, understanding how to create and manage them is an essential skill for the PL-500 Microsoft Power Automate RPA Developer exam and beyond.
Practice Test
True/False: In Power Automate, Cloud flow is a type of flow that is triggered manually.
Answer: False
Explanation: Cloud flow can be triggered either manually or automatically, depending on the requirements of the task.
What types of triggers can be used to start a cloud flow in Power Automate?
- A. Manual
- B. Automated
- C. Scheduled
- D. Based on an Excel file update
Answer: A, B, C
Explanation: The Cloud flow in Power Automate supports Manual, automated as well as scheduled triggers.
True/False: The usage of cloud flow in Power Automate requires always to have a licensed Microsoft 365 account.
Answer: True
Explanation: To use cloud flows in Power Automate, it requires a licensed Microsoft 365 account or Power Automate per user or per flow plans.
Which of the following connectors can be used in a cloud flow in Power Automate?
- A. SharePoint
- B. Teams
- C. Twitter
- D. All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: Power Automate supports a large number of connector applications including SharePoint, Teams, and Twitter allowing users to control actions over these applications.
True/False: It is not possible to create a cloud flow from a template in Power Automate.
Answer: False
Explanation: You can build cloud flows from scratch in Power Automate or use pre-existing templates to make the process easier.
What kind of actions can be added to a cloud flow in Power Automate?
- A. Add a row to an Excel file
- B. Send an email
- C. Create a SharePoint list item
- D. All of the above
Answer: D
Explanation: You can add a wide variety of actions to a cloud flow in Power Automate, including adding rows to an Excel file, sending emails, and creating SharePoint list items.
True/False: A cloud flow can be edited after it has been created.
Answer: True
Explanation: After a cloud flow has been created in Power Automate, it can be edited to make any necessary changes or updates.
Can you share a cloud flow that you created in Power Automate with others?
- A. Yes
- B. No
Answer: A
Explanation: Cloud flows created in Power Automate can be shared with others for collaboration or to be run by other users.
True/False: Designing a cloud flow requires knowledge of programming languages.
Answer: False
Explanation: Power Automate is designed to be a low-code/no-code solution, so designing a cloud flow does not require knowledge of programming languages.
Which is not a step in creating a cloud flow in Power Automate?
- A. Choosing a trigger
- B. Adding actions
- C. Defining the logic of the flow
- D. Writing JavaScript code
Answer: D
Explanation: Power Automate is a no-code tool, hence, writing JavaScript or any other programming language is not a part of creating a cloud flow.
Interview Questions
What is a cloud flow in Microsoft Power Automate?
A cloud flow is a type of digital workflow created in Microsoft Power Automate. It enables you to automate different tasks and business processes without requiring any coding background.
What are the steps to create a cloud flow in Microsoft Power Automate?
The principal steps to create a cloud flow include: First, identify the event which will trigger the flow. Second, set the action which will be taken once the flow gets triggered. Finally, save and test your flow.
Can you integrate other services with Microsoft Power Automate?
Yes, Microsoft Power Automate supports integration with a wide range of services such as SharePoint, Dynamics 365, Excel, and other third-party apps like Twitter, DocuSign, etc.
What is an action in Microsoft Power Automate?
An action is a task that a cloud flow carries out after it has been triggered. An action could be anything ranging from sending an email notification to creating a new list in SharePoint.
Is it necessary to write code to create a cloud flow in Microsoft Power Automate?
No, cloud flows can be created within the Power Automate interface without needing to write any code, appealing to users with little or no coding experience.
How can I test my cloud flow in Microsoft Power Automate?
After building a cloud flow, you can test it within Power Automate either manually by clicking the ‘Test’ icon on top of the screen or by using real-time data.
What is a trigger in the context of a cloud flow?
A trigger is an event that starts a cloud flow. It can be an event like the arrival of an email, a scheduled time, or an update in a database.
Can you modify cloud flows once they are created?
Yes, you can modify cloud flows by adding or removing triggers, actions, or connectors as necessary.
How can you create a trigger in a cloud flow?
You can create a trigger by selecting a service or an application, and then choosing a specific event from that service or application that kicks off the flow.
How to manage the run history of your flow?
You can manage the run history of your flow in the flow’s detail page. This page provides information about each time the flow has run, whether it has been successful, and details about each action in the flow.
What is run-only access in the context of Microsoft Power Automate?
Run-only access allows certain individuals to run, but not edit, the flow. It can be provided to users, SharePoint lists, or libraries.
What is Power Automate’s capability for error handling and debugging during flow development?
Power Automate offers innovative capabilities for error handling and debugging. It provides detailed analytics and error reporting for each flow run, allowing developers to identify, troubleshoot and fix issues.
Can Power Automate be used to automate the processes across on-premises and cloud-based services?
Yes, Microsoft Power Automate allows integration with both on-premises databases and cloud-based services, enabling an extensive level of process automation.
Is it possible to monitor the performance of cloud flows in Microsoft Power Automate?
Yes, Microsoft Power Automate provides built-in analytics where you can monitor the usage, performance, and failure rates of your flows.
What is the use of connectors in Microsoft Power Automate?
Connectors in Power Automate are used to link your cloud flow with a diverse range of services. Every connector offers triggers and actions for creating flows specific to that service.
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