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How to Fix Corrupted Excel Attachments in Power Automate Approvals
Question details
The user needs to prevent Excel files retrieved from SharePoint from becoming corrupted when attached to a Power Automate approval flow.
- Product
- Power Automate / Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attaching a SharePoint Excel file to a Power Automate approval flow.
- Observed behavior
- The Excel attachment becomes corrupted and cannot be opened because the flow passes file metadata instead of the actual binary file content.
Ensure you have edit access to the Power Automate flow and verify the exact SharePoint location of the original Excel file.
Map the Correct Binary Content Using Get File Content
Ensure you are passing the actual binary content of the Excel file instead of its metadata properties to the approval attachment.
When transferring files between SharePoint and Power Automate Approval actions, relying solely on 'Get file metadata' will pass properties rather than the file itself. This results in a corrupted file that appears to have an Excel extension but contains text-based metadata.
In your Power Automate flow, add the SharePoint 'Get file content' action immediately after the trigger or the step where you retrieve the file properties.
Click on the 'File Identifier' field in the 'Get file content' action and select the 'Identifier' dynamic content from your SharePoint trigger.
Expand the advanced options in your 'Start and wait for an approval' action and locate the Attachments section.
Enter the file name ensuring it explicitly includes the '.xlsx' extension. For the 'Attachment Content' field, select the 'File Content' dynamic variable generated by your 'Get file content' step.
Open and Edit Excel Files Seamlessly with WPS Office
While troubleshooting Microsoft automation flows, you need a reliable suite to verify your downloaded files. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and powerful alternative that offers perfect compatibility with Microsoft Excel files, ensuring you can quickly open, edit, and recover your data without hefty subscription fees.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office suite for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the installer and follow the lightweight setup process.
- 3. Verify Your Excel File: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your downloaded .xlsx file to confirm its integrity and data structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Excel file attachment show as corrupted in Power Automate emails?
This typically happens when the flow passes the file's metadata or URL link instead of the actual binary file content. The receiving action creates a file with the .xlsx extension but populates it with text-based metadata, rendering it unreadable by Excel.
Do I need a specific action to get the file's binary data in SharePoint?
Yes, you must use the SharePoint 'Get file content' or 'Get file content using path' action to retrieve the actual binary data required for valid file attachments.
Does the attachment name require a file extension in the approval action?
Absolutely. Power Automate requires you to explicitly type or map the file extension (such as .xlsx) in the Attachment Name field; otherwise, the operating system will not know which application to use to open the file.
