Data Import & Export

How to Fix Missing Data in Excel Reminder Emails Using Power Automate

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is building a Power Automate flow to send automated reminder emails using Excel data stored in SharePoint, but needs to troubleshoot why specific dynamic values are not appearing in the final emails.

Product: Microsoft Excel, Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating a Power Automate flow to pull row data from an Excel spreadsheet and populate reminder emails with specific column values.
Observed behavior: The Power Automate flow runs successfully, but the resulting emails are missing dynamic content such as branch names, locations, and correctly formatted reminder dates.

Before you start

Ensure that your source data in Excel is formatted as a Table (Ctrl+T) in SharePoint, and verify that you have edit permissions for both the Excel file and the Power Automate flow.

Solution 1Recommended

Set the Excel Action to Output ISO 8601 Date Format

Fix missing or broken date values by forcing the Excel action in Power Automate to output dates in the standard ISO 8601 format rather than serial numbers.

By default, Excel stores dates as serial numbers. When Power Automate reads these cells without proper formatting parameters, it may return a 5-digit number or fail to map the dynamic value correctly in the email step.

Open flow settings

Navigate to your flow in Power Automate and click 'Edit' to view your flow steps.

Locate Excel action

Click on the 'List rows present in a table' action that pulls your Excel data from SharePoint.

Show advanced options

Click on 'Show advanced options' at the bottom of the action card.

Change DateTime format

Locate the 'DateTime Format' dropdown menu and change the selection from 'Serial Number' to 'ISO 8601'.

Test the flow

Save your flow and click 'Test' to run a manual trigger, ensuring the Reminder Date cell formats properly in the resulting email.

Verify Output: Check the raw output of your action after testing to confirm dates appear in a readable format (e.g., YYYY-MM-DD).

Solution 2

Troubleshoot Missing Branch Names and Dynamic Values

Identify why text values like branch names and locations are omitted by checking the raw output data and Excel cell formatting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Power Automate read my Excel dates as a 5-digit number?

Excel stores dates internally as serial numbers (e.g., 44197). In Power Automate, you must change the 'DateTime Format' setting in the 'List rows present in a table' action to ISO 8601 so it automatically converts the serial number back into a standard date format.

Why are my Excel columns not showing up as dynamic content in Power Automate?

This usually happens if the data in your Excel file is not formatted as an official Table. Highlight your data range in Excel, press Ctrl+T to create a Table, and ensure you select this specific Table name in your Power Automate action.

How can I safely test the data output without sending actual emails?

You can insert a 'Compose' action immediately after your 'List rows present in a table' step. Add your Excel dynamic content (like Branch Name or Reminder Date) into the Compose box and run a test. This lets you view exactly what data is being pulled before configuring the email action.

Excel & Data Problems