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Fix Power Automate Email Reminder Flow Failing in Create HTML Table

Phi Hung Vo Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to fix a Power Automate flow that crashes during the Create HTML Table step while trying to generate automated email reminders from an Excel file.

Fix Power Automate Email Reminder Flow Failing in Create HTML Table

Product: Microsoft Power Automate
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up an automated email reminder flow based on an Excel task tracker stored in OneDrive for Business, triggering when an EndDate is reached.
Observed behavior: The Create HTML Table action fails because the flow uses an invalid expression (outputs('Filter_array')['body/value']) instead of properly referencing the output body of the filtered array.

Before you start

Verify that your Excel spreadsheet is properly formatted as a Table in OneDrive for Business, and ensure the preceding 'Filter array' action is returning data successfully.

Solution 1Recommended

Update the Filter Array Reference in Dynamic Content

Fix the error by replacing the invalid output expression with the correct 'body' reference from the preceding Filter Array action.

Power Automate requires the correct structural reference to pass data from a filtered array into an HTML table. Using a nested value expression rather than the array body itself will cause the table generation to fail.

Locate the Create HTML Table action

Open your flow in the Power Automate editor, navigate to your step sequence, and click on the 'Create HTML Table' action to expand it.

Clear the invalid expression

Click inside the 'From' field and delete the existing invalid expression, such as outputs('Filter_array')['body/value'].

Insert the correct array body

Open the Dynamic Content pane on the right side. Scroll to the 'Filter array' section and select 'Body'. Alternatively, switch to the Expression tab and type body('Filter_array'), then click 'OK'.

Test the flow

Click 'Save' at the top right, then click 'Test' to run your flow manually and verify that the HTML table now generates successfully for your email reminder.

Update the Filter Array Reference in Dynamic Content

Check Data Output: Running a test on the 'Filter Array' step before configuring the HTML Table confirms that valid data rows are being captured based on your EndDate criteria.

Solution 2

Consult the Power Automate Community

If you have a complex nested JSON structure or highly customized flow, seek advanced troubleshooting from Microsoft community engineers.

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Manage Automated Task Trackers Efficiently with WPS Office

While Power Automate manages your email delivery, you need a robust, reliable spreadsheet tool to maintain your task tracker data. WPS Office is a completely free, lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office that fully supports the .xlsx formats and Table structures required by Power Automate workflows.

1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for free from the official website and launch WPS Spreadsheet.
2. Create your task tracker: Set up your tracker with clear headers like 'Task Name', 'Assignee', and 'EndDate'.
3. Format as a table: Select your dataset, navigate to the Home tab, and format it as a Table to ensure Power Automate can detect the rows.
4. Save to cloud storage: Save the file as an .xlsx document directly to your synced OneDrive for Business folder to trigger your automated flows.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Power Automate 'Create HTML Table' action show empty data?

This happens if the preceding step, such as a 'Filter array' or 'List rows present in a table', returns no matching data. Double-check your filter conditions, especially date format comparisons, to ensure your rows are correctly matching the criteria before they reach the HTML table step.

Can I use .xlsx files created in WPS Office with Power Automate flows?

Yes. WPS Office saves spreadsheets in the standard Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) format. As long as your data is formatted as a Table within WPS and the file is stored in a supported cloud location like OneDrive or SharePoint, Power Automate will process it seamlessly.

How do I format an Excel dataset as a Table for Power Automate?

Open your spreadsheet, highlight the data range including headers, and press Ctrl+T (or use the 'Format as Table' option in the Home ribbon). Ensure the 'My table has headers' box is checked. Save the file. Power Automate specifically requires this Table format to identify and list rows.

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