Others

Fix Power Automate Failing to Create Planner Tasks from Multiple Excel Files

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

A Power Automate workflow designed to read multiple Excel workbooks from SharePoint and generate Planner tasks works for a single file but fails during iteration over multiple files.

Product: Microsoft Power Automate, Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating bulk task creation in Microsoft Planner by extracting data from several Excel files stored in a SharePoint directory.
Observed behavior: The flow successfully processes the first Excel workbook and creates the respective tasks, but encounters errors or stops completely when attempting to loop through subsequent files.

Before you start

Before modifying your workflow, verify that all target Excel workbooks in your SharePoint folder are fully uploaded, not currently opened or locked by another user, and that the data within them is formatted as formal Excel Tables.

Solution 1Recommended

Seek Expert Diagnostics in the Power Platform Community

Because this involves complex multi-connector workflow logic (SharePoint, Excel, Planner), posting your exact configuration to specialized community forums is the most effective way to resolve iteration and concurrency errors.

Troubleshooting an 'Apply to each' loop that fails on subsequent Excel files often requires inspecting table references, Planner task IDs, and concurrency control settings. The Microsoft Power Platform Community has specialists who can review your exact workflow definition.

Document your flow configuration

Take clear screenshots of your entire Power Automate flow, expanding the specific actions for 'Get files (properties only)', 'List rows present in a table', and 'Create a task'.

Capture the exact error messages

Run a test that intentionally fails. Open the failed flow run, expand the action marked with a red 'X', and copy the raw error details and status codes.

Post to the community forum

Navigate to the Microsoft Power Platform Community. Create a new topic including your screenshots, expressions used, SharePoint/Excel setup details, and the copied error message to receive targeted workflow guidance.

Include Dynamic Content Details: When asking for help, be sure to specify how you are passing the File ID and Table ID dynamically within your loop, as hardcoded references are a common cause of multi-file failures.

Solution 2

Verify Excel Table Consistency Across Files

Ensure all files being processed share the exact same structural requirements needed by the Power Automate Excel connector.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need a Reliable and Lightweight Spreadsheet Tool?

While resolving complex Power Automate flows requires Microsoft's platform tools, editing and standardizing the underlying Excel files doesn't have to be cumbersome. WPS Office provides a free, lightning-fast alternative to manage your spreadsheet data with perfect format compatibility.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Install and open: Run the installation file and launch WPS Spreadsheets.
3. Edit your automated files: Open your .xlsx files, format your data as Tables, and save them directly to your synchronized SharePoint or OneDrive folders.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv)Free to download and use with a highly intuitive, familiar interfaceLightweight installation ensures your device runs smoothlyBuilt-in PDF editor and document management toolsEasily prepare structured Tables for your automation workflows

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Power Automate flow fail when processing a second Excel file?

This often occurs if the file lock hasn't been released by the previous step, if the Table ID is hardcoded to the first file, or if the workflow is attempting to run concurrent loops without properly defined sequential processing in the 'Apply to each' settings.

Does Power Automate require Excel data to be formatted as a table?

Yes. To use the standard 'List rows present in a table' action, your Excel data must be formatted as a formal Table object. If you are iterating through multiple files, ensure the table name or ID is dynamically referenced or completely identical across all workbooks.

Can I process .xlsx files generated by WPS Office in Power Automate?

Absolutely. Because WPS Office saves files in the standard .xlsx format, you can upload them to SharePoint or OneDrive and process them using standard Microsoft Power Automate Excel connectors just like any other Excel file.

Office Quick Solutions