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How to Create a Power Automate Flow from Forms to Excel and Word

WPS Content Manager Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to set up a workflow that filters recent Microsoft Forms responses and automatically places them into categorized sections of a Word document.

How to Create a Power Automate Flow from Forms to Excel and Word

Product: Microsoft Power Automate, Forms, Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Automating the extraction of weekly form responses into categorized sections such as Regulatory, HR, Legal, and Finance within a Word document.
Observed behavior: The user needs guidance on configuring specific flow actions, including filtering arrays and populating Word templates, to successfully route the submitted data.

Before you start

Ensure you have an active Microsoft 365 subscription with a premium Power Automate license, and prepare your Word template by adding Plain Text Content Controls for your target categories.

Solution 1Recommended

Build the Workflow using SharePoint and Word Templates

This method outlines how to store form responses, filter them by date, and map the data into a pre-configured Microsoft Word template.

To successfully extract specific data and populate a formatted Word document, it is highly recommended to intermediate the data through a SharePoint list or an Excel Online table before inserting it into Word.

Set up your Data Storage

Create an Excel Online table or a SharePoint list to serve as the initial database for your Microsoft Forms responses. This allows Power Automate to reliably retrieve and filter historical records.

Initialize the Cloud Flow

Log into Power Automate and create a scheduled cloud flow set to run weekly. Add the 'Get items' (for SharePoint) or 'List rows present in a table' (for Excel) action to retrieve the logged responses.

Filter for the Previous Week

Add the 'Filter array' action. In the 'From' field, select the output from your previous retrieval step. Set the condition to filter records where the submission date is greater than or equal to the expression `addDays(utcNow(), -7)`.

Populate the Word Template

Add the 'Populate a Microsoft Word template' action. Select your saved Word template from OneDrive or SharePoint. The action will display the Content Controls you prepared (Regulatory, HR, Legal, Finance). Map your filtered array outputs into these respective fields.

Generate and Save the File

Finally, add a 'Create file' action (using SharePoint or OneDrive for Business). Provide a dynamic file name, and set the 'File Content' to the output of the 'Populate a Microsoft Word template' action.

Build the Workflow using SharePoint and Word Templates

Premium License Required: The 'Populate a Microsoft Word template' action belongs to the Word Online (Business) connector, which is a premium feature. Your account must have a premium Power Automate license to run this workflow.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Review and Edit Your Automated Reports with WPS Office

While Power Automate manages the automated routing of your Microsoft Forms data, WPS Office is an excellent, cost-effective solution for opening, reviewing, and formatting the finalized Word and Excel documents produced by your flows.

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Get the free WPS Office suite from the official website and install it on your computer.
2. Open the Generated Report: Navigate to the OneDrive or SharePoint folder where your Power Automate flow saved the new .docx or .xlsx file, right-click, and select 'Open with WPS Office'.
3. Edit and Export: Review the populated categories, apply any final layout adjustments, and use the 'Export to PDF' button to finalize your weekly report.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) and Excel (.xlsx) formats generated by Power Automate.Lightweight application that opens complex data reports instantly without lag.Familiar user interface makes it easy to apply final formatting touches to categorized sections.Built-in PDF conversion tool allows you to securely share your HR, Legal, and Finance reports.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the 'Populate a Microsoft Word template' action missing or locked?

This specific action is part of the Word Online (Business) connector, which is classified as a premium feature in Power Automate. You need an upgraded or premium Power Automate license to access and execute this step.

How do I prepare my Word document to accept data from Power Automate?

Open your Word document, enable the Developer tab in the ribbon, and insert 'Plain Text Content Controls' into the specific locations where you want your categorized data (Regulatory, HR, Legal, Finance) to appear. Save this document to SharePoint or OneDrive.

Can I directly pass Forms responses to Word without a SharePoint list?

While possible for single-response triggers, grouping a full week's worth of categorized data into a single document typically requires retrieving an array of records using the 'Get items' or 'List rows' actions. Storing responses in Excel or SharePoint first makes array filtering and categorization much more reliable.

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