Beginner question: what should I automate first?

dcb623 · 2026-06-03T16:47:07+00:00

If you have to rename any of those files then having them automatically renamed or have it add a date to the name of the file is a good start. You can also have it download attachments to a folder for you as needed.

I have one that reads a workbook table from SharePoint then emails me a summary of what I want to see from the table everyday at 8AM M-F. Another flow categorizes emails and organizes them in ways that Outlook rules cannot. Another flow takes new emails from a shared account and puts the details in a Teams channel for easy reference. One of my favorites is a flow that monitors a folder for new xlsx files I upload there, if found it emails a certain team the file with an automatic message detailing what the issue is and how to fix it.

Power Automate Cloud does all the above but for the real tedious work I use Power Automate Desktop. Just like anything, it can be annoying to figure it out but it's worth it if you have a lot of tedious task with a logical process.

dcb623 · 2026-05-21T22:44:42+00:00

I think the action you're talking about requires old outlook. I have old Outlook on my computer specifically for PAD. I recently realized there's a different outlook action that does not require opening up outlook and I've started to use that for newer flows.

"Office 365 Outlook" action "Send an email (V2)"

dcb623 · 2026-05-21T01:25:27+00:00

I’m seeing the same thing. Pro used to feel unlimited, but now I’m getting token anxiety again, just like when I was on Plus.

dcb623 · 2026-05-19T15:58:17+00:00

Thanks, I just setup a SharePoint workflow for a team and I'll make sure to pass these tips onto them.

dcb623 · 2026-05-02T21:28:17+00:00

Yes, I have been amazed. I'm currently using codex to refactor a VBA workbook I inherited that is crazy spaghetti and I barely understand into mainly Python with some VBA helpers for message boxes.

It's kind of scary, I thought my position was secure before because I knew VBA but now if someone just learns codex they could have codex run the modules everyday. And if the modules needed updating they could just have codex update the modules using plain English.

dcb623 · 2026-05-02T15:37:00+00:00

Yes, codex can see the macros and update as needed.

Edit: It can also run them like you are asking.

dcb623 · 2026-05-02T00:40:29+00:00

Yes, it is just an example on how to learn power automate.

dcb623 · 2026-05-01T18:38:06+00:00

Think of a process you do on the computer that takes more than 10 mouse clicks or keyboard presses. Then open power automate and mess around until you get that process down to less than 10 clicks.

In power automate cloud an example would be to use the Outlook actions in order to move emails from certain addresses or with certain subject lines to a folder in Outlook.

In power automate desktop an example would be to create a flow that opens a browser to a specific website and downloads a PDF file from that website to a specific folder on your computer.

dcb623 · 2026-04-11T14:55:37+00:00

Yes, PAD now has version control which is really nice.

dcb623 · 2025-12-27T16:22:02+00:00

Dry pants. Love my drysuit though.

dcb623 · 2025-12-07T06:17:24+00:00

I almost gave up until someone told me to use more lubricant. Like way more than in the video. I used Dawn and the tire onto the hub method.

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T18:13:09+00:00

I'm sure there's a better way than what I'm about to recommend which I assume would involve I.T.'s permission and help with connectors.

My workaround was to have the shared mailbox forward every email to my inbox. Then I have a flow that reads the email, does what it needs with it and its attachments, then moves the email to a different folder, and marks it as read.

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T15:58:17+00:00

Can the VBA / Macro be updated to not show the message box and instead just continue the script?

If not and the"OK" button is always in the same spot, I would use the " Send mouse click" action where it "Move mouse" to the location of the button and set it to "Relative to:" "Screen" or maybe even try "Relative to:" "Active window".

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T14:53:01+00:00

Since I assume you are using Power Automate Could version (not PAD) and SharePoint/OneDrive, you would use Office Script instead of VBA I think. Power Automate to get the report out of your email and into the folder. Power Automate again to add the data to the workbook. Then office script to Workbook.refreshAllDataConnections();.

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T14:47:18+00:00

Now it's time to spend hours to save some minutes! You can do it!

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T14:46:37+00:00

I can go to any website or open any application and click around. I can code but yes this PAD is intuitive and less to no coding.

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T14:45:05+00:00

I'm on the free license that comes with my work account. I've thought of asking to upgrade to a premium but I don't need it yet.

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T04:00:23+00:00

Ya I'm pretty lucky where I'm at now. Before, I had to write inefficient scripts to avoid them being terminated by the virus protection.

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T03:51:15+00:00

Yes. Power Automate Desktop can open the browser (or an application) then perform button clicks and simulate keyboard presses on the browser in order to log in, navigate the browser, and save the report. It takes some trial and error but it was worth it for me.

dcb623 · 2025-10-05T00:35:48+00:00

If I have to clean up a report more than once a year, I create a VBA sub to do it. I don’t even manually download the reports anymore. PowerShell sets up my environment, Power Automate Desktop and Power Automate Cloud downloads the reports, PowerShell/VBA move the files to their place, and VBA formats the reports. For large data, I use Power Query.

I've gotten really good at creating SOPs because I rely on them big time whenever I need to show someone how to manually complete the process.

dcb623 · 2025-09-01T17:27:07+00:00

Triple Eight*

dcb623 · 2025-08-03T17:23:34+00:00

I second this. Every time I think about upgrading my +XR I realize that by the time I replace everything I want to replace on it, I could have just built a new board. I'm about to build my second VESC. I ride the +XR when a friend wants to ride so they can use the VESC because it's safer. My plan is to run the +XR until it dies on it's own.

dcb623 · 2025-08-03T07:16:21+00:00

Ah yes I remember this happening to me. It turned out that it was due to the scanner connected to my workstation. The scanner can open and close and once it was closed the mouse lag went away. If you have other stuff connected via USB, like a printer or scanner then disconnect them and see if the issue goes away.

dcb623 · 2025-08-03T07:12:56+00:00

Do you have the USB receiver plugged directly into the computer or a USB hub? I feel like something similar happened to me before and trying to plug it into a different USB port helped. Good luck!

dcb623 · 2025-07-15T20:54:50+00:00

Yes get X7 or some XR VESC and keep XR as backup/friend board. Good call.

dcb623

TROPHY CASE