I'm trying to use the Convert Word Document to PDF action in a Flow. There are three parameters that have to be entered:Location - the SharePoint SiteDocument Library - Library where the document is located.File - The document to convertThe parameter that I'm having an issue with is the File. The flow works if I choose the specific document from the library but I want it to be dynamic so that when the user starts a Flow on the document it will convert that one, so I don't want to hardcode the document name. For the File property I'm using the property from a previous step with the file name called File name with extension. When I run the flow I get an error, "There was an error accessing the file. Please try again or select a different file." Can I not use dynamic content for the File property? Thanks

VFXPro I used the dynamic field "Name" in the File field and it worked. I create a new file based upon another i.e. a template then use the Convert Word Document to PDF specifying the dynamic field "Name" of the new file to convert. The file being converted uses quick parts and SharePoint metadata so the contents are dynamic. Thanks, sips1

Rich Koneval I found a solution in my case. The 'FullPath' for my word document started with "Shared Documents", given I was using a SharePoint file. This was being merged with the 'Library Name' input, which was creating the wrong location. My solution was to remove the text "Shared Documents" from the 'FullPath' dynamic content. I used a replace function as follows; =replace(text, oldText, newText)=replace(outputs('Get_file_properties')?['body/{FullPath}'], 'Shared Documents', '')

Hi guys, I was able to resolve this issue !!!The problem is with the extended path format which you get from a dynamic value of sharepoint file.My flow basically includes creating a file at sharepoint first, and i'm getting the path from the outputs of body/Path of "Create item".So what you need to do is to add a "Compose" action before the conversion to split the path and give below value:concat('/', join(skip(split(outputs('Create_file')?['body/Path'], '/'), 2), '/'))you can change the dynamic value of create file as per your flow.the output path i was receiving from Create file was:"Path": "/Shared Documents/My Library Name/My Library Folder/My file name.docx"which was unacceptable by word online action. so after the compose action my output looks like this:/My Library Name/My Library Folder/My file name.docx"and with a miracle it started working.Detailed Explanation for Advanced users:So at my compose action what i basically did was:concat('/', join(skip(split(outputs('Create_file')?['body/Path'], '/'), 2), '/'))- The split function divides the file path into an array of segments using / as the delimiter- The skip function removes the first two segments of the array. This is because the first segment is empty (due to the leading /), and the second segment is the document library name (Shared Documents), which we don’t need in the relative path.- The join function combines the remaining segments back into a single string, with / as the separator.- The concat function adds a leading / to the joined string to form the correct relative path:Also i would recommend you to add a short 30 second delay before conversion, as the file sometimes takes few seconds to appear in the document library and the next action runs immediately which leads it not to find the file and give error.

Hello everyone,I experienced the same issue and figured it out finally.The File filed in Convert Word Document to PDF doesn't accept a SharePoint path, list item ID, or encoded identifier. It requires the DriveItemId (Microsoft Graph file ID).In SharePoint Get files (properties only) action, the correct is {DriveItemId}.For example, after filtering to the correct file, use: first(body('Filter_array'))?['{DriveItemId}']

Hi Rich, Did you find a solution? I'm encountering the exact same problem.

Flow Action - Convert Word Document to PDF

37 Replies

noahzani
Copper Contributor
Apr 18, 2019
Hi Rich Koneval

I just encountered the same problem.

from what we can see in the Flow history for a File that is selected, it looks like "/report1.docx".
i tried to recreate that dynamically with /'File name with extensions' but without success. it fails altough in the history it shows exactly the same like "/report1.docx".

as long as this action does not take file inputs dynamically, it is not really useful..
- OldForest
  Copper Contributor
  Apr 18, 2019
  noahzani
  
  I stumbled upon the same problem this afternoon. The fact that "Convert Word Document to PDF" can't use dynamic content is ridiculous - what is the purpose of it otherwise?
  - OldForest
    Copper Contributor
    Apr 18, 2019
    There is a workaround which makes it even sillier. If your file is stored in OneDrive for Business then its very straightforward to just use the "Convert File" action otherwise you have to use some SharePoint API shenanigans such as this guide:
    http://www.cleverworkarounds.com/2018/06/30/some-seriously-powerful-and-free-pdf-functionality-in-powerapps-and-flow-part-1/
Deleted
Apr 15, 2019
I'm experiencing exactly the same issue. I've even experimented hard-coding the file name in exactly how it appears when you select it through the file explorer but I get the same error when doing this. There must be some way to dynamically pass-in a file...
NHelgren
Microsoft
Apr 11, 2019
Rich Koneval How are you executing the flow? What is the trigger event you would like to use to start the conversion? Upload? Create?
Davy Loose
Brass Contributor
Apr 11, 2019
Hi Rich,

Did you find a solution? I'm encountering the exact same problem.
- Rich Koneval
  Brass Contributor
  Apr 11, 2019
  Nothing yet.

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Flow Action - Convert Word Document to PDF