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Rich Koneval's avatar
Rich Koneval
Brass Contributor
Mar 28, 2019

Flow Action - Convert Word Document to PDF

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 Site Document Library - Library where the documen...
Microsoft Flow
VFXPro's avatar
VFXPro
Brass Contributor
Dec 18, 2019
sips1, can you export your flow and send it over? or screenshots? I tried every combination... There must be something different... Thanks.
VFXPro's avatar
VFXPro
Brass Contributor
Dec 18, 2019

VFXPro 

 

Hi all.. 

I decided a simple workaround was in order.  I simply copy the file into OneDrive for business as a temporary location, use the "Convert file from OneDrive for Business" into PDF passing the Identifier as a variable" then create the PDF into sharepoint, and delete my temporary file from ODfB.  🙂  It's more moving parts, but it works just fine until this issue is fixed.

  • Roghan's avatar
    Roghan
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 12, 2020

    VFXPro 

     

    Thanks for sharing, I am stuck on this exact issue too and am unable to convert a Word Doc to PDF within Sharepoint. Has there been any developments in the mean time? 

    If not, is it possible you paste the flow you've developed as a workaround which you have discussed? would be good to mimick it myself in the interim till an MS solution is developed.

     

     

    • ThreeTen22's avatar
      ThreeTen22
      Copper Contributor
      Feb 02, 2020

      After some substantial trial and error I believe this usually happens when a file has been created, but isn't "ready yet".  Its as if its returning the file properties that can work with Sharepoint's REST API, without actually determining if the information can be discovered by Microsoft's graph API (which I am now convinced is what that action is using).

       

      A workaround I have found is to wrap the action in a while loop with a success and failure branch.  On failure, wait 10 seconds and then restart the loop.  It isn't perfect of course,  but 99% of the time it fails once or twice, then goes through

      • lukas211's avatar
        lukas211
        Copper Contributor
        Mar 13, 2020

        ThreeTen22 sounds like a good workaround to me, thanks for sharing.

         

        Can you please describe how to use the success/failure branch? I don't know how to do this.

         

        Thanks a lot!

    • Russell Gove's avatar
      Russell Gove
      Iron Contributor
      Jan 13, 2020

      Roghan  This can be used to get a pdf version of a document: https://github.com/SharePoint/sp-dev-fx-extensions/tree/master/samples/js-command-convert-to-pdf

       

      This can be used to generate Word Docuements or PDFs from data stored in your sharepoint lists using a word template:  https://github.com/russgove/sp-dev-fx-extensions/tree/dev/samples/react-command-generate-documents

       

       

       

       

      • Roghan's avatar
        Roghan
        Copper Contributor
        Jan 19, 2020

        Russell Gove thanks for sharing, I am keen to try point 1: "This can be used to get a pdf version of a document" but am unable to deduce from the link you shared how to go about this? Any easy to follow guide you have seen around?