Sharepoint files and folders created with Power Automate do not sync to desktop (OneDrive)
I created a folder, and file within it, with Power Automate and it shows up in Sharepoint but does not (ever?) sync to the desktop. If I use Power Automate to create folderA/folderB/file.txt It will not sync by itself "after a while" - where "a while" is exceeding the utility of automating it (I did not test longer periods of time) It will not sync if you create things in OneDrive that sync properly It will not sync if you press the sync button in Sharepoint it WILL sync if you create FolderA in OneDrive (as in, it will sync folderB/file.txt) it WILL sync if you create anything directly on the Sharepoint siteStreamlining Non-Profit Operations with Power Automate Templates (Video Tutorial Included)
Power Automate is a powerful tool that helps automate repetitive tasks and workflows, allowing non-profits to focus more on their mission. Benefits of Power Automate Time-Saving: Automate daily operations to save valuable time. Error Reduction: Minimize errors in routine tasks. Enhanced Efficiency: Allow staff to focus on strategic activities. Consistency and Accuracy: Maintain uniformity in processes. Exploring Power Automate Templates To get started, navigate to make.powerautomate.com. Scroll down to find various templates that can help you automate tasks without starting from scratch. Types of Templates Instant: Triggered manually. Automatic: Triggered by specific events. Scheduled: Runs at designated times. Templates for Remote Work For teams working remotely, Power Automate offers templates to improve collaboration and workflow. Explore these templates to streamline your remote operations. Data Collection and Email Templates Data Collection: Automate data collection and task creation based on collected data. Email Templates: Automate sending emails to donors or volunteers. One commonly used template allows you to send a thank-you email to volunteers who sign up for events. Instead of manually sending emails, Power Automate can handle this for you. Step-by-Step Guide to Using a Template Select a Template: Choose a template that fits your needs. Connect Accounts: Ensure your Microsoft 365 license is active. Select the Form: Choose the form you created in Microsoft Forms. Customize the Email: Modify the subject line and body of the email. Test the Flow: Validate and test the flow to ensure it works correctly. Example: Thank-You Email for Volunteers Select the Form: Choose your volunteer registration form. Customize the Email: Add a personalized subject and body. Test and Validate: Ensure the flow runs successfully. Once the flow is set up, it will automatically send a thank-you email to volunteers who register for events, saving you time and ensuring consistency. Conclusion Thank you for joining us today! We've explored how to use Power Automate templates to streamline non-profit operations. For more creative content, follow us on Tech Community. Have a great day!
Enhancing Nonprofit Collaboration with SharePoint (Part 2)
Welcome back to our series on SharePoint for nonprofits! In Part 1, we explored how hub sites and nested pages help nonprofits build a centralized, structured intranet that supports internal communication and content organization. In this post, we’ll look at more SharePoint tools that help your team stay informed, manage data efficiently, and automate internal processes—ultimately improving collaboration across your entire nonprofit. Communication Sites: Keeping Your Organization Informed Communication sites in SharePoint serve as internal news hubs, ensuring that employees, volunteers, and board members stay informed. Key Features of Communication Sites: Company Announcements: Share news, updates, and newsletters with the entire organization. Event Calendars: Provide visibility into upcoming meetings, fundraising events, and training sessions. Resource Libraries: Store essential documents such as grant templates, donor reports, and legal policies in an easily accessible format. Mobile Accessibility: Team members can stay connected from anywhere with SharePoint’s mobile-friendly experience SharePoint Lists and Libraries: More Than Just Storage Beyond document management, SharePoint Lists and Libraries function as powerful databases that help nonprofits track critical information such as donor records, volunteer registrations, and grant applications. Key Benefits: Customizable Views: Sort and filter data based on specific needs. Integration with Power Automate: Automate workflows such as volunteer onboarding or approval processes. Version Control: Keep track of document changes and prevent data loss. 💡 Example: Use a SharePoint list to track grant applications with custom columns for deadline, status, and reviewer. Combine it with Power Automate to notify reviewers when new applications are submitted. Customizing SharePoint with Power Platform For nonprofits looking to further enhance SharePoint’s capabilities, integrating with Microsoft Power Platform provides automation and customization options. Power Automate: Automate processes like approval workflows and email notifications. Power Apps: Create custom apps to manage program applications or volunteer registrations. Power BI: Generate reports from SharePoint data to gain insights into fundraising or program impact. Real-World Example: Hampton HR Ticketing System One nonprofit, Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute, implemented a SharePoint-based HR ticketing system to streamline employee requests such as benefits inquiries, payroll issues, and policy clarifications. Using a custom-built Power App connected to a SharePoint list, employees could submit tickets through a user-friendly interface. HR staff managed these tickets via the SharePoint List - utilizing custom views, drop downs, and shareable links per case entry for collaboration across the HR team. The Power App-SharePoint Customization has the ability to run automated workflows powered by Power Automate for notifications and escalations. The system was also designed to integrate with Power BI, enabling the HR team to generate real-time reports on ticket trends, resolution times, and team performance—all without leaving the Microsoft ecosystem Explore the Blog Series for a Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Power App from a SharePoint List Conclusion: Bringing It All Together With the right tools in place, SharePoint can be a nonprofit’s digital backbone—supporting everything from document sharing to cross-team collaboration and real-time reporting. By implementing: Hub sites for unified structure Communication sites for internal news Lists & libraries for managing operations Power Platform tools for automation and insight ...your nonprofit can drive transparency, save time, and stay mission-focused. 🔗 Check Out These Links to Learn More Introduction to SharePoint Communication Sites Lists in Microsoft 365 Power Automate for SharePoint Build Power Apps with SharePoint Data Visualize SharePoint Data with Power BIEnhancing Nonprofit Operations: Power Apps and Power Automate Integration
Why Nonprofits Should Embrace Power Apps and Power Automate Power Apps and Power Automate are part of Microsoft’s Power Platform, designed to provide robust, scalable, and cost-effective solutions for organizations of all sizes. For nonprofits, these tools present a golden opportunity to customize and automate processes without the need for extensive technical expertise or a hefty budget. Cost-Effective Solutions: Microsoft offers nonprofits significant discounts on its software, including Power Apps and Power Automate, making it a budget-friendly choice. Customizability: Both tools can be tailored to address the unique needs of any nonprofit, whether it’s tracking donors, managing volunteers, or automating grant application workflows. Improved Efficiency: Automating repetitive manual tasks reduces errors and saves time, enabling organizations to focus on what matters most—their mission. Enhanced Collaboration: These tools integrate seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Teams, SharePoint, and Dynamics, making information sharing and teamwork more fluid. "Using Power Apps and Power Automate was a turning point for us. We no longer spend hours manually tracking donations and managing schedules. It’s like gaining an extra team member without the added cost!" – Sarah M., Director of Operations, Helping Hands Foundation A Step-by-Step Guide: Automating Donation Tracking The following guide provides an example of how nonprofits can use Power Apps and Power Automate to enhance their operations effectively. While this guide is a helpful starting point, please note that it may not apply to every situation, as each organization’s needs are unique. Step 1: Define Your Needs Start by identifying what aspects of donation tracking need improvement. Do you want to automate the acknowledgment process? Is it vital to have an updated database of donors in real time? Step 2: Create a Power App Use Power Apps to build a user-friendly form where donors can input their information, such as name, email, and donation amount. Customize the app with your organization’s branding to ensure a professional look. Step 3: Set Up Power Automate Design an automated workflow using Power Automate. For example, configure the flow to: Send a confirmation email to the donor immediately after they submit the form. Update your donor database in SharePoint or Excel. Generate a donation acknowledgment letter for your records. Step 4: Test and Refine Before launching your app and automation workflow, test the system thoroughly to ensure it performs as expected. Make adjustments as necessary to improve functionality and usability. Step 5: Launch and Monitor Roll out your new system and monitor its performance. Use the analytics features in Power Platform to gather insights into donor behavior and workflow efficiency. Unleashing the Potential of Customization No two nonprofits are alike, and Power Apps and Power Automate recognize this by offering unparalleled customization. Whether it’s building a dashboard to track project milestones or creating a workflow to process grant applications, these tools can be adapted to meet your specific needs. Their flexibility ensures that your nonprofit can evolve and innovate as your organization grows. Impact Beyond Efficiency The benefits of these tools extend beyond operational efficiency. By automating routine tasks, organizations can allocate their saved time and resources to programs that directly impact the communities they serve. Power Apps and Power Automate empower nonprofits to operate more strategically, making every dollar and minute count. Call to Action Are you ready to take your nonprofit operations to the next level? Explore the endless possibilities of Power Apps and Power Automate today. Begin with a small project like donation tracking or volunteer management and experience the transformative impact firsthand. For guidance, check out Brandon Antoine's blog about getting started with Power Apps and getting started with Power Automate. To deepen your understanding further, visit Microsoft’s Power Platform Overview and their Nonprofit Offerings to access resources designed specifically for your organization’s needs. Your mission is too important to be bogged down by inefficiencies. Leverage technology, embrace innovation, and let your nonprofit shine brighter than ever!What’s Included with Microsoft’s Granted Offerings for Nonprofits?
Are you a nonprofit looking to boost your impact with cutting-edge technology? Microsoft is here to help! From free software licenses to guided technical documentation and support, this program offers a range of resources designed to empower your organization. In this blog, we’ll dive into the incredible tools and grants available to nonprofits through Microsoft, showing you how to make the most of these generous offerings. Whether you’re managing projects or just trying to simplify your day-to-day tasks, there’s something here for everyone. Let’s explore what’s possible!Forms
I was looking and all I found were similar questions from as far back as 2019, so assuming no solution has been made, yet? Is any way to get a Form to read/populate dynamic choices for a question from an external source say a SharePoint online list? This would make it easier to manage the list without having to update the form each time new options were added. For example, if I had a form with a question asking for a person to assign that day to that task and the list of people available to pick from changes daily (but is scheduled a month in advance with potential last minute tweaks), I would rather pull a list from a common external source than have to update the form each day or any time a person switches days.Streamlining Your Workday: Workflows in Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaboration tool that can help streamline your workday by automating repetitive tasks and processes. By leveraging workflows in Teams, you can improve productivity, reduce manual effort, and ensure that important tasks are completed efficiently. Here’s a comprehensive guide on workflows in Microsoft Teams and how to set them up. What Are Workflows in Microsoft Teams? Workflows in Microsoft Teams are automated processes that connect various apps and services to perform specific tasks. These workflows can be triggered by events, such as receiving a message or updating a file, and can perform actions like sending notifications, creating tasks, or updating records. By automating these tasks, workflows help you save time and focus on more strategic activities. Key Benefits of Using Workflows in Teams Increased Productivity: Automate repetitive tasks to free up time for more important work. Consistency: Ensure tasks are completed the same way every time, reducing errors and improving reliability. Collaboration: Enhance team collaboration by automating notifications and updates, keeping everyone on the same page. Efficiency: Streamline processes and reduce the need for manual intervention, speeding up task completion. How to Set Up Workflows in Microsoft Teams Using the Workflows App The Workflows app in Microsoft Teams provides a simple way to create and manage workflows. Here’s how to get started: Open Teams: Sign in to Microsoft Teams. Access the Workflows App: On the left pane, select "Apps" and then choose "Workflows" from the navigation on the left. Browse Templates: You’ll see a list of pre-built templates that are relevant to Microsoft Teams. Select a template that suits your needs. Set Up the Workflow: Follow the prompts to set up the workflow. This includes naming the flow, signing into the apps and services the flow uses, and providing any required parameters. Add Workflow: Once all connections are set up, select "Create flow" to create the flow. You’ll receive a confirmation that your workflow was created successfully. Creating a Workflow from a Message You can also create workflows directly from a Teams message: Select a Message: On any message in Teams, select the ellipses (...) in the menu. Create New Action: Select "More actions" > "Create new action". Choose a Template: Select the appropriate template you wish to use. If you don’t see a template, you wish to use you can also select “Workflow builder” to describe what you want to automate and to have AI to suggest flows according to your description. Set Up the Workflow: Follow the prompts to set up the connections and parameters required by the template. Best Practices for Managing Workflows Organize Your Workflows: Keep your workflows organized by naming them clearly and categorizing them based on their function. Monitor and Update: Regularly monitor your workflows to ensure they are running smoothly. Update them as needed to accommodate changes in your processes. Test Thoroughly: Before deploying a workflow, test it thoroughly to ensure it performs as expected without errors. Leverage Templates: Use pre-built templates to save time and ensure best practices are followed. Popular Workflow Examples Notify a Channel When a Planner Task Changes Status: Automatically post a notification to a channel when a task in Planner changes status. Start an Approval When a SharePoint List is Modified: Automatically send an approval request in Teams chat when a SharePoint list is modified. Follow Up on a Message: Set up a follow-up notification for a message received in Teams. Conclusion Workflows in Microsoft Teams are a powerful way to automate repetitive tasks and streamline your workday. By setting up workflows, you can increase productivity, ensure consistency, and enhance collaboration within your team. Whether you use the Workflows app or create workflows directly from messages, Microsoft Teams provides the tools you need to automate your processes and focus on what matters most. Start exploring workflows in Microsoft Teams today and take your productivity to the next level!Level Up Your Nonprofit with Microsoft Learn!
That’s where Microsoft Learn comes in! It’s a free, on-demand training platform where nonprofit professionals can level up their skills in key areas like: ✅ Cybersecurity – Learn how to protect sensitive donor and program data ✅ Cloud Computing – Get hands-on with Microsoft Azure to modernize operations ✅ AI & Automation – Discover how tools like Copilot can save time and improve workflows ✅ Data Analytics – Use Power BI to track impact and make data-driven decisions ✅ Collaboration & Productivity – Master Microsoft 365 tools like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive Bonus: If you’re looking to get certified, Microsoft Learn offers guided learning paths, interactive modules, practice assessments, and even free certification exam prep—helping your nonprofit’s team earn industry-recognized credentials that boost both confidence and credibility. Ready to upskill and transform the way your nonprofit works? Let’s dive into the keyways Microsoft Learn can help your team thrive! (Be sure to click the links included above and below throughout the blog!) 1. Free Training That Won’t Break the Budget The reality is—most nonprofits are working with tight budgets. Hiring consultants or paying for expensive training programs isn’t always an option. Microsoft Learn changes the game by providing free, high-quality training on essential tech skills, so your team can stay ahead without spending a dime. Whether you want to become a cybersecurity pro, optimize your nonprofit’s cloud strategy, or automate repetitive tasks, you’ll find step-by-step learning modules, hands-on exercises, and even sandbox environments to practice your skills. With zero cost and unlimited access, there’s no reason NOT to start learning today! 💡 2. Content Designed Just for Nonprofits Not all training is created equal, and Microsoft understands that nonprofits have unique needs. That’s why Microsoft Learn offers custom content that focus on real-world nonprofit challenges, such as: ✔ Volunteer Engagement – Learn how to manage and communicate with volunteers using Microsoft 365 ✔ Program Impact Tracking – Use Power BI and other analytics tools to measure outcomes and improve reporting ✔ Accelerate Nonprofit Funding with AI – Learn how to use Microsoft Copilot to streamline grant writing, improve donor outreach, and optimize funding strategies with AI-powered insights. ✔ Introduction to AI Skills for Nonprofits – Discover how AI can enhance nonprofit operations, improve decision-making, and automate tasks to maximize impact and efficiency. ✔ Data Governance – Understand how to structure, manage, and secure your nonprofit's data using Microsoft tools like Purview to maintain privacy and compliance. With these specialized courses, your team can gain relevant, actionable skills that will improve efficiency and amplify your mission! 3. AI & Automation: Your Digital Assistants Are Here! Ever wish you had a little extra help? AI-powered tools like Copilot in Word, Excel, and Teams can automate tasks, analyze data, and boost collaboration—so you can focus on impact instead of admin work. Need to draft a grant proposal? Copilot can help. Want insights from donor data? Copilot's got you. Running out of ideas for your fundraising campaign? Learn how you can accelerate nonprofit funding solutions with Copilot here. Microsoft Learn offers hands-on courses that teach you how to use AI tools to save time, improve accuracy, and enhance productivity—so your team can work smarter, not harder! 4. A Culture of Continuous Learning Tech is always evolving, and staying ahead of the game is key. Microsoft Learn makes ongoing training engaging, interactive, and accessible, helping your nonprofit adapt, innovate, and thrive in an ever-changing digital world. Want to level up your team’s expertise? Encourage staff and volunteers to take Microsoft certification courses—which include: Practice assessments to test knowledge before exams Certification prep courses to guide learning Industry-recognized credentials to showcase expertise Certifications like Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals or Azure Fundamentals can boost credibility and help your nonprofit build trust with donors and partners. Ready to Take Your Nonprofit to the Next Level? Microsoft Learn is your nonprofit’s free ticket to a tech-savvy future—helping you upskill your team, simplify processes, and amplify your mission. So, what are you waiting for? Start learning today and turn your nonprofit into a digital powerhouse! 💻✨ 👉 Explore Microsoft Learn Now!Create an Internal Support Ticket Hub with Microsoft Lists, Forms & Power Automate
Setting Up the Support Ticket Portal First, we will set up the support ticket portal. This is where ticket requests will populate, be triaged, assigned and managed. It's a central location where the support team members can keep track of their tasks as well as keep the client informed through automated notifications upon status changes. Let's get started! 1. Create the Microsoft List: Navigate to Microsoft Lists from the Microsoft365.com App launcher in the upper left. Select the “+ New list” and choose the “Issue Tracker" template. Fill out the list information (name, description*, color*, icon*, and associate it with a team or save to your lists) and select create to make your form (*optional). In this case, associating the list with a team is required as it is needed for notification purposes later on in the tutorial. Review the list items from the template and customize the list to what your organization needs. Include columns that capture essential details such as issue description, priority level, assigned to, and status. Ensure the list is set up to store all necessary information for managing support tickets. There will be items you need captured from the person submitting the form as well as items to triage, assign, and track the status of the case. 2. Creating the Support Ticket Form In the list menu, select the "Forms" tab to create a new form. Customize the form by removing or unchecking questions that are designed for the support team, leaving only the questions needed from the person submitting the ticket. For example, you’d remove the Priority, Status and Assigned To fields from the form because those items are not determined by the submitter, but by the internal staff triaging the case. Ensure the form captures essential details such as the issue description, associated files, and contact information. 3. Enabling Notifications and Assigning Tickets In the form settings, select the toggle next to "Notify me" so that whenever a new item (support ticket) is submitted, you are immediately notified. This ensures that you don't miss an urgent request. Preview your form Check for changes or adjustments you’d like to make. If everything is good, congratulations! You’ve made your support ticket form! 4. The Workflow Process: Now that your form and list are created you can test out your new form and ticket portal. Grab the link to your new form by selecting the forms button again in the menu. Select the link sign to copy the link. Let's test things out. Fill out the form with information as if you are an employee submitting a ticket about an issue. Refresh and check your Microsoft List to make sure the form responses were automatically added. Triage the case. In the Microsoft List, double click on the form submission list item. Here, the support admin will triage the case by assigning it to a member of the support team, updating the status of the ticket to "In Progress" and assigning it a priority status. When a ticket is assigned, the assigned staff member receives a notification, ensuring they are aware of their new task. If they need to get in contact with the employee that submitted the case, they are able to come to the list item, and check for contact/email details in the email column. Team members can update the status of the ticket to "In Progress" when they start working on it and then to "Completed" once the issue is resolved. These status updates help track the progress of each ticket and ensure timely resolution. Congratulations! You have an internal support ticket portal and form. To further enhance the transparency and efficiency of your internal support ticket system, you can implement additional notifications to keep the requester informed about the status of their ticket. By setting up automated notifications in Power Automate for when a ticket is marked as "In Progress" and "Completed," you ensure that the requester is always aware of the current status of their issue. This not only improves communication but also boosts confidence in the support process, as employees feel assured that their concerns are being actively addressed and resolved. 5. Automating Notifications with Power Automate Create a Flow: From the Microsoft365.com app launcher, open Power Automate. Click "+ Create" and select "Automated Cloud Flow". Choose a flow name and set the trigger to "When an item or file is modified". Configure the Flow: On the canvas, select the trigger to enter the required data. The site address your Microsoft List is attached to and the list or library name. Next, we must add a trigger condition in order for the flow to only trigger when the status column has been changed. In the settings tab add the following trigger condition NOt(equals(triggerOutputs()?['body/Status'], triggerOutputs()?['body/PreviousStatus'])) Return to the canvas to create a new action. Select the + sign under your trigger. In the search menu, search for the condition action. For the value of the condition, we want to choose the Status Value from the dynamic field (the lightning bolt). We want to make sure the condition states “Status Value is equal to In progress”. (Capitalization matters here so make sure the capitalization of “In progress” matches the way it is spelled on your Microsoft List”. In the "True" column of your condition we will add a new action. Select “Send an email (V2) Inside of your action select, “Switch to Advanced Mode” to be able to enter dynamic fields or fields directly associated with your form submission. In the "To" field, select the lightning bolt for a dynamic entry. And select the “Issue logged by Email”. This will add the email address of the form sender to the “To” field and who the notifications will be sent to. In the Subject field type and appropriate title such as “Support Ticket Status Update”. In the Body field type a message to the requester. For example, "Hello, you are receiving this message to notify you that your support ticket for" (dynamically insert the name of the issue) “has been changed to “In Progress”. At this point, the flow now sends notifications for when the status column has been modified to “In Progress. Now, let's do the same and send a notification for when the status has been changed to “Completed”. In the False column, we are going to add another condition. The values for the condition will be the same except where it once said, “In Progress” it will say “Completed”. You want the statement to read “Status value is equal to Completed”. In the true column add the same action for sending an email and fill out the details accordingly. Save and test your flow. Test and Deploy: Test the flow to ensure it works as expected. Select Test and choose Manually. This specific flow is triggered when the status column has been modified to “In Progress” or “Completed”. Test both separately to make sure both works. You will see green check marks and receive a notification to the email you provided earlier when filling out the form with sample data. In this example, I tested the flow by updating the status to “In Progress” so in this case I have green check marks along the left side because that follows the first conditions. The green check marks will follow the right-side path if I choose to test the “Completed” status. Here is a copy of the email that was sent to the inbox. Once satisfied, deploy the flow to automate the notification process, enhancing communication and satisfaction. Conclusion By leveraging Microsoft Lists and Forms, you can create a robust internal support ticket system that streamlines the process of submitting, triaging, and resolving support requests. The integration with Power Automate further enhances this system by automating notifications, ensuring that all parties are kept informed throughout the process. This setup not only improves efficiency but also boosts employee satisfaction by providing a transparent and responsive support system.
Insert a table into the Planner task description through Power Automate
Hi, I've been trying to understand how you can insert a table in the Planner task description through Power Automate. I can see that you can create a table in Microsoft Word then paste this into the Planner task description as shown below but I'm getting no luck in trying to re-create this through Power Automate (update task details). I've tried to use the get task details for this task and it shows a string of "| Location | |\r\n| --- | --- |\r\n| Name | |\r\n| Contact Number | |\r\n| Email | |\r\n| Reason for request | |\r\n| Actions required | |\r\n| Initially Assignees | |" then when I try to use this as a template for the action Update task details, it produces this as a string rather than a table. I've also used the Graph API to get the task details but it shows exactly the same as the string already mentioned. I'd be really grateful if anyone could help!
