Can Sharepoint Trigger based off of a file being MOVED into a Folder

Question

Hello All,

I have seen some users with this same issue. I need a PowerAutomate to trigger when a user moves a file into a folder. The built in triggers for SharePoint are limited and cannot handle this type of request.

The Scenario is this: Files are dropped into a parent folder from Adobe Acrobat Sign. Users then access this folder and process the files. One of the steps of processing is to move the completed files into another SharePoint folder. My dream is to have this moving of the file to the completed folder trigger my PowerAutomate! The PowerAutomate that I built takes the SharePoint File and copies it to a On premise Network Drive.

The only Built-in triggers work when a "NEW file is created" but not when a file is moved. I though maybe I could make something that creates a new copy of the original once it is dropped into a specific folder and save it as a new file which could trigger the built-in SharePoint trigger.

Please any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Hi @Justin Ossa ,

Flow does not support the ability to detect files being moved to folders.

Reference:https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/dev/business-apps/power-automate/sharepoint-connector-actions-triggers#move-files-and-flow-runs

As a workaround, perhaps you could use the following methods to achieve your needs.

Use Recurrence as the trigger to monitor whether there are new files generated in the specified library the day before, and then set the properties of these files according to your needs.

Reference:https://powerusers.microsoft.com/t5/General-Power-Automate/Trigger-flow-when-file-is-moved-within-the-same-library/td-p/361908

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Answer 2

Hello,

When a files properties are updated does it essentially create a new file? That can then trigger the "when a new file is created or modified" Trigger?

I need the flow to create a file on a network drive when a file is MOVED to a final destination folder on SharePoint. I guess if I could trick it into creating a new file then that could work.

I read this original post and it is from 2019. I am unable to get it to work for my Flow. I am wondering if there are any other work arounds?

Thank you Microsoft community.

Answer 3

Hi @Justin Ossa ,

Per my knowledge, The "when a file is created or modified" Trigger sometimes detects the moved file, sometimes it doesn't.So I don't think this trigger condition is suitable for your case.

In fact we are currently providing help on SharePoint in the Q&A forum, and Power Automate is a product independent of SharePoint which we are not so familiar with. Regarding the difference between these two methods which is more related to Flow, My knowledge of Power Automate is not very deep. We would recommend that you go to the forum dedicated to flow for more professional help, there will be very professional people to solve the problem for you quickly.

Microsoft Power Automate Community - Power Platform Community

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