Access actions

The Access automation feature lets you interact with locally stored Access databases. Start by creating an Access instance using the 'Launch Access' action. This instance serves as the input parameter for the rest of the actions, allowing you to perform actions on the desired Access database.

The following actions are available:

• Launch Access
• Close Access
• Read Access table
• Run Access query
• Run Access macro

Note

Access actions in Power Automate for desktop are compatible with Microsoft Access 2013 or later versions.

Launch Access

Launches an Access database.

Input parameters

Argument	Optional	Accepts	Default Value	Description
Database path	N/A	Path of database		The full path of the Access database to open.
User interaction mode	N/A	Boolean value	False	Specify if the Access instance allows user interaction. This mode keeps the application running after the flow closes and permits user interaction alongside automation but can cause popups and errors requiring user attention.
Make instance visible	N/A	Boolean value	True	Specify whether to make the Access window visible or hide it.
Database password	Yes	Direct encrypted input or Text value		The encryption password of the database, if it's password-protected
Exclusive	N/A	Boolean value	False	Specify whether to open the database in exclusive mode. When enabled, the database can't be shared with others while it's open.

Variables produced

Argument	Type	Description
AccessInstance	Access instance	The specific Access instance for use with later Access actions. This allows the user to specify which of potentially several Access documents to access

Exceptions

Exception	Description
The Access database was not found	Indicates the specified Access database can't be found.
Failed to open existing Access database	Indicates an issue with opening the specific Access database.
Failed to launch Access	Indicates an issue with launching the Access application.
Access application is not installed	Indicates that Access application isn't currently installed in the specific machine.

Read Access table

Reads an Access table

Input parameters

Argument	Optional	Accepts	Default Value	Description
Access instance	N/A	Access instance		The Access instance to work with. This variable must be specified in a Launch Access action.
Table name	N/A	Text		The name of the Access table. You must type the exact name of the table as it is stored in the specific Access database.

Variables produced

Argument	Type	Description
Result	Text	The result of the read query.

Exceptions

Exception	Description
Failed to read an Access table	Indicates an issue with reading the specific Access table.

Run Access query

Runs a stored Access query

Input parameters

Argument	Optional	Accepts	Default Value	Description
Access instance	N/A	Access instance		The Access instance to work with. This variable must be specified in a Launch Access action.
Query name	N/A	Text		The name of the stored Access query. You must type the exact name of the query as it is stored in the specific Access database.
Query type	N/A	Select query, Action query	Select query	Specify whether this query is a Select or Action query.
Contains parameter	Yes	Boolean	False	Specify the parameters required to run the query. Ensure the parameter names and data types match the ones in the query.

Variables produced

Argument	Type	Description
QueryResult	Text	The result of the Select query execution, returning the output of the query in a datatable.
AffectedRows	Text	The number of rows that are affected, as a result of executing the Action query.

Exceptions

Exception	Description
Failed to run an Access query	Indicates an issue with executing the specific Access query.

Run Access macro

Runs a stored Access macro

Input parameters

Argument	Optional	Accepts	Default Value	Description
Access instance	N/A	Access instance		The Access instance to work with. This variable must be specified in a Launch Access action.
Macro name	N/A	Text		The name of the stored Access macro. You must type the exact name of the macro as it is stored in the specific Access database.
Is VBA Macro	No	Boolean	False	Specify if the macro is a VBA macro.
Contains parameter	Yes	Boolean	False	Specify the parameters required to run the macro. Ensure the parameter names and data types match the ones in the macro.

Variables produced

This action doesn't produce any variables.

Exceptions

Exception	Description
Failed to run an Access macro	Indicates an issue with executing the specific Access macro.

Close Access

Closes an Access instance

Input parameters

Argument	Optional	Accepts	Default Value	Description
Access instance	N/A	Access instance		The Access instance to work with. This variable must be specified in a Launch Access action.
Before closing Access	N/A	Do not save changes, Save changes	Do not save changes	Specify whether to save the Access database before closing this instance.

Variables produced

This action doesn't produce any variables.

Exceptions

Exception	Description
Failed to close Access	Indicates an issue with closing the specific Access instance.

Known limitations

Read Access table and Run Access query can't retrieve attachment and binary data type cells.