Power Automate Desktop

Automation of repetitive tasks is a growing need in today's digital world. Power Automate presents itself as a robust solution that allows users to simulate human interactions to process data, manipulate Excel sheets and navigate web pages, among many other functionalities. This article will guide you through the first steps with this powerful tool, from installation to creating your first automated workflow.

How to install Power Automate Desktop?

To start using this powerful automation tool, it is necessary to perform a proper installation. The process is simple and will give you access to both cloud flows and desktop functionalities.

1. Search for "Power Automate" in any browser and select the first Microsoft option.
2. On the home page, sign in with your Microsoft account (if it's your first time, you'll get a free trial of about three months).
3. Once inside the platform, go to the "Desktop Streams" option in the left pane.
4. Click the "Install" button and then "Download".
5. Run the downloaded installer and follow the instructions.
6. It is important to check all options, especially "Install the machine run tyde app to connect from Power Automate Cloud Portal", which allows you to connect cloud flows with desktop flows.
7. Complete the installation and launch the application.

It is important to mention that to take advantage of all the functionalities, a professional version of Windows is required. In addition, Power Automate automatically installs extensions for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, so it is advisable to use these browsers to develop your automations.

What does the Power Automate Desktop interface offer?

Once the application is installed, you will find an intuitive and complete interface that will allow you to manage your automations efficiently.

Main panel and basic options

The Power Automate Desktop interface is designed to be user-friendly and accessible, even for users with no programming experience. On the left panel you will find:

• Home page
• Create desktop flows
• Templates
• Learning option
• My Streams (where cloud streams are stored)
• Desktop flows (automations created in the desktop interface)

All flows you create on the desktop will be automatically synchronized with the cloud, making them easily accessible from different devices.

Workspace and tools available

When creating a new flow, a window will open with:

• Action bar: it contains all the activities that Power Automate can perform, such as:

  • Creation of variables
  • Conditionals
  • Interaction with web pages
  • Excel, Word, Access or Outlook manipulation

• Main work area: where the automation flow is visualized and built.

• Right panel: includes:

  • Copilot interface (to create flows using natural language).
  • Variables section (input, output and local)
  • User interface elements (for interacting with web pages and applications)
  • Reference images

Power Automate stands out for being a low code tool, which means that it allows you to create complex developments in a simple way, without the need for advanced programming knowledge.

How to create your first automated flow?

Creating a basic flow in Power Automate is extremely simple. Let's implement a classic "Hello World" to familiarize ourselves with the platform.

Creating a "Hello World" step by step

1. In the Power Automate Desktop interface, select the "Flows" option and create a new flow (e.g. "Initial Test").
2. In the action bar, look for "Messages".
3. Select "Message boxes" and then "Show message".
4. You can drag this action to the workspace or double-click to add it.
5. Configure the message:
   • Title: "My first hello world"
   • Message: "Hello world".
6. Save the flow.
7. Run the automation by clicking the "Play" button.

When it runs, a pop-up message with the text "Hello World" will appear. Once you click the button to close the message, the flow will end and display the "Ready" status, indicating that it has completed successfully.

Exploring Copilot for advanced automations

Power Automate includes Copilot, a built-in feature that allows you to create flows from natural language. This tool is ideal for users who want to create more complex automations without having to know all the technical details.

You can use Copilot to create anything from simple mathematical operations to complex workflows, simply by describing what you need in everyday language.

Power Automate represents a revolution in the way we automate repetitive tasks, offering an accessible interface and powerful functionality. Whether you need to process data, interact with applications or browse the web, this tool will allow you to save time and reduce errors in your daily processes. Have you already tried Power Automate? What kind of automations would you like to implement? Share your experiences and results in the comments.