microsoftlearning/pl-500t00-microsoft-power-automate-rpa-developer

PL-500T00-Microsoft-Power-Automate-RPA-Developer

PL-500 Microsoft Power Automate RPA Developer

• Are you a MCT? - Have a look at our GitHub User Guide for MCTs
• Need to manually build the lab instructions? - Instructions are available in the MicrosoftLearning/Docker-Build repository
• Do you need a refresher on which labs go with which course presentation? - Check out the GitHub Page

What are we doing?

• To support this course, we will need to make frequent updates to the course content to keep it current with the Azure services used in the course. We are publishing the lab instructions and lab files on GitHub to allow for open contributions between the course authors and MCTs to keep the content current with changes in the Azure platform.

• We hope that this brings a sense of collaboration to the labs like we've never had before - when Azure changes and you find it first during a live delivery, go ahead and make an enhancement right in the lab source. Help your fellow MCTs.

How should I use these files relative to the released MOC files?

• The instructor handbook and PowerPoints are still going to be your primary source for teaching the course content.

• These files on GitHub are designed to be used in conjunction with the student handbook, but are in GitHub as a central repository so MCTs and course authors can have a shared source for the latest lab files.

• It will be recommended that for every delivery, trainers check GitHub for any changes that may have been made to support the latest Azure services, and get the latest files for their delivery.

What about changes to the student handbook?

• We will review the student handbook on a quarterly basis and update through the normal MOC release channels as needed.

How do I contribute?

• Any MCT can submit a pull request to the code or content in the GitHub repro, Microsoft and the course author will triage and include content and lab code changes as needed.

• You can submit bugs, changes, improvement and ideas. Find a new Azure feature before we have? Submit a new demo!

Notes

Classroom Materials

It is strongly recommended that MCTs and Partners access these materials and in turn, provide them separately to students. Pointing students directly to GitHub to access Lab steps as part of an ongoing class will require them to access yet another UI as part of the course, contributing to a confusing experience for the student. An explanation to the student regarding why they are receiving separate Lab instructions can highlight the nature of an always-changing cloud-based interface and platform. Microsoft Learning support for accessing files on GitHub and support for navigation of the GitHub site is limited to MCTs teaching this course only.

pl-500t00-microsoft-power-automate-rpa-developer's Issues

Setup my lab environment - delay in provisioning the environment

Regarding these steps:

There are a couple of issues here that cause confusion with both MCTs and students. This is evident from for example issue #1.

1. The possible delay is described after step 2, which says "Your dev environment should now show in the list of Environments". Instead of describing it on step 3, let's please move it to step 2 (ex. as Markdown comment). Instructions are intended to be done sequentially and now the perception is that step 2 is broken.
2. Per https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/powerapps-docs/issues/3732, there is a monitoring protocol that can let attendees know when the environment is created (i..e Power Platform Admin Center). Let's describe it here - otherwise the attendees have no way to know when the environment is created.
3. Is it safe to proceed with the following steps in parallel once the Dev environment is being provisioned in the background? Let's clarify this one way or another in the instructions.

Mod 02 - Starter and Solution files for each exercise

Module: 02 and others

Lab/Demo: 00

Task: 00

Step: 00

Description of issue
Module 2 contains very lengthy exercises. If students make mistakes or are not able to finish the lab in time, it is not possible to continue with the next module and labs. Like the PL-300 course, a similar lab setup would be appreciated, with starter and solution files for each module.

Repro steps:

Setup my lab environment => Exercise 5 => .NET Download

Regarding the following step:

The download page has changed and no longer offers this prompt. Download starts automatically instead. The instructions should be updated accordingly.

Here's the current page:

Lab 2 Fabrikam Site crashes intermittently

Module: 02

Lab/Demo: 02

Task: 03

Step: 06

Description of issue
The lab requires students to browse the Fabrikam website and record the basic interactions of checking inspection results.
But the site keeps crashing resulting in the Powe automate workflow to continuously crash also.

Lab 2 => Step sequencing gets reset

Not sure if the intent was to create continuous sequencing or whether a new Task number is missing and the sequence was intended to restart for that task. Please apply one of these 2 fixes.

Lab 2: 'Power Automate needs an update' error in Exer 1/Task 2/Step 5

Module: 00

Lab/Demo: 02

Exercise: 01

Task: 02

Step: 05

Description of issue

When it tries to open the local/desktop version of Power Automate in this step, I am seeing an error 'Power Automate needs an update' and 'retry' etc. does not allow it to automatically open desktop app. In Power Automate/settings/updates it says it is at latest version.

Repro steps:

-Follow instructions as-written, using VM from download center.

-It may be there is a bug in the version of the Desktop Power Automate installed from the download link reference3d earlier in the instructions, since I was able to get this functionality to work if I updated through Microsoft Store. To do this - in MSFT Store, Go to the Library section. Find Power Automate in the Updates & downloads section click on the corresponding Update button.

-Recommend adding this 'note' to the instructions at that point.

Setup my lab environment => Exercise 2 => New workflow

This screen now appears after executing Exercise 2, Task 1, Step 1:

Please amend the instructions accordingly.

Lab02 -> Task #7: Close browser and test -> 'SitePhotos' out put variable empty.

Module: Instructions

Lab/Demo: Lab02

Task: Task #7: Close browser and test

Step: 01

Description of issue
'SitePhotos' variable empty after run flow.
Repro steps:

1. Go to Lab02 -> 'Task #7: Close browser and test' in this repo 'https://github.com/MicrosoftLearning/PL-500T00-Microsoft-Power-Automate-RPA-Developer'
2. after execute flow observe 'SitePhotos' out put variable empty.

Setup my lab environment => Exercise 1 => Account Info Screen

At the end of this exercise students get the following screen:

How to proceed? Can the instructions please be amended to provide clarify (i.e. do they need to enter this info, ignore it, etc.)?

New Designer in Power Automate - Instructions need to be updated

Module: 00

Lab/Demo: 00

Task: 00

Step: 00

Description of issue
The new designer is released in Power Automate, so instructions need to be updated. For now the new designer can be switched off, however in Edge the performance is very slow for some students. A work around is to use Chrome with the old designer.

Repro steps:

Lab 4, Exercise 2: Error with Get a row by ID

Lab 4: Custom Connectors

Exercise 2: Modify cloud flow to use connector

Task 1: Use custom connector in flow

Step 6: Select Loans for Table name, click on the Row ID field and select LoanID from the dynamic content pane.

Description of issue
Working through the steps as written, the test fails at "Get Loan" (Get a row by ID action).
While debugging, I noticed that the output from the Lookup Loan Number step has a loaned value of " 6f054d95-c4d3-ed11-a7c7-000d3a8fbb5c" (notice the leading space). This leading space causes the flow to fail at the Get Loan step.

Repro steps:

1. Create the flow as written in the exercise.

Proposed solution:

1. At step 6, use a Trim expression with loanID, which works like a charm.

Issue with last lab, Deploy Solution

Lab 7 - Deploy Solution

Exercise #5 - Import Solution

I think this lab needs to be changed; In the lab you Export your solutions as Managed..and then in Exercise 5 it tells you to import them, but you import them in the same Environment... And that won't work, since you can't import a solution if it already exists in this case.

I've had students create a new Environment, and do the imports there...but now the difficulty is the Azure VM is connect to a Machine Group in the "Test" environment and not one in this new environment.

Another option would be to NOT do the Export/Import, but just keep the same solution / same environment...and then create the Machine Group for the Azure VM...but there will need to be the instructions on how to have the Desktop flow run in the Machine Group instead of the 'regular' lab VM they've been using all week.

Funding Manager App setup failure

Lab: 00

Exercise: 5

Task: 00

Step: 03

Description of issue
Setup fails with error. Log file attached
1G9F3CB5.log

87 PRs queued up

These have been queued up for 1 week now. As a result, the instructions that are live with ALHs are quite stale and have known issues that have already been rectified in the PRs.

Can someone with sufficient access to this repo please approve the PRs?

Create Development environment defaults to Contoso

Lab: 00

Exercise: 02

Task: 01

Step: 02

Your Dev environment should now show in the list of Environments. This typically is named MOD Administrator’s Environment. For the rest of this course when it says Dev environment it will be this environment.

Description of issue
The name of my Environment is Contoso (default) and I do not seem to be able to create another

Repro steps:

Lab 2 => Account Number vs. Loan Number

In a few places in this lab the Loan Number (label in app) is called Account Number in instructions. Example below.

Please update all references in this lab and other labs as appropriate.

Instructions (one example only):

App:

Lab 1 => Exercise 2 => Task 1 => Map your data

Module: 01

Lab/Demo: 01

Task: 01

Step: 00

Description of issue
Instructions

Real display:

You need to map the 3 attributes in the top area: caseid, activity and event start.

Repro steps:

Lab 0: Need correct `https://aka.ms/ppac` URL

• Module 0 - Setup
• Lab 0 - Setup and environment preparation
• Exercise 2 - Create a Test environment
• Task 1 – Create a Test environment
• step 1

The shortened link at the above-referenced step should be https://aka.ms/ppac for the Power Platform Admin Center, rather than the current https://aka.ms/paac which directs to a Power Apps Africa Challenge page.

PL-500T00-Microsoft-Power-Automate-RPA-Developer/Instructions/L00/Lab00_Setup_Environment.md

Line 69 in 1bb8bc4

1. In a new browser tab, navigate to `https://aka.ms/paac`

Lab 0 Exercise 5 Copy Lab Resources .NET problem

Lab 0: Setup the lab environment

Exercise 5 - Copy Lab Resources

With the newest VM, these steps are no longer working properly as currently written.

Lab 2 => Exercise 1 => Task 3 => Variable type

Data type names have changed in the current version Power Automate Desktop, from "string" to "text".

In instructions:

In UI:

Please update this and all other references as required.

Lab 5 Exercise 2 UI changes, steps not needed

Module: 05

Lab/Demo: Exercise2

Task: 1

Step: 24 and 35

Description of issue
Building block updates, these steps are not needed anymore
24 Select the Get attachment (V2) action from the Office 365 Outlook connector.
35 Select the Initialize variable action from the Variable connector.

Repro steps:

Lab dependencies?

A question attendees always have in any course is:

What happens if I skip or do not have time to complete a particular lab? Can I still do subsequent labs?

With this in mind, are there any dependencies between the 7 labs in this course?

If so, let's clarify the specifics of these dependencies in the instructions so the attendees can manage them. Otherwise, let's add a note to the effect as well.

Mod 3 - Run Desktop Flows from Cloud Flows - Lab Issue in Lab 4 Exercise 4

Module: 03

Lab/Demo: 04

Exercise 4

Task: 37

Description of issue

Terminate action cancels the condition.

Repro steps:

1 Remove Terminate Action
2. Rest of the Actions should be under the Yes branch

Missing Lab Numbers and Names

This is a global issue that impacts all labs in this course. The course numbers and names are missing from the Markdown content and thus from display in ALHs such as Skillable (they are only present in metadata, which is invisible). The impact is that attendees have no way of telling which lab they are doing.

Example below:

Here's an example of the desired result, using PL-300 repo as an example:

Lab 1 => Exercise 4 => Highlight updates to scenario

I think it would be highly valuable to the attendees if the instructions highlighted the updates to this scenario compared to the one they read earlier in the case study. This will save them substantial time. This can be done via Markdown, for example, using bold or italics highlighting. Example of updates are highlighted below.

The other related item - and this could be just my interpretation of it - it's a little unclear whether discovery was supposed to have taken place within the lab or external to it. Looking through the lab instructions the discovery is external - the reader is not asked to participate in it, they are only given the conclusion. Perhaps the fact the discovery is not part of the lab can be made a little more clear.

issue in Lab 2 - Build Desktop Flows Module 2 - Desktop Flows

Module: 02

Lab/Demo: 02

Exercise : 02

###Task: 2

Step: 15

Description of issue
unable to get dynamic value for "get ui element on web page".Job number is changing everytime we add new record but after recording steps its unable to capture changed job number and throw error.

https://github.com/MicrosoftLearning/PL-500T00-Microsoft-Power-Automate-RPA-Developer/blob/master/Instructions/L02/Lab02_Build_Desktop_Flow.md

i. Go to the Request Inspection page.

vi. Right click on the Job Number and select Extract element value | Text: (“your job number here”). Remember the Job number.

Repro steps:
https://github.com/MicrosoftLearning/PL-500T00-Microsoft-Power-Automate-RPA-Developer/blob/master/Instructions/L02/Lab02_Build_Desktop_Flow.md

Known Issue: Power Automate - Narrow browser window does not show Expression editor

Lab: 3

Exercise: 1

Task: 1

Step: 11, 16, 18, 25

If your browser window is narrower than approximately 1,400 pixels- in a Power Automate Cloud Flow, the standard Dynamic content and Expression editor pane is not visible.

Repro steps:

1. Change the width of the Browser to see the difference.

Workaround: Zoom the Browser out to 90% or make the window wider to reveal the expected Dynamic content pop-out with Expression editor.

Setup my lab environment => Exercise 3 => Several updates

Please update the instructions per the annotated screenshot below:

Setup my lab environment => Exercise 3 => New workflow

This is similar to some of the other issues filed around the platform now prompting the user for a country/region:

Lab 1 => Exercise 6 => Task 4 => Extra step required

I think we need an extra step between step 1 and step 2, to request the user to navigate to the Construction Funding solution.

Excel is needed

Description of issue

Excel is needed in the Process Advisor & Importing Solution lab - Exercise 1, Task 3, Step 1

Students were able to use the online version but instructions should be updated/added

Setup my environment => Exercise 3 => No Premium trial option

Please see screenshot below. How to proceed?

Setup my lab environment => Exercise 5 => Windows Defender SmartScreen

Steps highlighted below do not appear in the standard ALH VM image, at least with Skillable. Recommend removing them if that's the case for the standard VM Microsoft provides for this course, or alternatively, making it clear to the students that these steps may not be applicable.

GitHub Pages

Can you please set up GitHub Pages for this repo?

Going to https://microsoftlearning.github.io/PL-500T00-Microsoft-Power-Automate-RPA-Developer currently produces a 404.

GitHub Pages is references in the Instructor Guide.

It's also standard in most Microsoft Learning repos. Example: https://microsoftlearning.github.io/PL-300-Microsoft-Power-BI-Data-Analyst/

Lab 1: "Process advisor" navigation item not present in current make.powerautomate.com

• Module 1 - Process Advisor & Importing Solution
• Lab 1 - Design Solution
• Process Advisor & Importing Solution

"Process advisor" is not available in the left-hand navigation pane as indicated by Ex 2 Task 1 step 2. This item may have been renamed to "Process mining".

Minor Issue in Lab 2, Exercise 1

Module 2

Lab 2

Exercise 1

Task: 3

Step: 12

This is file "LAB02_Build_Desktop_Flow.md"

Description of issue
The instructions say this:

Enter BorrowerApproved for Variable name, select Text for Data type, 123, Yes for Default value, BorrowerApproved for External name, Borrower approved for Description, and click Save.

It should say this:

Enter BorrowerApproved for Variable name, select Text for Data type Yes for Default value, BorrowerApproved for External name, Borrower approved for Description, and click Save.

It says you should enter the Default value as "123, Yes" but it should just be "Yes."

Setup my lab environment => Exercise 2 => Create a database for this environment

Regarding

Change the toggle on Create a database for this environment? to Yes.

This toggle is already set to"Yes", at least under the ALH account we are using. Can we please update instructions to either remove this step, or adjust the language to make it clear that it needs to be changed only if it's not set to "yes" already?

Set up my lab environment => Exercise 3

Regarding

If you receive a warning about a duplicate install, go ahead and accept the install.

It appears that in the official ALH VM image Power Automate desktop may already be installed via the Microsoft Store. I think we are creating a confusing situation for the attendees with this side-by-side Microsoft Store and MSI installer deployment.

We are trying to instill Power Automate best practices and I can't see how this is one of them. It gets even more confusing in a later lab when we ask attendees to update the version that was deployed from Microsoft Store.

Can the instructions and VM please be standardized on a single installation method for Power Automate desktop?

Time estimates

I think attendees and MCTs need time estimates for each lab. The labs have varying levels of complexity and time requirements. Both groups of stakeholders need to know those time requirements for effective scheduling.

Please see https://github.com/MicrosoftLearning/PL-300-Microsoft-Power-BI-Data-Analyst/blob/Main/Instructions/01-prepare-data-with-power-query-in-power-bi-desktop.md for an example of timing information in another MOC course.

It's just a matter of Microsoft estimating the timing and publishing it within the lab instructions. An alternative would be to publish them in the MCT Trainer Prep Guide. I think having timing details included in lab instructions would be better because they would be accessible to attendees and be easier to change based on community feedback.

Not able to create Virtual Machine for Setup the lab environment (PL-500)

Module: Setup the lab environment

Lab/Demo: Setup the lab environment

Task: Exercise 4 - Azure account setup

Step: 9 to 14

Description of issue
I am not able to find size in size drop down displayed in screen shots in instruction pane. Selected size from DC series after selecting 'see all sizes'.
Tried with different sizes as well but still getting error messages on validation and not able to create Virtual Machine.
Repro steps:
Setup the lab environment
1.Exercise 4 - Azure account setup
2. follow all instructions till step 9
3. size is not auto populated> selects size from all sizes available
4. Review + create
5. Got error for selected size.

Pl-500 lab issue.docx

Setup Environment Lab - Ex 3 - Power Automate not updating - Skillable

Module: 01

Lab/Demo: 01

Task: Ex 3

Step: 03

Description of issue

Power Automate Desktop will not update.

Try again!

Workaround looks like it needs Skillable to get involved.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/group-policy/archived-application-cant-be-restored

In these cases, you have to contact your system administrator to obtain an updated version of the application. The information in this article helps you to do this.

Lab 4 => Exercise 1 => Task 4 => Updating the connector

Regarding

Click Update connector and wait for the update to complete.

This seems unnecessary. The user is testing the connector here and not changing anything. Simply closing the tab would be a better options.

Lab 2 => Typo?

I think this is intended to say something else. Perhaps "add again"?

Lab files target unclear

Lab/Demo: 00

Exercise: Exercise 5 – Copy Lab Resources

Task: 00

Step: 01 - Copy the lab resources folder to C:\Labs

Description of issue
Is the target for the C:\Labs directory the VM just created or the Lab or local workstation?

Repro steps:

Impact assessment and upgrade of instructions for Power Automate for desktop build 2211

A new version of Power Automate for desktop has just been released: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/released-versions/power-automate-desktop/2211

It includes a significant amount of enhancements and other changes, some of which may impact lab instructions. I am thinking of the new trial workflow as one element that would need closer analysis and possibly updates to instructions (at least screenshots, possibly more).

Per the lab deployment steps the attendees would receive these updates immediately, so the instructions should match this new release to ensure they work well in the live classrooms. Please assess and update the instructions ASAP as appropriate.

Lab 1 => Exercise 6 => Tasks 2 and 3 => Navigation in new browser tabs

Regarding the instruction segment in the screenshot below.

The current behavior for make.powerautomate.com is to open flows for editing in new browser windows. The instructions assume the editing happens in an existing tab.

This happens in Task 2, Task 8. As a result, Task 2 step 11 no longer applies, it should be replaced with a step that instructs the reader to close the current browser tab. The reader can then continue Task 3 in the original browser tab.

Lab 0 Ex 1: "Start using apps" choice needs to be specified

• Module 0 - Setup
• Lab 0 - Setup and environment preparation
• Setup the lab environment
• Exercise 1 - Acquire your Power Platform trial tenant
• Task 1.1 – Acquire your Power Platform trial tenant

The current trial signup process presents two options on the page https://powerapps.microsoft.com/en-us/free/ : "Start building apps" and "Start using apps". The former results in the provisioning of a "Microsoft Power Apps for Developer" license type which does not allow the creation of the Trial-type test environment at Exercise 2, Task 2 of Lab 0. The latter provisions the correct "Microsoft Power Apps Plan 2 Trial" license.

Updating the above-referenced Task 1.1 to specify the "Start using apps" button would prevent learners from incorrectly setting up their license via the other "Start building apps" button.

"Start building apps" path (fails):

"Start using apps" path (succeeds):

Lab 1 => Exercise 2 => Task 1 => Step 7 - OAuth connection issue

The following step is not working for many if not all of of our attendees this week:

It's throwing an OAuth error, similar to this:

We tried the patch workaround posted on Skillable, without success:

We even tried fixing the connection from the Connections panel in the portal:

After the attempt above the error goes away and the Next button is enabled. However, after clicking it the UI waits a few minutes and then goes back to the same step.

This issue blocks attendees with completing this exercise in the lab. Please investigate ASAP.

Lab 4 => Exercise 2 => Task 1

Regarding

Select Cloud flows, select Process Construction Funding Request flow and click Edit.

This no longer works in the current UI. One must click the ellipsis beside the solution name instead to access the Edit feature.