Hello, this is ohya.

Last time, we introduced "Cloudflow," which connects D365 with external services.
This time, we'll take it a step further and explain Desktop Flow (RPA), which automates the operations performed on a PC itself.

🛠 This time's wall

"We want to automate the manual PC operations that cloud integration can't handle!"

For example, have you ever encountered a situation like this?

• - Every morning, log in to the company system and download the CSV file.
• - Perform a specific calculation in Excel, copy the result, and paste it into D365.
• - Repeat simple tasks such as opening a specific app and pressing a button.

Cloudflow cannot handle these kinds of "operations on a local PC."
That's where thePower Automate Desktop Desktop Flow.

1. 1. What is Desktop Flow?

Desktop Flow is a Robotic Process Automation (RPA) feature that can automate operations on a PC.
It can record and automatically execute the same steps a human would take, such as mouse clicks, keyboard input, and window manipulation.

Characteristics

• • Available for free (included as standard in Windows 10/11)
• - You can "record" operations and create a workflow.
• - Reproducible, including GUI operations (an area that cannot be replicated in the cloud).
• - Combined with Cloudflow for maximum effectiveness

2. 2. Typical Usage Scenarios

• • Legacy system operation
  →Automatically log in to an older system without a Web API and retrieve data.
• - Automating Excel tasks
  → Automate routine calculations, data copying, and format conversion.
• File operations
  →Regular backup copies, file renaming, and organization.

3. 3.Practical Examples

Example 1: Automate daily report updates

1. 1. Log in to the specified site.
2. 2. Download the CSV file.
3. 3. Import into Excel and perform formula calculations.
4. 4. Upload the results to SharePoint.

Example 2: Pressing a button in the company app

• - Run PAD at 9am on the 1st of every month
• - Open the old internal core system and click the "Update" button.
• - Take a screenshot of the results screen and save it.

4. 4. Integration with CloudFlow

While desktop flows can function on their own, they truly shine when called from cloud flows .

Example:

• - Trigger: A new order is created in D365.
• Action: Cloudflow invokes PAD and registers with the internal legacy system.

💡 PL-200Key Points
If the problem statement includes words like "local PC operation," "legacy system," and "file operation," suspect a desktop flow problem!

5. 5. Pitfalls

• - It won't work if the PC running it is in sleep mode.
• - Weak against UI changes (fails if button positions or names change)
• • Additional licenses (paid) are required for large-scale use.
• - The behavior may differ between the development environment and the production PC.

6. 6. Summary

• Desktop flow isRPA can automate PC operations directly.
• - When combined with Cloudflow, it can cover both on-premises and cloud environments.
• - Particularly effective for repetitive tasks and operating legacy systems.
• - Questions asking "What cannot be done with Cloudflow?" are frequently targeted in the PL-200 exam.

✍️ Next episode preview

Next time, we'll summarize the entire series.Chart showing how to use the five automation functions.I'd like to introduce_______
This is intended to be the definitive guide, useful for both PL-200 certification preparation and practical work organization!