Web Automation using Power Automate Desktop
Power Automate Desktop is Microsoftโs RPA (Robotic Process Automation) tool used to automate desktop and web-based tasks through UI automation, scripting, and data processing.
It is part of the Microsoft Power Platform and integrates with Power Automate (cloud flows) for end-to-end automation.
Key Features :
- Drag & drop design for no-code/low-code automation.
- Automate web apps, Windows apps, Excel, and file systems.
- Supports UI, API, Excel, Email, Database, Terminal, and System actions.
Installation Steps :
- Download PAD , visit: https://flow.microsoft.com/en-us/desktop/
- Install the software.
- Sign In with Microsoft Account.
- Install browser extension
- For Chrome/Edge automation:
- Visit the browser’s extension store.
- Search โPower Automateโ.
- Install and enable the extension.
Creating Test Case :
- Open Power Automate Desktop
- Click on the new button & select โFlowโ option and give name to the flow.
- Click on the Variable icon on the left hand side & provide info like name, value etc.
Variable name – Name of variable to be used in flow
Date type – Type of variable like Text, String, Boolean
Default value : Value of variable like URL of app, email & password
Mark as sensitive : This will encrypt the value
After adding variables , it will show on the left hand side.
- Search activity โLaunch new Chromeโ , drag & drop activity to flow and provide values like URL, State of browser window etc.ย
Note : Variables added should be used like %var_name%.
- To enter data in the field , use activity โPopulate text field in windowโ then select UI element using UI element picker of power automate desktop.ย
After clicking on the Add UI element button , the element picker window open & element can be selected by pressing Ctrl + Left click.
- To click on a UI element , select activity โClick UI element in windowโ & click on Add UI element button & select element using element picker window.
- After adding all steps it will display under flow.ย
- To run the flow. Click on โRunโ button at the top.ย
