Skip to content
Build a Doc
Home Documentation Support
This documentation is currently in preview, therefore subject to change.

Power Automate Getting Started Guide

Welcome to the Power Automate (Microsoft Flow) getting-started guide for Build a Doc. This tutorial shows you, step-by-step how to connect the Build a Doc Power Automate (Microsoft Flow) connector to your Build a Doc subscription and create your first flow that converts a Word template into a PDF with data dynamically inserted. It provides a quick, practical getting started guide where the skills learned can be applied to other Build a Doc actions.

Prerequisites

  • A Build a Doc subscription and an API key.
  • An appropriate Power Automate account with permissions to create flows, and access to the connectors you will need (OneDrive / SharePoint).
  • A Word template (Invoice) stored in OneDrive (see Word Template Syntax for template syntax). The Word template used in this example can be downloaded here.
  • An appropriate JSON Data source, which matches the template. The JSON Data source used in this example can be found here.

Flow Overview

  1. Trigger the flow (manual, HTTP, or scheduled).
  2. Get the Word template file content from source (OneDrive).
  3. Call the Build a Doc Convert Word Document action with a valid JSON data source.
  4. Create the resulting PDF file in OneDrive.
  5. Verify the output.

Step-by-step

1. Create a new flow

  • In Power Automate, click + New flow -> Instant cloud flow (or choose the trigger type you need). New Flow Instant Cloud Flow

  • Name the flow (e.g., Build a Doc - Generate Invoice). Naming Your Flow

  • Choose Manually trigger a flow (this is the event that kicks off your flow), then Create.

2. Fetch the template file

  • Add OneDrive for Business -> Get file content. Get File Content
  • Within the Get File Content action, select the file that you wish to use from the file path selector.

Select File Path

  • This demonstration will use the below template: Invoice Template

3. Add the Build a Doc: Convert Word Document action

  • Click the + to add an action and search for the HappyWired PowerDocs connection. Select a Build a Doc Action
  • Select Convert Word Document.

3b. Creating the connection

  • On first use, you will be prompted to create the connection. You may name the connection anything you like.
  • Paste your API key, then select Create. Flow connection details

4. Configuring the action

  • Document: Set to the output of the OneDrive → Get file content action.

  • Data source: Add a data source named Invoice (or the name your template expects).

  • Format: JSON.

  • Data: use the JSON object that you will insert into the template.

  • Output Format: Set to PDF. Convert Word Document Input Parameters

5. Save the Output (Create File)

  • Add OneDrive for Business → Create File Create File

  • Configure the Create file action:

    • Folder Path: choose the folder where you want the PDF saved.
    • File Name: set an appropriate name and include the .pdf extension.
    • File Content: map the Build a Doc action’s converted output (Base64 content).

  • If the Build a Doc action succeeds and returns base64 content as intended, the output file will be correctly created in the destination.

6. Test and validate

  • Save and run the flow.
  • Inspect the resulting PDF in your OneDrive folder. It should contain the data from your data source inserted into the template and look like the invoice below: Output Invoice Document

Troubleshooting

Click to expand common errors and fixes

File Not Found / Permissions

Cause:
Wrong OneDrive file ID or file path, or flow account lacks access.

Fix:

  • Re-select the file in the action to ensure correct file ID/path.
  • Confirm the connected OneDrive account has permission to the file.

Trigger Not Firing

Cause:
Manual trigger not activated or missing required inputs.

Fix:

  • Save the flow and run it using the Power Automate button (or the expected trigger).
  • Provide required manual-trigger inputs.

Blank or Missing Fields in PDF / Blank Placeholders

Cause:
JSON keys don’t match template placeholders or wrong data source name.

Fix:

  • Make JSON property names exactly match template placeholders (case-sensitive).
  • Validate the payload structure using Compose or Parse JSON.

No File Extension / Wrong Extension

Cause:
Create file filename is missing an extension or using the wrong type.

Fix:

  • Include the correct file extension (e.g., .pdf) in the Create file name that matches the conversion output.

Variable Initialisation Issues

Cause:
Initialise variable contains invalid data or wrong reference.

Fix:

  • Ensure Initialise variable actions are set to valid data and the flow references that variable correctly.

Document Conversion (Word → PDF) Fails

Cause:
Invalid input file content or malformed data source.

Fix:

  • Confirm the Convert_Word_Document action receives the expected file content.
  • Validate the JSON/data source format and required fields.

File Creation Problems

Cause:
Wrong folder path or duplicate filename.

Fix:

  • Use the folder picker for the destination path.
  • Include the extension and ensure the filename is unique.

Error Handling / Diagnosing

Cause:
Runtime errors not yet investigated.

Fix:

  • Inspect the run history for the failing run and action outputs for step-level error messages.

Quick Checklist

  1. Confirm the manual trigger actually fired (check Run history).
  2. Re-select files used in Get File Content actions - confirm file IDs and that files exist.
  3. Verify OneDrive connector permissions.
  4. Check Initialise Variable actions use correct and valid data.
  5. Ensure Convert Word Document gets valid file content and properly formatted data source.
  6. Use the folder picker and include the correct file extension in the Create file action.
  7. Open run history and read the failing action’s error details.