Update Rows in Excel in Power Automate

PDF4me Update Rows in Excel action enables in-place modification of existing rows in Excel documents using JSON data in Power Automate with intelligent header matching and type conversion. This powerful data update feature modifies cells without inserting or deleting rows, using automatic matching of JSON property names to column headers, with support for automatic conversion of strings to numbers/dates, culture-specific parsing, customizable date/numeric formatting, and null value handling, perfect for automated data synchronization, record updates, and database-to-Excel refresh workflows across Microsoft 365.

Authenticating Your API Request

To access the PDF4me Web API through Power Automate, every request must include proper authentication credentials. Authentication ensures secure communication and validates your identity as an authorized user, enabling seamless integration between your Power Automate flows and PDF4me's powerful Excel data update services.

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Key Features

In-Place Updates: Modify existing cells without inserting or deleting rows
Header Matching: Automatically match JSON property names to Excel column headers
Sequential Row Updates: Update multiple consecutive rows starting from specified row
Automatic Type Conversion: Convert JSON strings to Excel numbers and dates automatically
Format Customization: Apply custom date and numeric formatting patterns
Culture Support: Parse dates and numbers according to specified culture codes
Null Value Handling: Option to skip null values or update as empty cells

Parameters

Complete list of parameters for the Update Rows in Excel action. Configure these parameters to control data updates.

Important: Parameters marked with an asterisk (***) are required. JsonData must be a JSON array.

Parameter	Type	Description	Example
File Content***	Base64	Source Excel File Content • Map Excel file from previous action output • Supports Excel files from SharePoint, OneDrive, email attachments • Can be dynamically retrieved from flow variables • Must be valid Excel document (.xlsx, .xls formats)	`[File Content from Get File]`
File Name***	String	Excel Document Name • Specify Excel file name with extension (.xlsx, .xls) • Used for processing and output file naming • Must include proper file extension • Supports dynamic naming from flow variables	`data.xlsx`
Json Data***	String	JSON Array of Objects to Update • Must be a JSON array - single objects NOT supported • Each object updates one row sequentially • Property names must match column headers • Array Format: `[{"Name":"John","Age":31},{"Name":"Jane","Age":29}]` - Multiple rows • Single Object: Must wrap in array `[{"Name":"John","Age":31}]` • ❌ Invalid: `{"Name":"John"}` (will cause error)	`[{"Name":"John","Age":31}]`
Worksheet Name	String	Target Worksheet Name • Name of worksheet to update • Null or empty defaults to first worksheet • Must match worksheet name exactly • Case-sensitive worksheet name	`Sheet1`
Start Row	Number (int)	First Row to Update • 1-based row number to start updating • Default: 1 (typically use 2 or higher for data rows) • Row 1 is usually headers • Updates proceed sequentially from this row	`2`
Start Column	Number (int)	Header Column Offset • 1-based column offset for header matching • Default: 1 (column A) • Allows skipping initial columns • Affects which headers are mapped	`1`
Convert Numeric And Date	Boolean	Automatic Type Conversion • True - Converts JSON numbers to Excel numeric values, date-like strings to DateTime values (applies DateFormat and NumericFormat) • False - Treat all values as-is without type conversion or formatting • Default: true • Data Type Handling: Integer/Decimal → Numeric with NumericFormat; Date strings → DateTime with DateFormat; Other strings → Text; Boolean → Boolean; Null → Empty or skipped (depends on IgnoreNullValues)	`true`
Date Format	String	Excel Date Format • Excel date format pattern to apply • Examples: "yyyy-MM-dd", "MM/dd/yyyy", "dd-MMM-yyyy" • Default: "yyyy-MM-dd" • Used when ConvertNumericAndDate = true	`MM/dd/yyyy`
Numeric Format	String	Excel Numeric Format • Excel numeric format pattern to apply • Examples: "N2", "#,##0.00", "$#,##0.00" • Default: "N2" • Used when ConvertNumericAndDate = true	`#,##0.00`
Ignore Null Values	Boolean	Null Value Handling • True - Skip updating cells with null values in JSON • False - Update cells to empty when JSON has null • Default: false • Preserves existing values when true	`false`
Ignore Attribute Titles	Boolean	Case-Insensitive Header Matching • True - Case-insensitive matching of JSON properties to headers • False - Case-sensitive matching (exact match required) • Default: false • Useful for flexible JSON property naming	`true`
Culture Name	String	Culture for Date/Number Parsing • Culture code for parsing (e.g., "en-US", "de-DE", "fr-FR") • Empty string uses system default culture • Default: "" (empty) • Important for international data	`en-US`

Output

The PDF4me Update Rows in Excel action returns comprehensive output data for seamless Power Automate flow integration:

Table
JSON
Flow Integration

Table View

Response data in a structured table format:

Parameter	Type	Description
document	Base64	Excel document with updated rows
Success	Boolean	true if operation successful, false if failed
Error Message	String	Error description (null if successful)
Errors	Array	List of detailed error information (empty array if successful)

JSON Response Format

The raw JSON response from the action:

{
  "document": "[Base64 Excel Content with Updated Rows]",
  "Success": true,
  "ErrorMessage": null,
  "Errors": []
}

Error Response Example:

{
  "document": null,
  "Success": false,
  "ErrorMessage": "Worksheet 'Sales' not found",
  "Errors": [
    {
      "Code": "WORKSHEET_ERROR",
      "Message": "The specified worksheet 'Sales' does not exist in the workbook"
    }
  ]
}

Common Error Messages

Error	Cause	Solution
"Request is empty"	Request is null	Provide valid request object
"Document is empty"	Document is null	Ensure FileContent is provided
"Invalid worksheet selection"	Worksheet doesn't exist	Use existing worksheet name
"Worksheet '{name}' not found"	Invalid worksheet name	Check worksheet name spelling
"No headers found in worksheet"	Empty worksheet or no headers	Ensure row 1 (or StartRow-1) has headers
JSON parsing errors	Malformed JSON	Validate JSON syntax
"JsonData must be an array"	Single object provided	Wrap object in array brackets

Error	Cause	Solution
"Request is empty"	Request is null	Provide valid request object
"Document is empty"	Document is null	Ensure FileContent is provided
"Invalid worksheet selection"	Worksheet doesn't exist	Use existing worksheet name
"Worksheet '{name}' not found"	Invalid worksheet name	Check worksheet name spelling
"No headers found in worksheet"	Empty worksheet or no headers	Ensure row 1 (or StartRow-1) has headers
JSON parsing errors	Malformed JSON	Validate JSON syntax
"JsonData must be an array"	Single object provided	Wrap object in array brackets

Workflow Examples

The PDF4me Update Rows in Excel action in Power Automate provides comprehensive workflow templates designed for real-world business scenarios:

Inventory Sync
Order Status
Price Update
CRM Sync

Automated Daily Inventory Level Update Workflow

Transform your inventory management with automated Excel updates from database:

Complete Workflow Steps:

Trigger: Scheduled daily at 6 AM for overnight inventory sync
Query Database: Execute SQL to get updated stock levels for all products
Format JSON: Convert SQL results to JSON array with ProductID and Stock
Get Excel Inventory: Retrieve master inventory Excel from SharePoint
Update Rows: Update stock levels starting at row 2 (after headers)
Set Parameters: StartRow = 2, StartColumn = 1, WorksheetName = "Inventory"
Match Headers: JSON "ProductID" and "Stock" match Excel headers
Enable Conversion: ConvertNumericAndDate = true for proper number formatting
Apply Format: NumericFormat = "#,##0" for whole number stock quantities
Upload SharePoint: Save updated inventory Excel back to SharePoint

Business Benefits:

Syncs 500+ product stock levels daily automatically
Eliminates manual inventory data entry saving 3 hours daily
Ensures Excel inventory matches database in real-time
Updates only stock column, preserves all other product data

Create Flow

Automated Order Status Update Workflow

Streamline your order tracking with automated status updates in Excel:

Complete Workflow Steps:

Trigger: When order status changes in order management system
Get Order Details: Retrieve updated order ID and new status
Create JSON Array: Format as [{"OrderID": "12345", "Status": "Shipped"}]
Get Order Log: Retrieve Excel order tracking log from SharePoint
Update Row: Update status for matching order ID
Set StartRow: StartRow = 2 to skip header row
Case Insensitive: IgnoreAttributeTitles = true for flexible matching
Ignore Nulls: IgnoreNullValues = true to preserve other order data
Update SharePoint: Upload updated order log
Send Notification: Email customer with updated order status

Business Benefits:

Updates 200+ order statuses weekly automatically
Provides real-time order tracking in familiar Excel format
Preserves all order details while updating only status column
Reduces manual order log updates by 100%

Create Flow

Industry Use Cases & Applications

Sales & Marketing Use Cases

Lead Status Updates: Update lead qualification status in Excel tracking sheets
Campaign Metrics: Refresh campaign performance metrics from analytics platforms
Customer Records: Sync customer contact information from CRM to Excel
Sales Quotas: Update monthly sales targets and actuals in Excel dashboards

Get Help

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Authenticating Your API Request​

Key Features​

Parameters​

Output​

Common Error Messages​

Workflow Examples​

Industry Use Cases & Applications​

Get Help​