How to Create a Word Document From a Template in Power Automate?

While working on the Power Automate travel request application, I got a requirement where I have a Word document template that needs to be filled with specific data from a SharePoint list.

The goal was automatically generating a Word document from this template whenever a new travel request is submitted. The template would automatically populate with details like the employee’s name, travel dates, destination, and approval status.

Create a Word Document From a Template in Power Automate

Before creating the flow, we need to create the template using Microsoft Word.

Now, I will tell you how to create a simple template, but you can use a predefined template or create your own.

Enable Developer option in Microsoft Word

Here, we create a Microsoft template using Developer tools in the MS Word desktop app to ensure your MS Word developer option is enabled. If not, follow the below steps:

1. Open the MS Word application. Navigate to the “File” tab and click “Options.”

2. Click the “Customize Ribbon” tab and enable the Developer option. Then click OK.

Then, you can see the Developer tab in the MS Word-like below screenshot.

Create a template in Microsoft Word

For this example, I am creating a simple Employee Travel Request example like the below screenshot:

Using the Developer tab, I will add the Plain Text Content Control, where I can provide dynamic data using Power Automate. To do this, follow the below steps:

1. Place the cursor where you want to insert the control. Then, go to the Developer tab, and under Controls, click ‘Plain Text Content Control.’

2. Next, a text box will appear. You can give it a sample name, then click on ‘Properties’ within the Controls section.

3. Then, ensure each control you add to the Word document has a unique title. In my case, I give it trEmpName and click OK.

4. Similarly, add the Control where you want to put the dynamic values.

Once your template is created, upload it to the SharePoint library for accessibility.

I created a SharePoint list for the flow, as shown in the screenshot below.

Now we start creating the flow:

1. Navigate to the Power Automate Home page, click + Create, select the Automated cloud flow, provide the flow name, choose the flow trigger (When an item is created), and click the Create button. Then, Provide the Site Address and List Name inside the trigger.

2. Then, we will read the Microsoft Word template to fill the template fields with selected dynamic values to generate a Word document. So, select the Populate a Microsoft Word Document action which you need a premium license.

Then provide the below parameter:

• Location: Select the SharePoint site from the drop-down.
• Document Library: Select the SharePoint Library Name from the drop-down.
• File: Select the Word document template.

Then, click Show all to display the advanced parameters.

• trManagerApprovar: Provide from dynamic content.
• trTraDate: Provide from dynamic content.
• trEmpName: Provide from dynamic content.
• trDestination: Provide from dynamic content.
• trPurposeOfTravel: Provide from dynamic content.

3. we will create a Word document from the template so that I can add the Create File action with the site address, folder path, file name, and File content from the dynamic content parameter.

Once the Flow is ready, we will run the Flow.

Run the Flow to Create a Word Document From a Template

Now, it’s time to save the flow. Click on Test -> Select Manually. At this step, add an item to the SharePoint list.

A Word document will be created from the template using Power Automate when the flow runs successfully.

When you open the Word document, you can see that the template is filled with SharePoint list values.

I used this template for this example. You can customize the template further based on your specific requirements.

Advantages:

• Automates the document creation process, so you don’t have to do it manually.
• Power Automate document generation within the Microsoft ecosystem makes it accessible and user-friendly. 

Limitations:

• Requires a premium connector in Power Automate, which may increase subscription costs.
• Changes to the template require updates in the flow, which can take more time for business users.

I hope you follow all the steps in this flow, which will help automate the creation of travel request documents.

Also, you may like some more Power Automate tutorials:

• Send an Approval Request With an Attachment Using Power Automate
• Calculate the Last Working Day Of a Month Using Power Automate
• Send Approval Requests to Multiple Approvers Using Power Automate
• Update a SharePoint List Item from another SharePoint List Using Power Automate
• Generate a Unique ID for a SharePoint List item Using Power Automate

Bijay Kumar

After working for more than 18 years in Microsoft technologies like SharePoint, Microsoft 365, and Power Platform (Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI), I thought will share my SharePoint expertise knowledge with the world. Our audiences are from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, etc. For my expertise knowledge and SharePoint tutorials, Microsoft has been awarded a Microsoft SharePoint MVP (12 times). I have also worked in companies like HP, TCS, KPIT, etc.