How to Create a CSV Table in Power Automate? [With Examples]

Recently, I encountered a scenario where I needed to automate the generation of a CSV file from SharePoint data using Power Automate. This requirement came up during a client project where we needed to export data in a structured, easy-to-share format. Generating a CSV table using Power Automate proved to be an efficient way to meet this need.

In this tutorial, I will explain how to create a CSV table in Power Automate. Additionally, I will cover:

• Create a CSV table with custom columns in Power Automate
• Create a CSV table from JSON data using Power Automate
• How to use the Create CSV Table action in Power Automate
• Create a CSV table from an array in Power Automate
• Create a CSV table from a SharePoint list using Power Automate

Create CSV Table Action in Power Automate

The Create CSV Table action in Power Automate converts a list of data into a CSV (Comma-Separated Values) format, making it easy to share or store information. It takes input data, like a list from SharePoint or an Excel file, and transforms it into a table format where each row corresponds to a record and each column corresponds to a field.

The output is a CSV file containing data neatly arranged with values separated by commas. This CSV file can be used in various ways, such as sending it as an email attachment or saving it to a cloud storage location.

The Power Automate Create CSV Table action accepts Two parameters.

• From: It can be a collection, array, or data from sources like SharePoint, Excel, or other connectors that return multiple items.
• Columns: This defines the columns in the CSV table. You can choose:
  • Automatic: All columns from the input data in the CSV.
  • Custom: You can manually define which columns you want to include and their respective names.

Create a CSV Table From Array in Power Automate

Suppose you have an array of data, such as a list of employees with their names and emails, and you want to convert this array into a CSV table using Power Automate.

Follow the below steps:

1. In the Power Automate, click the Instant Cloud flow, enter the Flow name, and choose the trigger flow (i.e., manually trigger a flow).

2. Add an Initialize variable action where we provide our array using the below parameters:

• Name: Provide the name of the variable. In my case, I give EmployeeArray
• Type: Set the variable type as an array from the dropdown
• Value: Provide your array, or you can provide the below array:

[
  {
    "Name": "John Doe",
    "Email": "[email protected]"
  },
  {
    "Name": "Jane Smith",
    "Email": "[email protected]"
  },
  {
    "Name": "Robert Johnson",
    "Email": "[email protected]"
  },
  {
    "Name": "Emily Brown",
    "Email": "[email protected]"
  },
  {
    "Name": "Michael Davis",
    "Email": "[email protected]"
  }
]

3. Now select the Create CSV table action. Then, give the variable from dynamic content in the From field and set the Columns as Automatic.

Now, click Save and run the flow manually. After it runs successfully, click the create CSV table action. Then, in the output section, you can see the csv table.

You can create a CSV table from an array using Power Automate.

Create a CSV Table From the SharePoint List using Power Automate

I want to export all tasks from a SharePoint list named Project Tasks into a CSV file and then email the generated CSV file to the project manager.

Now follow the below steps:

1. In the Power Automate, click the Instant Cloud flow, enter the Flow name, and choose the trigger flow (i.e., manually trigger a flow).

2. Then add a Get items action to retrieve all items present in the SharePoint list and provide the following parameters:

• Site Address: Select the SharePoint site address.
• List Name: Select the name of the SharePoint list from the drop-down.

3. Now select the Create CSV table action, enter the variable from dynamic content in the From field, and set the Columns to Automatic.

4. Now, add a Send an email action to send the CSV file. To do this, add the Send an email action with the following parameters:

• To: Enter the recipient’s email address (e.g., the manager’s email).
• Subject: Provide a subject for the email.
• Body: Write the body content of the email, including any message or instructions.
• Attachments: For the Attachment Name, enter Project Tasks.csv. For the attachment content, select Output from the Create CSV table action.

Now, click Save and run the flow manually. After it runs successfully, you can see an email received by your project manager.

When you open the csv file, you can see some default column shows.

In the next example, I will show how to fix this one.

Create CSV Table Custom Columns in Power Automate

To do this, I will edit the existing flow and select the Create CSV table action. In the Columns field, change the setting from Automatic to Custom. Next, map the custom headers to the corresponding values from the SharePoint list

Now, click Save and run the flow manually. Once it runs successfully, your project manager will receive your email. After that, open the CSV file.

Create CSV Table From JSON using Power Automate

suppose a finance department needs to report the current exchange rates of various currencies against the US Dollar (USD) to understand international transactions better. They receive this data in JSON format from a financial API every day.

Our work involves converting the JSON data of currency exchange rates into a CSV file and emailing it using Power Automate.

I want the Power Automate flow to trigger at a specific time, so I used a scheduled cloud flow in Power Automate. Let’s see how to create it:

1. Navigate to the Power Automate Home page, click + Create, and select the Scheduled Cloud Flow. Then provide the following information:

• Starting: Provide on which date you want to run your flow.
• at: Provide the time you want to run the flow, in my case, at 8:00 AM.
• Repeat every: We want to run the flow every weekday, so here, select 1 week.
• On these days: Select the Weekdays, i.e., Monday to Friday.

2. Add an Initialize variable action where we provide our array using the below parameters:

• Name: Provide the name of the variable. In my case, I give JsonData
• Type: Set the variable type as a string from the dropdown
• Value: Provide your array, or you can provide the below array:

{
  "base": "USD",
  "date": "2023-10-21",
  "rates": {
    "JPY": 150.25,
    "GBP": 0.74,
    "AUD": 1.40,
  }
}

3. Add the Parse JSON action. Then in the Content field select the JsonData variable from dynamic content. Then you can generate the schema like below:

{
    "type": "object",
    "properties": {
        "base": {
            "type": "string"
        },
        "date": {
            "type": "string"
        },
        "rates": {
            "type": "object",
            "properties": {
                "JPY": {
                    "type": "number"
                },
                "GBP": {
                    "type": "number"
                },
                "AUD": {
                    "type": "number"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

4. Add again Initialize variable action, then provide the variable name as csv, and type as a string in the value section provided below:

Base,Date,Country Currency Name,Currency Rate

5. Select Append to string variable. Then, provide the variable name, and in the Value field, enter the value below.

6. Now, we will append a row to the CSV table for Great Britain Pound. Select Append to string variable and provide the variable name as CSV data. Then, enter the value.

7. Now, we will append a row to the CSV table for Australian Dollars. Select Append to string variable and provide the variable name as CSV data. Then, enter the value.

8. Now, add a Send an email action to send the CSV file. To do this, add the Send an email action with the following parameters:

• To: Enter the recipient’s email address.
• Subject: Provide a subject for the email.
• Body: Write the body content of the email, including any message or instructions.
• Attachments: For the Attachment Name, enter Currency Rates.csv. For the attachment content, select Output from the Create CSV table action.

Now, click Save and run the flow manually. Once it runs successfully, your recipient will receive your email. After that, open the CSV file.

In this tutorial, I covered how to use the Create CSV Table action in Power Automate, including generating a CSV table from an array and exporting data from a SharePoint list to a CSV file.

Additionally, I explained how to customize CSV columns, convert JSON data into a CSV file, and send the generated CSV file via email using Power Automate.

Related Power Automate articles:

• Create CSV Table From Excel File Using Power Automate
• Get Last & First Item ID from SharePoint List in Power Automate
• Import CSV Data to SharePoint List in Power Automate
• Convert CSV to Array in Power Automate
• Create XML file from CSV in Power Automate
• Convert XML to CSV using Power Automate
• Convert CSV to Excel 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.