How to Create a Zip File Using Power Automate?

I worked on a requirement to create a zip file containing multiple documents stored in a SharePoint library using Power Automate. The task was to gather the files, compress them into a zip file, and store the zip file back into the SharePoint library for further use.

During this process, I found that Power Automate provides an effective solution, allowing the creation of zip files without requiring a premium subscription.

In this tutorial, I will tell you how to Create a Zip File Using Power Automate and that too without using any premium connector.

Create a Zip File Using Power Automate

Before creating the flow, we must create a SharePoint folder inside a document library and upload some documents you want to zip.

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. Add a compose action and provide a librarypath, which is the path to the root of the SharePoint site, and the ZipFolderPath is the relative path of the folder you want to Zip.

{
  "libraryPath": "/sites/PowerAutomateTutorial/HRDocuments",
  "zipFolderPath": "/Zip files"
}

3. Then add a Send an HTTP request to SharePoint action from sharePoint Connector with the below parameter:

• Site Address: Select the SharePoint site where you want the list to be created
• Method: Select “POST” as the method
• URI: Provide the below URI:

_api/web/GetListUsingPath(DecodedUrl=@a1)/RenderListDataAsStream?@a1=%27@{encodeUriComponent(outputs('Compose')['libraryPath'])}%27&RootFolder=@{encodeUriComponent(concat(outputs('Compose')['libraryPath'], outputs('Compose')['zipFolderPath']))}

• Body: Provide the below JSON format:

{"parameters": {"RenderOptions": 4103}}

This action I use to retrieve data from a specific folder within a SharePoint library. It is particularly useful when working with files or folders within the library, such as reading the contents of a folder or processing files.

4. Next, add compose action using the below expression:

@{body('Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint')['ListSchema']['.driveAccessToken']}

5. Now add select action and provide below parameters:

• From: Provide below expression:

@{body('Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint')['ListData']['Row']}

• Map:

6. Again, add a compose action using the below expression:

{
  "items": @{body('Select')}
}

7. Then add a Send an HTTP request to SharePoint action from sharePoint Connector with the below parameter:

• Site Address: Select the SharePoint site where you want the list to be created

• Method: Select “POST” as the method
• URI: Provide the below URI:

/transform/zip?cs=@{body('Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint')['ListSchema']['.callerStack']}

• Headers: Add a key-value pair:

Content-Type : application/x-www-form-urlencoded

• Body: Provide the below expression:

zipFileName=test.zip&guid=@{guid()}&provider=spo&files=@{encodeUriComponent(outputs('Compose_2'))}&oAuthToken=

8. Last add create file action and provide below parmeters:

• Site Address: Select the SharePoint site address from the dropdown menu where you store zip files.
• Folder Path: Select the folder path.
• File Name: Provide the file name using the .zip extension.
• File Content: Provide the below expression:

@{base64ToBinary(body('Send_an_HTTP_request_to_SharePoint_1')['$content'])}

Run the Flow to Create a Zip File

Now, it’s time to save the flow. Click on Test -> Select Manually -> click Test. After the flow runs successfully, go to the SharePoint list, and you will see that the zip file was created successfully.

In this article, I explained how to create a zip file containing multiple documents stored in a SharePoint library using Power Automate without premium connector.

Related Power Automate articles:

• Create an XML file from CSV in Power Automate
• Set Variable Based on Condition in Power Automate
• Create a sharing link for a file or folder using Power Automate
• Create PDF File from SharePoint list item Using Power Automate
• Get Start and End of Month in 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.