Book Image

Democratizing RPA with Power Automate Desktop

By : Peter Krause
Book Image

Democratizing RPA with Power Automate Desktop

By: Peter Krause

Overview of this book

Whether you want to organize simple files or perform more complex consolidations between different Office programs and remote-control applications that don't allow outside access, Power Automate Desktop helps meet these challenges. This book shows you how to leverage this workflow automation platform by explaining the underlying RPA concepts in a step-by-step way. You’ll start with simple flows that can be easily recorded and further processed using the built-in recorder. Later, you’ll learn how to use the more advanced actions to automate folder and file management and enable Office programs to interact with each other. You’ll also get to grips with integrating desktop flows into other cloud environments and further enhance their value using AI. As you progress, you’ll understand how flows can run unattended and how they are managed in the Power Platform, as well as key concepts such as creating, modifying, debugging, and error-handling UI flows. Finally, the book will guide you to use Process Automation Designer (PAD) in conjunction with your frequently used desktop systems to automate routine tasks. By the end of this book, you’ll have become a Power Automate Desktop expert, automating both professional and personal tasks.
Table of Contents (15 chapters)

Windows and desktop management

The mass management of workstations in small and large networks can be supported by numerous tools today, such as Active Directory group policies, Microsoft Intune, Microsoft System Center, and so on. Typical administration tasks in the administration area are as follows:

  • Installing and setting up the OS
  • Creating, configuring, and authorizing user access
  • Installing additional standard software for users, such as Office or other applications
  • Regular maintenance and health checks are performed by executing commands or scripts and monitoring and managing processes and Windows services

As mentioned previously, these tasks can be partly covered by other mechanisms, such as Active Directory group policies, Microsoft Intune, Microsoft System Center functionality, or other third-party management software. Typically, however, such tools require greater effort to procure and administer, and the software is aimed at professional IT administrators...