Templates and editing with Copilot
1. Templates and editing with Copilot
There are two ways to skip the blank canvas. You can start from a template, or you can get Copilot to edit an existing flow. This video covers both. First we'll find and audit templates, and then we'll edit, explain, and undo with Copilot.2. Find, preview, connect
The Templates gallery is full of pre-built flows, and using one well comes down to three steps: find, preview, and connect. Start by finding the template you want, either by searching the gallery for a keyword, like approval or email notification, or by browsing by category. Next, preview the template before committing, so you can see its trigger, every action, and the connectors it uses. That review is your first audit. Then connect and customize by signing in to the required connectors, clicking Continue, and editing the flow to fit your scenario. Once the template is saved, you'll find it under My flows. As with other flows, you can modify it by clicking into the flow and choosing Edit from the top toolbar.3. Always audit before you use
Always audit a template before you use it. You can use the preview to review the flow's trigger and every action. Start by looking for hardcoded values that should be dynamic. Then check whether any actions are deprecated, since Microsoft updates connectors regularly and older templates can fall out of date. Look for missing error handling, and make sure the trigger type matches your scenario. Remember, templates are starting points, not finished products.4. Run Flow Checker
Power Automate provides a tool called Flow Checker that you can find in the designer toolbar as a stethoscope icon. Click it to run a check on your template, and it catches any missing required fields before you go further.5. Run Flow Checker
It opens a pane like the one shown here, listing every error and warning it found.6. Edit with Copilot
Once a flow exists, you can open the Copilot sidebar from the designer toolbar and describe the change you want in plain language. Copilot modifies the flow and tells you what it changed. For example, if you ask "Add a step to get my profile", Copilot adds a Get my profile action from Office 365 Users. Or if you ask "Remove the failure notification action", Copilot removes that step and rewires the flow around it.7. Edit with Copilot
You can enter and submit your prompt in the chat input at the bottom. Be specific if there are multiple similar steps, and always review changes before proceeding.8. Copilot: Explain
Copilot can do more than edit. If you ask "What does this flow do?" from the sidebar, it will read through each step and provide a summary in plain language. This is useful for auditing templates, or for understanding a flow that a colleague shared. You can also ask about individual actions. For example, if you ask "What does the trigger do?", Copilot will explain that particular step.9. Undo is your safety net
Remember, Copilot might not always be accurate. It could select the wrong connector, utilize an outdated action, or misunderstand your intent. However, you can easily undo any changes. After Copilot makes a modification, take a moment to review the adjustments. If something doesn't look right, click 'undo' before sending another prompt. Once you send a new prompt, the previous change becomes final. While Copilot can serve as a helpful starting point, you remain in control of what is finalized.10. Let's practice!
Now it's time to explore a template, put Copilot to work, and see how describe-and-refine builds better flows.Create Your Free Account
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