Power Automate Desktop: Unlock UI Element Collections Today

Key insights

• UI Element Collections in Power Automate Desktop are centralized groups of interface elements, such as buttons and text fields, that can be reused across multiple desktop flows. This feature allows for easy sharing and updating of UI elements within an organization.

• Reusability: By creating libraries of UI elements, teams can import and share these collections across different automation projects. This reduces duplicate work and helps standardize automation processes.

• Maintainability: If an application's interface changes, you only need to update the affected UI element once in the collection. All desktop flows that use this collection will automatically reflect the change, saving time and reducing errors.

• Centralized Control: UI Element Collections are managed at the environment level using Dataverse’s Desktop Flow Module table. This setup supports version control and makes it easier to deploy automations through development, testing, and production pipelines.

• Workflow Optimization: Using collections improves workflow efficiency by ensuring accurate identification of UI elements and simplifying troubleshooting when issues arise during automation runs.

• Premium Feature: As of late 2024, UI Element Collections are available as a premium feature for organization or trial users. They are not accessible to free or personal Microsoft accounts.

Introduction to UI Element Collections in Power Automate Desktop

Power Automate Desktop (PAD) has recently introduced a feature called UI Element Collections, which promises to reshape how automation professionals manage and reuse user interface elements. In a comprehensive tutorial by Anders Jensen [MVP], viewers are guided through the process of setting up, managing, and maximizing the benefits of UI Element Collections. This advancement is particularly significant for both beginners and experienced users aiming to create more reliable and scalable automation workflows.

With this new feature, PAD users can now centralize and share captured UI elements such as buttons, text fields, and links across multiple automation flows. Previously, each desktop flow required separate UI element captures, leading to duplication and increased maintenance efforts. Now, UI Element Collections enable a more streamlined and efficient approach, especially beneficial for organizations managing large-scale or frequently updated applications.

Key Advantages and Tradeoffs

The primary advantage of using UI Element Collections lies in their reusability. By creating shared libraries, automation developers can reduce redundant work, as the same UI elements can be referenced across several desktop flows. This centralized management not only saves time but also supports better version control and easier collaboration among team members.

However, this approach introduces some tradeoffs. For instance, while centralized updates simplify maintenance when an application interface changes, it also requires careful governance to ensure that changes do not inadvertently disrupt dependent flows. Additionally, because UI Element Collections are stored at the environment level within Microsoft Dataverse, organizations must manage permissions and access to prevent accidental modifications or unauthorized use.

Step-by-Step Workflow for Creating and Managing Collections

To get started, users capture UI elements within the PAD flow designer, where all new elements are listed in the flow repository. From there, these elements can be grouped into collections under the "Collections" tab, though it is important to note that elements must first be captured before adding them to a collection. Once organized, collections can be published and stored in Dataverse, making them available for use in other flows and by other users within the same environment.

Incorporating collections into solutions is straightforward: users navigate to their solution in Power Automate, select Add existing, proceed through More and Other, and finally choose Desktop Flow Module followed by the desired collection. This ensures that all necessary dependencies are included during deployment, supporting smoother transitions between development, testing, and production environments.

Enhancing Automation Reliability and Scalability

The use of UI Element Collections greatly enhances the reliability of automated workflows. By referencing shared UI libraries, changes made to any element automatically propagate to all dependent flows, reducing the risk of outdated or broken automations after software updates. This is especially valuable in enterprise settings, where consistent and robust automation is crucial for efficiency.

Furthermore, mastering the identification and troubleshooting of UI elements within these collections allows developers to optimize their workflows. Issues can be resolved centrally, and enhancements can be rolled out organization-wide with minimal effort. Nevertheless, this model demands careful planning to avoid conflicts when multiple teams are updating shared resources simultaneously.

Premium Access and Future Implications

It is important to highlight that as of late 2024, UI Element Collections are considered a premium feature. This means they are available to organization premium or trial users but not to those with free or personal Microsoft accounts. While this restriction may limit access for some users, it also underscores Microsoft’s focus on providing advanced automation capabilities to enterprise customers who benefit most from enhanced governance and scalability.

Looking ahead, the adoption of UI Element Collections is set to transform how organizations approach desktop automation. By balancing centralized control with collaborative flexibility, businesses can achieve more resilient and manageable automation strategies, even as application interfaces and requirements evolve.

Keywords

Power Automate Desktop UI elements Power Automate tutorial UI element collections automation desktop guide Microsoft Power Automate tips RPA with Power Automate desktop automation workflow