Power Automate Info
Free vs Paid Access
Free options
If you have a Microsoft 365 (Office 365) subscription, you already get access to Power Automate for flows that use standard connectors (like Outlook, SharePoint, Teams).
Power Automate Desktop is free for all Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. You can build desktop automations without needing a paid plan.
There’s also a 30‑day free trial of premium features for evaluation.
Limitations of free use
Only standard connectors are available (no premium connectors like Salesforce, SAP, or advanced APIs).
Limited monthly runs (around 750 per month).
No access to AI Builder, unattended RPA, or enterprise-grade features.
Paid subscriptions
Power Automate Premium (per user): Required if you want premium connectors, higher limits, or to build/manage desktop flows with RPA.
Power Automate Process license: For enterprise processes (like invoice automation or HR onboarding).
Hosted Process license: Adds Microsoft-hosted machine capacity for unattended automation.
✅ What this means for you
If you just want to automate flows between Microsoft 365 apps (e.g., moving files in OneDrive, sending Teams notifications), you can do that without extra cost.
If you want advanced automation (extracting PDFs, connecting to external systems, running unattended bots), you’ll need a Power Automate Premium subscription.
👉 Since you’re exploring PDF extraction and dashboard integration, you’d likely need Premium or a specialized connector, unless you stick to standard flows inside Microsoft 365.
Today
please name this topic test cloud
I'll remember the topic named Test Cloud.
Got it — I’ve saved the topic under the name Test Cloud.
i have a file in onedrive i would like to extract the details for
Thanks for clarifying, Eric 👍. I can help you locate the file in OneDrive, but just to set expectations: I can’t open or extract the contents of the file itself. What I can do is search your OneDrive for the file and list its details (like name, type, and metadata such as when it was last modified).
To get started, could you tell me one of these:
The file name (or part of it)
The type of file (Word, Excel, PDF, etc.)
Or any keywords inside the title that would help me find it
For example, you could say: “Search OneDrive for my file called ‘ETF Screener.xlsx’” and I’ll pull up the details.
Would you like me to run a search for it now?
the filename is FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25-OCT25)
I wasn’t able to search your OneDrive because it isn’t currently connected to Copilot. Once you toggle on OneDrive in your Connectors settings, I’ll be able to look up files like FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25‑OCT25) and list their details for you.
Here’s how you can set it up:
Go to Settings → Connectors
Enable OneDrive
Then ask me again to search for the file
Would you like me to walk you through the steps to connect OneDrive now?
how can i access onedrive in connectors
Here’s how you can access and enable OneDrive in Connectors so I can search your files for you:
🔧 Steps to connect OneDrive
Open Copilot Settings (click your profile icon in the top right or bottom left).
Go to Connectors.
In the list of available services, find OneDrive.
Toggle it on and sign in with your Microsoft account (the same one you use for OneDrive).
Once connected, I’ll be able to search your OneDrive documents when you ask.
👉 After you’ve done this, you can simply say something like: “Search OneDrive for FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25‑OCT25)” and I’ll pull up the file details.
Do you want me to walk you through what kind of details I can show once OneDrive is connected?
i should be connected now. let's try it. Search OneDrive for FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25‑OCT25)
2 results
FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25-OCT25).xlsx
Last modified at yesterday, 10:30 am
FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25-OCT25).pdf
Last modified at yesterday, 10:31 am
Here are the files I found in your OneDrive matching FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25‑OCT25):
📊 FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25-OCT25).xlsx Last modified: 1 Dec 2025, 23:30 UTC Open in OneDrive
📄 FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25-OCT25).pdf Last modified: 1 Dec 2025, 23:31 UTC Open in OneDrive
⚠️ Note: Due to limited display space, not all results may be shown here.
let's test. please extract all details from FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25‑OCT25).pdf and create structured tables
I need to pause here, Eric — I can search for and list your OneDrive files, but I don’t have the ability to open or extract the contents of a PDF (or any document) directly. That means I can’t pull out the internal details from FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25‑OCT25).pdf into structured tables.
What I can do for you is:
✅ Locate the file in OneDrive and confirm metadata (name, type, modified date).
✅ Help you design a structured table format (columns, rows, toggles, associations) so that when you open the PDF yourself, you can copy/paste the data into that format for dashboard use.
✅ Work iteratively with you to modularize the extracted data once you provide it (e.g., pasting text or numbers here).
If you’d like, you can paste a section of the PDF’s content here, and I’ll immediately transform it into clean, structured tables ready for toggling and dashboard integration.
Would you like me to sketch out a template table structure for this FI Dashboard file so you can see how the extracted details would slot in?
what can i use to extract the pdf details. is it n8n?
Great question, Eric — you’re thinking in exactly the right direction 👌.
🔍 Options for extracting PDF details
Here are some common approaches you can use:
n8n (workflow automation)
Yes, n8n can do this. It has community nodes and integrations that let you parse PDFs.
Typical flow: OneDrive node → PDF parser node → transform into JSON or tables → send to Excel/Google Sheets or back into your dashboard.
You can modularize the output so each section of the PDF becomes a structured dataset for toggling.
Zapier / Make (Integromat)
Similar to n8n, these platforms can connect OneDrive/Google Drive with PDF parsing tools.
They’re more “plug-and-play” but less customizable than n8n.
Dedicated PDF parsing libraries/tools
If you’re comfortable with code, libraries like pdfplumber (Python) or PyMuPDF can extract text and tables.
For no-code, services like Docparser or PDF.co specialize in structured extraction.
Microsoft Power Automate
Since you’re already in the Microsoft ecosystem, Power Automate can connect OneDrive to PDF extraction flows.
It’s strong for enterprise-grade automation and integrates directly with Excel/SharePoint dashboards.
⚙️ Best fit for you
Given your focus on modular dashboards and scenario toggling, n8n is a great choice because:
It’s open-source and highly customizable.
You can tag, modularize, and route extracted data into your existing FI Dashboard workflows.
You can build reusable flows for different PDFs (e.g., Super Analysis, ETF Screener).
👉 My suggestion: start with n8n + a PDF parser node, then push the structured output into Excel/CSV. From there, we can iteratively refine the tables together for toggling and dashboard integration.
Would you like me to sketch out a sample n8n workflow for extracting FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25‑OCT25).pdf into structured tables?
does power automate require a subscription?
Short answer: Power Automate can be used for free in some cases, but most advanced features require a paid subscription.
⚡ Free vs Paid Access
Free options
If you have a Microsoft 365 (Office 365) subscription, you already get access to Power Automate for flows that use standard connectors (like Outlook, SharePoint, Teams).
Power Automate Desktop is free for all Windows 10 and Windows 11 users. You can build desktop automations without needing a paid plan.
There’s also a 30‑day free trial of premium features for evaluation.
Limitations of free use
Only standard connectors are available (no premium connectors like Salesforce, SAP, or advanced APIs).
Limited monthly runs (around 750 per month).
No access to AI Builder, unattended RPA, or enterprise-grade features.
Paid subscriptions
Power Automate Premium (per user): Required if you want premium connectors, higher limits, or to build/manage desktop flows with RPA.
Power Automate Process license: For enterprise processes (like invoice automation or HR onboarding).
Hosted Process license: Adds Microsoft-hosted machine capacity for unattended automation.
✅ What this means for you
If you just want to automate flows between Microsoft 365 apps (e.g., moving files in OneDrive, sending Teams notifications), you can do that without extra cost.
If you want advanced automation (extracting PDFs, connecting to external systems, running unattended bots), you’ll need a Power Automate Premium subscription.
👉 Since you’re exploring PDF extraction and dashboard integration, you’d likely need Premium or a specialized connector, unless you stick to standard flows inside Microsoft 365.
Would you like me to break down the pricing tiers (per user vs per flow) so you can see which fits best for your FI Dashboard automation?
Sources:
yes, please show pricing tiers
Here’s the current breakdown of Microsoft Power Automate pricing tiers (2025):
Free plan: Included with Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Lets you build basic cloud flows using standard connectors only (Outlook, SharePoint, Teams). Limited to ~750 runs/month.
Premium plan: $15 per user/month (paid yearly). Adds unlimited cloud flows, attended desktop flows (RPA), process mining, and premium connectors.
Process plan: $150 per bot/month (paid yearly). Designed for enterprise scenarios. Includes everything in Premium plus unattended automation (bots run without human intervention).
Hosted Process plan: $215 per bot/month (paid yearly). Adds Microsoft-hosted virtual machines on Azure for unattended automation, removing the need to manage your own infrastructure.
📊 Comparison Table
PlanPrice (USD)Key FeaturesFree (included/trial)$0Standard connectors, basic cloud flows, ~750 runs/monthPremium$15/user/moUnlimited cloud flows, attended desktop flows, premium connectors, process miningProcess$150/bot/moEverything in Premium + unattended automationHosted Process$215/bot/moEverything in Process + Microsoft-hosted VM for automation
Sources:
✅ What this means for you
If you’re just automating flows inside Microsoft 365 (like moving files in OneDrive or sending Teams alerts), the free plan may be enough.
If you want PDF extraction, premium connectors, or advanced dashboard integration, you’ll need Premium.
For enterprise-grade unattended bots (e.g., scheduled PDF parsing overnight), the Process or Hosted Process plans are required.
Eric, since you’re building scenario-based dashboards and modular financial workflows, the Premium plan is likely the sweet spot — it gives you the flexibility to connect OneDrive, parse files, and push structured data into your FI Dashboard without needing full enterprise infrastructure.
Yes — with a Microsoft 365 Personal plan, you do get access to Power Automate at no extra cost, but only for the standard features.
✅ What you can use for free
Cloud flows with standard connectors (Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, Excel Online, etc.)
Power Automate Desktop (Windows 10/11) for attended RPA (you trigger the automation manually).
Around 750 runs per month for cloud flows.
Ability to build simple automations like:
Moving files in OneDrive
Sending notifications in Outlook/Teams
Updating Excel sheets automatically
⚠️ What requires a paid upgrade
Premium connectors (Salesforce, SAP, advanced APIs, PDF parsing services, etc.)
Unattended RPA (bots running without you at the keyboard)
AI Builder (OCR, document understanding, sentiment analysis, etc.)
Enterprise-grade automation with higher limits
👉 For your case — extracting details from FI Dashboard (Metrics)(AI)(NOV25‑OCT25).pdf — you’d likely need Premium, because PDF parsing and AI-driven document automation are not part of the free tier.
Eric, since you’re already experimenting with n8n and modular dashboards, you could either:
Stick with Power Automate free for basic OneDrive flows, and use n8n for PDF parsing.
Or upgrade to Power Automate Premium if you want everything inside the Microsoft ecosystem.
Key Details
Price: $15 per user/month (annual billing)
Included features:
Unlimited cloud flows (Digital Process Automation)
Attended desktop flows (Robotic Process Automation)
Access to premium connectors (Salesforce, SAP, advanced APIs, etc.)
Process mining tools to analyze and optimize workflows
Dataverse entitlements (250 MB database + 2 GB file storage)
📊 Comparison with Other Plans
PlanPrice (USD)Key FeaturesFree (included)$0Standard connectors only, ~750 runs/monthPremium$15/user/moUnlimited cloud flows, attended desktop flows, premium connectors, process miningProcess$150/bot/moAdds unattended automation (bots run without human intervention)Hosted Process$215/bot/moAdds Microsoft-hosted VM for unattended automation
Sources:
✅ What this means for you
Since you’re on a Microsoft 365 Personal plan, you already have access to the free tier. Upgrading to Premium would unlock the ability to:
Parse PDFs and integrate them into your FI Dashboard workflows.
Use premium connectors to link OneDrive with external services.
Automate more complex scenario toggling without hitting free-tier limits.
Eric, given your focus on modular dashboards and financial workflow automation, Premium is the most cost‑effective tier unless you need unattended bots (then you’d look at the $150 Process plan).
Power Automate Premium
Premium is for you when you build and run your own workflows.
It covers cloud flows (triggered by events like “new file in OneDrive”), attended desktop flows (you click to run them), and gives you access to premium connectors (Salesforce, PDF parsing, external APIs).
So if you’re prompting and designing flows yourself — like “when FI Dashboard PDF is uploaded, extract details and push to Excel” — that’s Premium territory.
🤖 Power Automate Process
Process is for bots, not humans.
It’s designed for unattended automation — meaning flows run automatically without you at the keyboard.
Example: A bot that wakes up at 2 AM, scans OneDrive for new PDFs, extracts data, and updates your dashboard without any manual trigger.
It’s priced per bot/month because it’s about scaling automation across processes, not per user.
⚡ In short
Premium = you, as a user, designing and running workflows (prompting your own flows).
Process = automation-only bots that run unattended, ideal for enterprise scenarios where flows need to execute on schedule or at scale without human intervention.
👉 Since you’re iterating modular dashboards and scenario toggling, Premium is enough unless you want bots to run overnight or fully hands‑off.
One Bot vs Multiple Bots
One bot can handle multiple workflows
A single unattended bot (under the Process plan) can be configured to run multiple flows.
Example: One bot could scan OneDrive for FI Dashboard (Metrics), ETF Screener, and Super Analysis PDFs, then route each into its respective dashboard.
You don’t need a separate bot for each file or dashboard — it’s about how you design the flows.
When you’d need more than one bot
If you want parallel execution on different machines (e.g., one bot dedicated to finance dashboards, another to travel itineraries).
If workflows require different environments or credentials that can’t be shared.
If you need scale — for example, hundreds of flows running simultaneously across departments.
⚡ Practical takeaway
For your scenario — multiple files feeding into different dashboards — one bot is enough.
You’d design multiple flows under that bot, each triggered by conditions (like file name or folder).
The licensing is per bot/month, so you maximize value by stacking multiple flows into one bot.
👉 Think of the bot as the engine, and each workflow as a route. One engine can drive many routes, unless you need separate engines for scale or isolation.
