From the Microsoft Power Platform blogs: Local document retrieval; Pivot table; Modern text input; Power Pages component library

In this review of the Power Platform blogs:

• Automating local document retrieval and email drafting with attachment by using Copilot Studio
• How to apply pivot table in Excel using Power Automate desktop
• Modern text input in Power Apps: what you need to know
• Announcing the AI-powered search and summary components in Power Pages component library

Automating local document retrieval and email drafting with attachment by using Copilot Studio

On the Inogic blog, Sam Kumar provided information about a solution built with Copilot Studio that automatically pulls information from local documents.

He noted that it also helps you write emails easily, offering an all-in-one way to manage information and communication.

In his blog post, Kumar showed you how to expand Copilot’s abilities to find and pull information from files in shared local folders, making the whole process automatic and more efficient. 

Kumar wrote that the solution uses a few key technologies to work:

• Microsoft Copilot Studio: This is the main tool for building smart chatbots that can talk with users and manage complex tasks.
• On-premise data gateway: A secure bridge that lets cloud tools, such as Power Automate, access files stored on your local network. This is important for connecting to your local documents.
• Microsoft Power Automate (Flows): This tool automates tasks and connects different services, such as creating documents and sending emails.

Kumar then offered an example of how it works.

How to apply pivot table in Excel using Power Automate desktop

On the Power Automate Community Blog, Vishnu Reddy wrote that handling large amounts of data in Excel can be tricky if you don’t have a way to summarize it clearly.