© Vijai Anand Ramalingam 2018

Vijai Anand Ramalingam, Introducing Microsoft Flow, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-3630-7_6

6. Flow Administration

Vijai Anand Ramalingam

(1)New Jersey, USA

In this chapter, you will learn

  • How to manage flows

  • How the Admin Center works

  • How to manage environments and data policies

Manage Flows

In this section, you will learn how to manage flows via a variety of tasks, such as turning a flow on or off, editing, deleting, troubleshooting, and more.

Turn a Flow On or Off

Perform the following steps to turn a flow on or off:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click My flows and then select a flow that must be turned off. Slide the button to Off, as shown in Figure 6-1.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig1_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-1 Turn off a flow
  3. Similarly, turn on the flow as shown in Figure 6-2.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig2_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-2 Turn on a flow

Edit a Flow

Perform the following steps to edit a flow:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click My flows and then select a flow that must be updated. Click the Edit icon shown in Figure 6-3.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig3_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-3 Edit a flow
  3. Once you’re done with the changes, click Update flow, as shown in Figure 6-4.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig4_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-4 Update a flow
  4. To close, click Done, as shown in Figure 6-5.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig5_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-5 Flow updated

Create a Copy of a Flow

Perform the following steps to create a copy of a flow:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click My flows and then select a flow that must be copied. Click the three dots (…) to see more options and then click Save as, as shown in Figure 6-6.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig6_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-6 Copy the flow
  3. If required, rename it first and then click Save, as shown in Figure 6-7.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig7_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-7 Save the copy
  4. A copy of the flow was created, as shown in Figure 6-8. By default, it will be turned off.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig8_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-8 Save the copy

Delete a Flow

Perform the following steps to delete a flow:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click My flows and then select a flow that must be deleted. Click the three dots (…) to see more options and then click Delete, as shown in Figure 6-9.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig9_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-9 Delete a flow
  3. Confirm that the flow must be deleted and then click Delete, as shown in Figure 6-10.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig10_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-10 Confirm deletion

Create Team Flows

Perform the following steps to create team flows:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click My flows and then select a flow that must be created as a team flow. Click the People icon shown in Figure 6-11.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig11_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-11 Invite another owner
  3. Enter names, email addresses, or user groups to add other owners, as shown in Figure 6-12. Adding other owners allows them to edit, update, and delete this flow. All owners can also access the run history and add or remove other owners.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig12_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-12 Add other owners
  4. Navigate to My flows, click Team flows, and you’ll see all of the team flows, as shown in Figure 6-13.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig13_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-13 Team flows

Submit a Flow as a Template

Perform the following steps to submit a flow as a template:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click My flows and then select a flow that you want published as a template. Click the three dots (…) to see more options and then click Submit as template, as shown in Figure 6-14.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig14_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-14 Submit as a template
  3. Fill in all of the required details and then click Submit, as shown in Figure 6-15. The Microsoft Flow team will verify; once the team approves your template, it will appear in the gallery of templates for Microsoft Flow.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig15a_HTML.jpgA464567_1_En_6_Fig15b_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-15 The Submit as template page

Export a Flow

Perform the following steps to export a flow as a package (.zip) file:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click My flows and then select a flow that has to be exported. Click the three dots (…) to see more options and then click Export ➤ Package (.zip), as shown in Figure 6-16.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig16_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-16 Export as a package (.zip)
  3. Enter the package details, as shown in Figure 6-17.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig17_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-17 Package details
  4. Go to the Import setup page. By default Update will be selected. Click Update and then select Create as new. Click Save, as shown in Figure 6-18.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig18_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-18 Update the import setup
  5. If required, add version notes and then click Export, as shown in Figure 6-19. Save the package (.zip) file in the local file system.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig19_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-19 Export the flow

Import a Flow

Microsoft Flow allows you to import a flow as a package. This can be done when the flow must be copied or moved from one environment to another. Perform the following steps to import a flow:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. Select the environment where the package should be imported, as shown in Figure 6-20.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig20_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-20 Select the environment
  3. In the top navigation, click My flows and then click Import, as shown in Figure 6-21.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig21_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-21 Import
  4. Select the package (.zip) from the local file system by clicking the Upload button. Go to Import Setup, click Select during import, and then select the connection that has to be imported for this package. Click Save, as shown in Figure 6-22.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig22_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-22 Import setup
  5. Click Import, as shown in Figure 6-23.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig23_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-23 Import the package
  6. All package resources were successfully imported, as shown in Figure 6-24.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig24_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-24 The package was successfully imported
  7. Navigate to My flows and you’ll see the imported flow, as shown in Figure 6-25.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig25_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-25 Imported flow

Monitor a Flow

Perform the following steps to monitor or troubleshoot a flow:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click My Flows and then click the flow, as shown in Figure 6-26.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig26_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-26 Select the flow
  3. You’ll see flow details such as run history, connections, owners, and more, as shown in Figure 6-27.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig27_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-27 Flow details
  4. Click one of the items (last run) in the run history, as shown in Figure 6-28.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig28_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-28 Run history
  5. Review the inputs and outputs for each step, as shown in Figure 6-29.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig29_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-29 Inputs and outputs
  6. Click the flow run that failed, as shown in Figure 6-30.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig30_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-30 Failed run
  7. You’ll see a failure summary, shown in Figure 6-31, which helps to troubleshoot the issue.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig31_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-31 Failure summary

Manage Regional Settings

Perform the following steps to manage the language and regional format:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click the Settings icon and then click Settings, as shown in Figure 6-32.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig32_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-32 Settings
  3. Choose the display language and regional format from the drop-down and then click Save, as shown in Figure 6-33.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig33_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-33 Update the settings

Admin Center Overview

The Admin Center allows the tenant and environment administrators to manage the environments and data policies.

Create a New Environment

Perform the following steps to create a new environment:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click the Settings icon and then click Admin Center, as shown in Figure 6-34.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig34_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-34 Admin Center
  3. You’ll see a list of environments, as shown in Figure 6-35. Click New environment.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig35_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-35 New environment
  4. Enter the name, select a region, and then click Create environment, as shown in Figure 6-36.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig36_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-36 Create environment
  5. The new environment is shown in Figure 6-37.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig37_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-37 New environment created

Manage Environments in the Admin Center

Perform the following steps to manage environments:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click the Settings icon and then click Admin Center, as shown in Figure 6-38.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig38_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-38 Admin Center
  3. You’ll see a list of environments, as shown in Figure 6-39. Click any environment to view the details.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig39_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-39 Select the environment
    • Details: Shows all details specific to the environment, as shown in Figure 6-40.

      A464567_1_En_6_Fig40_HTML.jpg
      Figure 6-40 Environment details
    • Security: Allows you to manage security roles such as Admin and Maker, as shown in Figure 6-41.

      A464567_1_En_6_Fig41_HTML.jpg
      Figure 6-41 Environment roles
  4. In order to add a new admin, click Environment Admin and search for name, email addresses, or user groups. Add the user and then click Save, as shown in Figure 6-42.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig42_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-42 Add a new admin
    • Resources: Shows all flows and apps created for this environment, as shown in Figure 6-43.

      A464567_1_En_6_Fig43_HTML.jpg
      Figure 6-43 Environment resources
    • Database: Shows all databases for this specific environment, as shown in Figure 6-44.

      A464567_1_En_6_Fig44_HTML.jpg
      Figure 6-44 Environment database
  5. Click Delete to delete the environment, as shown in Figure 6-45. Note that if you delete the environment, all flows within that environment will also be deleted. This applies to any items you created in that environment, including connections, gateways, and more.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig45_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-45 Delete the environment

Create a New Data Loss Prevention Policy

Microsoft Flow allows you to create policies that define how data can be protected or shared. Perform the following steps to create a new data loss prevention policy:

  1. Navigate to the Flow site at https://flow.microsoft.com .

  2. In the top navigation, click the Settings icon and then click Admin Center, as shown in Figure 6-46.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig46_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-46 Admin Center
  3. In the left navigation, click Data policies. You’ll see a list of created data policies, as shown in Figure 6-47. Click New Policy.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig47_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-47 Create a new policy
  4. Choose the environments relevant to this data policy and click Continue, as shown in Figure 6-48.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig48_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-48 Choose environments
  5. Based on the requirements, add connectors to Business data only and No business data allowed, as shown in Figure 6-49. Users will be prevented from creating flows and apps that combine connectors from the Business data only and No business data allowed data groups.

    Note If a user creates a flow that combines connectors, the flow will be suspended due to a conflict with the data loss prevention policy. For example, if a user creates a flow that shares data between SharePoint (which is in the Business data only data group) and Facebook (which is in the No business data allowed data group), the flow will be suspended.

    Also, when you add a service to one group, it will automatically be removed from the other group. For example, if the Twitter service is added to the No business data allowed data group, then it will be automatically removed from the Business data only data group.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig49_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-49 Data groups
  6. Figure 6-50 shows the new data loss prevention policy.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig50_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-50 New policy
  7. Navigate to Data Policies and select the Edit icon to update the policy or the Delete icon to delete the policy, as shown in Figure 6-51.

    A464567_1_En_6_Fig51_HTML.jpg
    Figure 6-51 Update or delete the policy

Try It Yourself

  • Create a new environment for HR and provide access to a few HR users.

  • Export any flow from the default environment and import the flow in the newly created environment for HR.

  • Add two or more administrators to the imported flow and turn on the flow.

  • Execute and monitor the imported flow.

  • Turn off the flow in the default environment.

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