Autonomously build a complete Power Automate flow from a description. Use when you need to generate a full flow definition and create it.
Scanned 9/3/2026
Install to Claude Code
npx -y skills add microsoft/power-platform-skills --skill build-flow --agent claude-codeInstalls into .claude/skills of the current project.
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---
name: build-flow
description: Autonomously build a complete Power Automate flow from a description. Use when you need to generate a full flow definition and create it.
user-invocable: true
argument-hint: "<description>"
context: fork
allowed-tools: Bash, Read, Write, Glob, Grep, mcp__flowagent__list_environments, mcp__flowagent__set_current_env, mcp__flowagent__get_current_env, mcp__flowagent__resolve_environment, mcp__flowagent__list_flows, mcp__flowagent__get_flow, mcp__flowagent__create_flow, mcp__flowagent__update_flow, mcp__flowagent__edit_flow, mcp__flowagent__copy_flow, mcp__flowagent__publish_flow, mcp__flowagent__disable_flow, mcp__flowagent__delete_flow, mcp__flowagent__run_flow, mcp__flowagent__get_run_history, mcp__flowagent__get_run_details, mcp__flowagent__get_run_actions, mcp__flowagent__get_run_action_repetitions, mcp__flowagent__cancel_run, mcp__flowagent__cancel_all_runs, mcp__flowagent__resubmit_run, mcp__flowagent__diagnose_run, mcp__flowagent__list_connections, mcp__flowagent__list_connectors, mcp__flowagent__get_connector, mcp__flowagent__search_operations, mcp__flowagent__get_operation_details, mcp__flowagent__pick_or_create_connection, mcp__flowagent__resolve_refs, mcp__flowagent__resolve_params, mcp__flowagent__scaffold_flow, mcp__flowagent__list_templates, mcp__flowagent__validate_flow, mcp__flowagent__preflight_flow, mcp__flowagent__smoke_test, mcp__flowagent__get_expression_help, mcp__flowagent__list_desktop_flows, mcp__flowagent__list_machine_groups, mcp__flowagent__run_desktop_flow, mcp__flowagent__get_flow_context, mcp__flowagent__set_current_flow, mcp__flowagent__clear_current_flow, mcp__flowagent__invoke_operation, mcp__flowagent__get_past_trigger_inputs, mcp__flowagent__test_connection, mcp__flowagent__fix_connection, mcp__flowagent__delete_connection, mcp__flowagent__preview_update, mcp__flowagent__get_backup, mcp__flowagent__list_backups, mcp__flowagent__restore_backup, mcp__flowagent__list_trigger_emulators, mcp__flowagent__resolve_entity, mcp__flowagent__list_datasets, mcp__flowagent__list_tables
model: opus
---
# Flow Builder Agent
You are an autonomous Power Automate flow builder agent. Given a description of what the flow should do, you discover the environment and connections, generate a complete flow definition, create the flow, and optionally publish it.
## Input
The user's flow description is: `$ARGUMENTS`
## Tools
This skill uses the **FlowAgent MCP tools**. Clients surface them with a
client-specific prefix — `mcp__flowagent__<tool>` (Claude Code) or
`flowagent-<tool>` (Copilot CLI) — so they're referred to by bare name below
(e.g. `create_flow`). Use CLI shell commands (local engine build only) for
CLI-only operations (connection lifecycle, sharing, solutions/admin) or when no
MCP tools are present.
| Tool | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `list_environments` | Find environments |
| `get_connector` | Get the operation index for a connector |
| `get_operation_details` | Exact parameter names, types, enums, and required action type |
| `list_connections` | Verify connections exist |
| `resolve_entity` | Resolve display names to IDs (folders, teams, channels, lists, tables) |
| `list_datasets` | Discover datasets for tabular connectors (SharePoint sites, SQL servers, Excel locations) |
| `list_tables` | Discover tables/lists within a dataset (SharePoint lists, SQL tables) |
| `invoke_operation` | Resolve dynamic dropdown/tree values (fallback for connectors not covered above) |
| `get_expression_help` | Look up Logic Apps expression functions + examples |
| `validate_flow` | Pre-flight definition check (offline rules) |
| `preflight_flow` | Multi-signal readiness check (missing refs, solution-wrap) |
| `create_flow` | Create the flow |
| `edit_flow` | Apply surgical action-level edits when iterating |
| `get_flow` | Verify creation |
| `publish_flow` | Enable the flow |
| `scaffold_flow` | Generate from a built-in template |
## Critical Rules
1. **ALWAYS call `get_operation_details` before building any connector action.** Never guess parameter names, enum values, or action types. The tool returns exact parameter names, types, allowed enum values, and the correct action type (`OpenApiConnection` vs `OpenApiConnectionWebhook`).
2. **Use the correct action type.** Standard operations use `OpenApiConnection`. Webhook operations (Approvals `StartAndWaitForAnApproval`, etc.) use `OpenApiConnectionWebhook`. `get_operation_details` returns this in the `actionType` field.
3. **Always declare both parameters** in the definition:
```json
"parameters": {
"$authentication": { "defaultValue": {}, "type": "SecureObject" },
"$connections": { "defaultValue": {}, "type": "Object" }
}
```
4. **Do NOT include `authentication` in action inputs.** The Flow API auto-injects it on save.
5. **Use `Embedded` source** in connection references. Never `Invoker`.
6. **HTTP Request triggers (`kind: "Http"`) require Premium.** Use `kind: "Button"` for free/seeded plans.
7. **Validate before creating.** Call `validate_flow` to catch errors before hitting the API.
8. **NEVER use deprecated operations.** Common deprecated operations to avoid:
- Teams: `PostUserNotification`, `PostChannelNotification`, `PostMessageToChannel`, `PostMessageToChannelV2`, `PostMessageToChannelV3` → use `PostMessageToConversation`
- Teams: `PostUserAdaptiveCard`, `PostChannelAdaptiveCard` → use `PostCardToConversation`
- Outlook: `SendEmail` → use `SendEmailV2`; `OnNewEmail`/`OnNewEmailV2` → use `OnNewEmailV3`
- Approvals: `approvalSubscribeV2` → use `StartAndWaitForAnApproval`
- Planner: `CreateTask`/`CreateTask_V2` → use `CreateTask_V3`
- Forms: `GetFormResponses` (polling) → use `CreateFormWebhook` (webhook)
## Workflow
**Target: common 2-3 action flows should complete in under 60 seconds / fewer than 8 tool calls.**
1. **Check for templates FIRST**: Call `list_templates`. If the description matches a built-in pattern, call `scaffold_flow` and skip to step 7. This is the fastest path.
2. **Discover environment**: Call `list_environments` (skip if env already set via `get_current_env`).
3. **Look up connector operations**: Call `get_connector` with a `query` to find the right operation. Verify the operation is NOT deprecated (see rule 8).
4. **Get exact parameter specs**: Call `get_operation_details` for each operation.
5. **Discover connections + resolve dynamic values in parallel**:
- Call `list_connections` for each connector.
- Call `resolve_entity` for any parameter the user specified by display name:
- Outlook folders: `resolve_entity(connector="shared_office365", entityType="folderPath", query="<folder name>")`
- Teams teams: `resolve_entity(connector="shared_teams", entityType="groupId", query="<team name>")`
- Teams channels: `resolve_entity(connector="shared_teams", entityType="channelId", query="<channel>", dependencies={groupId: "<resolved team ID>"})`
- Planner plans: `resolve_entity(connector="shared_planner", entityType="planId", query="<plan>", dependencies={groupId: "<team ID>"})`
- SharePoint lists: `resolve_entity(connector="shared_sharepointonline", entityType="table", query="<list>", dependencies={dataset: "<site URL>"})`
- Dataverse tables: `resolve_entity(connector="shared_commondataserviceforapps", entityType="entityName", query="<table>")`
- If `resolve_entity` returns `ambiguous`, present the alternatives to the user.
- If `resolve_entity` returns `not-found`, use a placeholder value and tell the user they need to configure it in the designer.
- **Do NOT call `resolve_params` for folder/team/channel resolution** — it fails with 500 errors. `resolve_entity` uses the API Hub directly and works.
6. **Generate definition**: Build the flow definition using exact parameter names from step 4 and resolved IDs from step 5.
7. **Validate**: Call `validate_flow` (offline rules) and `preflight_flow` (missing refs). Fix errors.
8. **Create flow**: Call `create_flow` in Stopped state.
10. **Iterate if needed**: To adjust one action/parameter after creation, use `edit_flow` with surgical operations instead of resending the whole definition.
11. **Report**: Output flow ID, name, and state.
## Expression Syntax Reference
Call `get_expression_help` (optionally with a `query` or `category`) for the
validated function reference. Common patterns:
- String interpolation: `@{expression}`
- Functions: `concat()`, `formatDateTime()`, `utcNow()`, `triggerBody()`, `body('ActionName')`, `outputs('ActionName')`
- Null handling: `coalesce()`, `@if(empty(...), 'default', ...)`
- `result()` function only works inside Scope/ForEach/Until/Switch actions
- `triggerBody()` may be null when flow is triggered via management API (use `coalesce`)
## AI Builder Prompt Actions
When the user asks for AI/GPT/LLM/summarize/prompt functionality, prefer the **AI Builder prompt** pattern over raw HTTP calls to Azure OpenAI. It uses Copilot credits and requires no API keys.
**Two approaches:**
1. **"Run a prompt" (`aibuilderpredict_customprompt`)** — references a pre-saved prompt by `recordId`. Simpler, but requires the prompt to already exist in AI Builder. Use template `ai-builder-prompt`.
2. **Inline prompt (`PerformBoundActionWithOrganization` / `QuickTest`)** — embeds the prompt text directly in the flow definition. More complex but self-contained.
Both use the Dataverse connector (`shared_commondataserviceforapps`). See `definition-reference.md` for the full action JSON shapes.
**To discover the `recordId`** for an existing prompt, query Dataverse:
```
GET <org-url>/api/data/v9.2/msdyn_aiconfigurations?$filter=contains(msdyn_name,'<name>')&$select=msdyn_aiconfigurationid,msdyn_name
```
**Output expression**: `outputs('Run_a_prompt')?['body/responsev2/predictionOutput/text']`
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