Scripting actions

Scripting actions enable you to run blocks of code and implement custom behavior in your desktop flows.

All scripting actions follow the basic structure of the respective programming or scripting language: PowerShell, Python, VBScript, JavaScript and C#/VB.NET.

Natural language to script powered by copilot (preview)

[This topic is prerelease documentation and is subject to change.]

Natural language to code is a new copilot capability added in Power Automate for desktop. It lets you quickly generate code used in the scripting actions by describing it. This feature is available in the following scripting actions:

• Run PowerShell
• Run VBScript
• Run DOS command
• Run Python
• Run JavaScript

Availability by region

Currently, copilot in Power Automate for desktop is only available in environments located in the United States.

Availability by account type

Currently, copilot in Power Automate for desktop is only available for users with a work or school account.

How to generate scripts using copilot and natural language

To generate scripts in one of the supported scripting actions drag and drop the action in the designer and select Generate script with Copilot.

The create prompt screen opens where you can type your natural language prompt.

To create a script, write your prompt and select Generate. If you need to re-create it, you can change the prompt and select Regenerate. Otherwise, select Use this script to go back to the main action window, where you can modify it and add any necessary variables.

Help us improve this feature

Send feedback by selecting the thumb up or thumb down icon underneath the AI-generated content. Once you do, a feedback dialog appears, which you can use to submit feedback to Microsoft.

Disabling the user feedback functionality

As a tenant admin you can prevent your users from sending feedback to Microsoft by disabling the disableSurveyFeedback tenant setting. Find more information about viewing and setting tenant settings:

• List tenant settings (preview)
• Set TenantSettings

Data subject rights requests on user feedback

Tenant administrators can view, export, and delete the feedback from their users by signing in to the Microsoft 365 admin center, and then selecting Health > Product feedback.

AI with Power Automate resources

• FAQ for Generating scripts with natural language
• Responsible AI FAQs for Power Automate
• FAQ for Copilot data security and privacy in Microsoft Power Platform

Working with variables in scripting actions

To declare variables in scripting actions and return results in Power Automate, use the following commands:

• To declare new variables in PowerShell scripts, use the $ notation. To return values from Run PowerShell script actions to Power Automate, use the Write-Output command.

  $variableName = "variableValue"
  Write-Output $variableName
  

• Python scripts don't require any special notation to declare new variables. To return values from Run Python script actions, use the print function.

  variableName = "variableValue"
  print variableName
  

• VBScript doesn't require any special notation to declare new variables. Use the WScript.Echo function to return values from Run VBScript actions to Power Automate.

  variableName = "variableValue"
  WScript.Echo variableName
  

• In JavaScript scripts, use the var notation to declare new variables and the WScript.Echo function to return values from Run JavaScript actions.

  var variableName = "variableValue";
  WScript.Echo(variableName);
  

• For .NET scripts, use the Script Parameters window, accessed through the Run .NET script action's configuration card. You can set the type of the respective variable:

In addition, you can set whether it's an input to the .NET script (In option in Direction dropdown), an output of the script (Out option in Direction dropdown) or both (In-Out option in Direction dropdown).

To use Power Automate variables in scripting actions, use the percentage notation (%) and handle the variables the same way as hardcoded values.

Run DOS command

Executes a DOS command or console application in invisible mode and retrieves its output upon completion.

Input parameters

Variables produced

Exceptions

Run VBScript

Executes some custom VBScript code and retrieves its output into a variable.

You can use this action to include your own custom VBScript code in the desktop flow, while also having the ability to use variables therein, to generate dynamic VBScript content if needed.

Input parameters

Variables produced

Exceptions

Run JavaScript

Executes some custom JavaScript code and retrieves its output into a variable.

Input parameters

Variables produced

Exceptions

Run PowerShell script

Executes some custom PowerShell script and retrieves its output into a variable.

You can use this action to include your own custom PowerShell code in the desktop flow, while also having the ability to use variables therein, to generate dynamic PowerShell content if needed.

Input parameters

Variables produced

Exceptions

Run Python script

Executes Python script code and retrieves its output.

Input parameters

Variables produced

Exceptions

Run .NET script

Executes .NET (C#/VB.NET) script code and retrieves its output.

Input parameters

Variables produced

This action might produce variables, depending on the configuration made by the user when using the Script Parameters window.

Exceptions