5 Useful Graph API Examples for Power Automate

Microsoft Graph API provides a versatile interface to interact with Microsoft 365 services, allowing users to build custom workflows and automate tasks without relying solely on pre-built Power Automate actions. This article presents five practical Graph API examples, showcasing how to leverage these capabilities within Power Automate.

1. Managing OneDrive Files

Overview

Graph API can be used to manage OneDrive files, enabling automation for tasks such as copying, moving, or deleting files based on specific criteria.

How to Implement in Power Automate

1. Create a New Flow: Start with a trigger like 'When a file is created' in OneDrive.

2. HTTP Request Action: Add an 'HTTP' action to make a GET request to

https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/me/drive/root/children         

to list all files in the root directory.

3. Filter and Action: Use a condition to filter files based on criteria (e.g., file type, size). Add subsequent HTTP actions to copy, move, or delete the files.

Example Use Case

Automatically move files older than a month to an archive folder within OneDrive to keep the main directory organized.

2. Accessing Microsoft Planner Tasks

Overview

Microsoft Planner is a task management tool that integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft services. Using Graph API, you can automate task management workflows, such as updating or creating tasks in response to specific triggers.

How to Implement in Power Automate

1. Create a New Flow: Use a trigger like 'When a new task is created' in Planner.

2. HTTP Request Action: Add an 'HTTP' action to make a POST request to

https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/planner/tasks         

to create a new task.

3. Task Details: Include necessary task details in the request body, such as title, due date, and assignments.

4. Handle Response: Use actions to handle the response and confirm the task creation.

Example Use Case

When a new task is assigned to a user in Planner, automatically create a corresponding task in another planning tool or send a notification email.

3. Managing Azure AD Groups

Overview

Graph API enables automation of Azure AD group management, such as creating, updating, or deleting groups based on organizational needs. This is useful for maintaining user group memberships and roles.

How to Implement in Power Automate

1. Create a New Flow: Select a trigger such as 'When a new user joins a department'.

2. HTTP Request Action: Add an 'HTTP' action to make a POST request to

https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/groups         

to create a new group.

3. Group Details: Include group details like display name, description, and members in the request body.

4. Response Handling: Use actions to handle the response and confirm the group creation.

Example Use Case

When a new user joins a specific department, automatically add them to the relevant Azure AD group and send a welcome message.

4. Automating OneNote Operations

Overview

Graph API can be used to automate OneNote operations, such as creating new notebooks or sections and adding content to notes. This is ideal for maintaining organized digital notebooks.

How to Implement in Power Automate

1. Create a New Flow: Use a trigger like 'When a new project starts'.

2. HTTP Request Action: Add an 'HTTP' action to make a POST request to

https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/me/onenote/notebooks         

to create a new notebook.

3. Notebook Details: Include necessary details like notebook name and initial content in the request body.

4. Response Handling: Use actions to handle the response and confirm the notebook creation.

Example Use Case

Automatically create a new OneNote notebook for each new project, pre-filled with relevant sections and templates.

5. Fetching User Presence Information

Overview

User presence information, such as availability status in Microsoft Teams, can be fetched using Graph API. This is useful for building workflows that rely on user availability.

How to Implement in Power Automate

1. Create a New Flow: Choose a trigger like 'When a user status changes' in Teams.

2. HTTP Request Action: Add an 'HTTP' action to make a GET request to

https://graph.microsoft.com/v1.0/me/presence        

to get the current user presence status.

3. Parse Response: Use the 'Parse JSON' action to handle the API response and extract the presence details.

4. Conditional Logic: Use conditions to trigger different actions based on the presence status (e.g., send an alert if a user becomes available).

Example Use Case

When a team member's status changes to 'Available', automatically send a notification to relevant stakeholders or log the availability in a tracking system.

Summary

By integrating Microsoft Graph API directly within Power Automate, you can build customized workflows that extend beyond the limitations of pre-built actions. These five examples illustrate how you can leverage Graph API to automate tasks and streamline processes, enhancing your productivity and efficiency within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

If you have specific requirements or need further assistance, feel free to reach out for personalized guidance. Happy automating!