Can Power Automate replace the Queue funcationality and send a PDF report via email?

Reuben Schmitz

We use Queue in database view to email weekly Financial Detail reports. Unfortunately, we have had (and are now experiencing) issues with this working properly. Wondering if it is possible to create a PDF financial report - use Queue to export this to the File site and then use Power Automate to email this as an attachment back to us on a schedule. Thoughts?

Alex Wong

@Reuben Schmitz
Power Automate can do pdf creation and sending, question is, what pdf are you talking about.

if RE:Queue is experiencing issue, work this out with BB support if the functionality is what your org wants. it is much more time involvement and learning curve if you don't already know how to use Power Automate to get SFTP files.

Reuben Schmitz

@Alex Wong
The problem is that we had the same issue with the Queue a year ago - it took months or wrangling to get it fixed and now the same issue has come up again - even if it gets fixed again, there is no guarantee it won't happen again - plus who knows what the status of the Queue funcationality will be in the future. Was hoping there was a fairly easy way to use Power Automate in this way.

Alex Wong

@Reuben Schmitz
To use Power Automate to do “thing” it is not hard. it is promoted as low-code/no-code.

You can check out developer.blackbaud.com getting started guide and the many post on here.

It starts with what you want to do, then go from there on how to gahter the data you need, and then putting into a report and finally emailing it.

Ben Regier

@Reuben Schmitz
If Queue is still working well enough that you can count on it to create the PDF and save it, you can use the SFTP connector to grab it and email it out.

If Queue is not working at all and you need to re-create the report using Power Automate instead, it could be a more involved process and depends a lot on what the report needs to contain.

Rick Straub

@Reuben Schmitz
Yes, Just a clarification though. I still use the Queue to create the reports and export to a specified folder. I use Power Automate slightly different. I use Power Automate to rename the hundreds of reports generated, move the files to certain TEAM folders, then send emails to recipients to go get their reports. But I am sure you can also build Power Automate to send emails with attachments. Alex is correct. the initial set up is very time consuming but I have been using it now for a couple of years. The Queue functionality CANNOT and better not be just tossed away by Blackbaud. That is functionality that many use.