Hello Readers !! Today we will see how we can use the CSV action and list variable in Power Automate Desktop (PAD). Most of the time we need to read data from the CSV file. In my today’s example, we will see how to read columns in CSV. This example will help in understanding the CSV action of PAD.
Read from CSV file
Before we proceed to read from CSV under PAD, need to create a CSV file. As you can see from the below screenshot, I have created an Empfile.csv. This is very simple with Name, StaffID, and MobileNO as column headers.

After creating the CSV file, use Read from CSV file action of PAD. Use the default configurations as it is given. Provide the File path and enable the First line contains column names option. You can refer to this link on how to start with PAD.

Retrieve data table
Now in this step, we will retrieve the data table column into the list. Basically, this action of PAD converts the contents of a data table column into a list.

Set the Data table value is equal to the CSV Table variable. And column name or index is equal to 0 because here I want to show the first column. You can provide the index value as per your requirement.
Display Message
Now in next step, I will display the column as list data into a message box. As you can see in below screenshot, message to display value is equal to column as list variable.

After completing the above steps, hit on the Run and you will see result like below screenshot.

Hope you all will like this small demonstration on CSV and list variable in PAD. If you like this post, please share and subscribe to our site for more articles. Also, you can post your suggestion for the next article in the comment box.
Thanks !!
Please let me how to retrieve only one Name
let me know how to retrieve only one Name
Use %ColumnAsList[0]% instead of %ColumnAsList% if you want to show the first item from the array. You can use %ColumnAsList[1]%,%ColumnAsList[2]%,…..,%ColumnAsList[n]% to show the Nth item. Please let us know whether it helped or not and also subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos on PAD. link: https://www.youtube.com/c/Flexmind
If you want to pull entire CSV or Excel tables into cloud flows from PAD, and avoid in-data comma issues, then watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNyvEYi7nY4&t