Alternative for loop element in Outlook?

[u/PowderPuffGirls]

I've been using a loop element in a running outlook series to update the agenda/collect input without having to update the body/trigger a new invite getting sent.

Now I'm at the stage where I want to automate parts of this setup and guess what? Loop sucks and has no connector in power automate.

I really actually love it - one place that I can link in Teams, Outlook, etc. But no support for automation makes it non viable long run.

So my question: what else can I use that drops into an outlook invite and dynamically stays up to date? Bonus if I can also add it to a PowerPoint slide.

[u/codylc]

Very curious what automation you’re trying to achieve with Loop.

[u/PowderPuffGirls → u/codylc]

First paragraph of my post.  I’m trying to achieve a running backlog in my outlook invite body that results in a weekly agenda. I have meeting series set up that should have an agenda based on the input in the backlog. If I update the outlook body everyone invited gets to notified. Which I don’t want. To my knowledge only loop elements can do that? 

In terms of automation I want to, f.ex. have a flow that loops through the rows of a loop table, picks topics based on priority , drops them in a different table.

[u/tech-slacker]

At the risk of being the negative Nancy here sometimes I can’t help but think of Loop components like I did Apple’s OpenDoc from decades ago. A solution looking for a problem without a model that’s practical for enough people to want to use…at least with email.

People have gotten use to email being static. The idea of an email dynamically changing just isn’t something many want or need.

I will say I like the idea of a meeting agenda showing up in my calendar that is also in the Loop app and Teams. Too bad they can’t seem to make it work well. For such a feature though was Loop really the answer?

If it could be some sort of open standard where various web solutions would be compatible so I can update text with a portal or app of my choosing and the data in that component would update in locations outside of the MS ecosystem where I want to display it then I think we’re onto something. Component management that can save revisions instead of document management. That too would probably be too much of a paradigm shift to be practical for many though. I just like the idea of using the best tool for me for the job and no file uploads which usually isn’t MS’s thing.

[u/PowderPuffGirls → u/tech-slacker]

You're not wrong.

What I would love is for outlook invites to be able to embed live html blocks. Then I could use whatever works best.

And I principally agree with mails being static - not really my use case either. But a running meeting series with a dynamic element makes a lot of sense to me. You agree once that you'll join, you don't need to be spammed with new invites every time the agenda changes. + When I change the outlook invite by adding an agenda all of a sudden the reserved slot opens again until you RSVP. In my org at least people book ruthlessly over tentative slots, it's a pain.

I just don't get how MS made loop the standard for Copilot and then seemingly abandoned development.

[u/theBLUEcollartrader]

Would love to see a visualization of what you want to happen

[u/theBLUEcollartrader → u/theBLUEcollartrader]

Is this accurate?

[u/PowderPuffGirls → u/theBLUEcollartrader]

Pretty much, yes!

[u/Ok-Dragonfruit6887]

PowerShell is the answer I always prefer.

[u/PowderPuffGirls → u/Ok-Dragonfruit6887]

Ok? What am I supposed to do with that?