PL-900 Practice Question: Demonstrate the capabilities of Power Automate
You need to automatically send an email notification when a new file is added to a SharePoint document library. Which trigger should you use in a Power Automate cloud flow?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
When a file is created
The 'When a file is created' trigger is designed to start a flow when a new file appears in a SharePoint library. Option A is wrong because 'When a file is deleted' triggers on file removal, not creation. Option B is wrong because 'When a file is modified' triggers on updates, not new files. Option D is wrong because 'When a file is created or modified' includes modification events, which are not required for the specified requirement.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
When a file is deleted
Why it's wrong here
A deletion trigger fires only when an existing item is removed, so a newly added file never starts the flow. It is tempting because both triggers live in the SharePoint connector and share the same site and library parameters, making it the right pick when the requirement is reacting to removed documents.
- ✗
When a file is modified
Why it's wrong here
A modification trigger fires on edits to existing files, so a brand-new upload does not start the flow. It is tempting because it sits beside the creation trigger in the SharePoint connector and is correct when the requirement is notifying people about changes to documents already in the library.
- ✓
When a file is created
Why this is correct
The SharePoint 'When a file is created' trigger fires whenever a new item appears in the specified document library. This directly satisfies the requirement to send an email notification automatically upon file addition, without polling or manual checks.
- ✗
When a file is created or modified
Why it's wrong here
'When a file is created or modified' fires on both creation and modification, so edits would also trigger notifications, not just new files. It is tempting because it covers file creation, but the requirement is creation only, which the 'When a file is created' trigger satisfies precisely.
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on PL-900
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company wants to automate sending a welcome email to new employees after they are added to a SharePoint list. Which type of trigger should be used in the Power Automate flow?
easy- A.For a selected item - SharePoint
- B.Recurrence
- C.Start and wait for an approval
- ✓ D.When an item is created - SharePoint
Why D: The 'When an item is created - SharePoint' trigger is the correct choice because it initiates the flow automatically whenever a new item (in this case, a new employee record) is added to the specified SharePoint list. This event-driven trigger eliminates the need for manual intervention, making it ideal for automating the welcome email process immediately upon creation.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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