Contents x
    Airtable automation trigger: At scheduled time
    • 12 Dec 2022
    • 3 Minutes to read
    • Print
    • Dark
      Light
    Contents

    Airtable automation trigger: At scheduled time

    • Updated on 12 Dec 2022
    • 3 Minutes to read
    • Print
    • Dark
      Light
    Article Summary

    When building an Automation, you may choose a trigger that will start the automation. The "At a scheduled time" trigger allows you to trigger (or run) an automation at a pre-designated date and time.


    Setup

    After you have configured your base in the way you wish, you can then begin building an automation. It’s important to know that if you modify your base while creating an automation, then you may need to retest any trigger or action steps related to the table, view, field, or record changes that you’ve made. To start creating an automation using this trigger: 

    1. Click on Automations in the upper left corner of your screen. Then, click “Create a custom automation” to begin the setup process.
    2. Then select the “At a scheduled time” trigger.
      6615533126295atascheduledtimetriggerempty.jpg
    3. You can then choose from six options to trigger your automation:
      1. Minutes
      2. Hours
      3. Days
      4. Weeks
      5. Months
      6. One time
        6615542038551atascheduledtimetriggerconfig.jpg


    Trigger on different time intervals

    Each interval type offers different options for triggering your automation. You'll find more details on using each interval below.

    Note

    For time-based options, you'll see the configuration in your local timezone (according to the settings of the device you are using). The trigger will fire simultaneously for collaborators in different timezones. For example, if you are on the west coast of the US, this trigger will fire for you at 9am on weekdays, and 5pm on weekdays for a collaborator in the UK.

    Minutes interval

    Use the "Minutes" interval type to trigger your automation at 15 minute intervals, including every 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. With this option you can also designate a "Starting" date and time that you want the trigger to begin on.

    4403374380823minutes.png

    Note
    Triggers that include a starting time will activate at the nearest time interval. For example, If you deploy a trigger for every 2 hours at 2:45pm, it will fire at 4:45pm, and again at 6:45pm. As another example, if you deploy a trigger for every 30 minutes at 2:10pm, it will fire at 2:40pm, and again at 3:10pm.
    Hours interval

    Use the "Hours" interval type to trigger your automation at hour intervals, from 1-24 hours. With this option you can also designate a "Starting" date and time that you want the trigger to begin on.

    4403370930839hours.png

    Days interval

    Use the "Days" interval type to trigger your automation every set number of days (from 1-30) at a set time. With this option you can also designate a "Starting" date that you want the trigger to begin on.

    4404771313175days.png

    Weeks interval

    Use the "Weeks" interval type to trigger your automation at week intervals, from 1-11 weeks. You can additionally designate which days of the week to use the trigger (e.g. weekdays like in the example below). Lastly, you can also designate a "Starting" date that you want the trigger to begin on.

    4403371093271weeks.png

    Months interval

    Use the "Months" interval type to trigger your automation every set number of months (from 1-12), on a specified day of those months (from 1st - 31st, as well as the "last day", and at a set time. With this option you can also designate a "Starting" date that you want the trigger to begin on.

    4404778387863months.png

    One time interval

    Use the "One time" interval type to trigger your automation at a single date and time.

    4404771474199onetime.png


    Test the trigger

    Once the trigger is configured, make sure to test the trigger by clicking “run test”. Running a test confirms that the trigger is configured correctly, and saves record data to use in later steps.

    6615530174999atascheduledtimetesttrigger.gif


    Add an action

    After successfully testing the trigger step you can now move onto adding in an action or a set of actions depending on what you want this particular automation to perform. Check out our help center’s Automation actions section to learn more about each action Airtable offers.


    FAQs

    Can a starting date or time be selected in the past?

    No, only future dates and times can be selected.

    How does this trigger handle Daylight Savings Time (DST) changes?

    Datetimes defined in the "At scheduled time trigger" don't automatically handle the DST transition. That means times will be shifted 1 hour forward or backward when a transition happens. If the specific hour that an automation is triggered to run is important for a workflow, then a user will need to adjust any automations containing this trigger every time DST starts or ends.


    Related video content


    Was this article helpful?
    What's Next