Airtable automation trigger: When record updated
  • 31 Aug 2022
  • 1 Minute to read
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Airtable automation trigger: When record updated

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Article Summary

When building an Automation, you may choose a trigger that will start the automation. The "When record updated" trigger allows you to select an entire record, or individual fields in a record, to monitor for updates. Anytime the selected fields are updated the automation will trigger (or run) the action(s) you configured.

NOTE
This trigger does not run when a record is created, only when it has been updated. For that kind of workflow, you might consider using the "When record is created" or "When record matches conditions" triggers instead.


Choose a trigger

After you add an automation, the first step is to select the trigger you want to use. In this example, we'll use the "When record updated" trigger.

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Select your data

After choosing the trigger, you need to select the table and fields you'd like this automation to watch for updates in. Selecting a field for your automation to watch will cause this automation to trigger every time that field is updated.

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You can optionally choose a view if you'd like to restrict your automation trigger to only watching field updates from within that chosen view. Note that if you update a field's value that is shown in your chosen view from anywhere, even in another view, this automation will be triggered. So essentially, anytime a visible field in your view changes this automation would be triggered.

Once this automation is turned on, whenever any of the fields you selected are updated within a record this automation will trigger for that record.

NOTE

Once activated, this automation will trigger as soon as the trigger conditions are met for a record. If you need to make record changes without triggering the automation, make sure to turn the automation off while those changes are being made.


Add an action

After you’ve configured and tested the trigger, it’s time to add an action. In the example below, we’ll use the “Send a Slack message” action to send a notification based on the trigger criteria (every time a project is marked as complete).

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NOTE
For more help with configuring Automation actions, view these support articles.


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