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, click on “Automations” in the upper right corner of your screen. Then, click “Create a custom automation” to begin the setup process.
Then select the “At a scheduled time” trigger.
You can then choose from six options to trigger your automation:
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.
TIP
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.
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.
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.
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.
One time interval
Use the "One time" interval type to trigger your automation at a single date and time.
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.
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 we currently offer.
FAQs
Can a starting date or time be selected in the past?
No, only future dates and times can be selected.