After setting up a trigger event in your automation, the next step is to include Actions. These Actions dictate the specific tasks your automation will carry out once triggered.
This article covers the following topics:
- What is an action?
- How to Add an Action to a Flow
- Setting Up an Action: Map Your Fields
- Action Categories
What is an action?
Actions, along with Triggers, represent the individual steps within your Flows. Actions execute tasks as your Flow scenario operates. They facilitate the transfer of data to various applications and systems, enabling seamless integration and automation.
Once a Flow's trigger has occurred, the following actions in your Flow's scenario will begin.
Actions make an HTTP request to the chosen connection app according to the Flow scenario that has been set. With each connection app, there will be different Actions to choose from.
Examples:
With Knack connections, the Actions available are:
- Create Record
- Update Record
- Delete Record
- Search Record (Beta)
- Search All Records
- Custom API Request
For Google Sheets connections, the Actions available are:
- Create/update a row
- Find a row
- Create/update new rows (array)
- Find a row by number
- Update a row by number
- Find multiple rows
- Delete a row
- Insert a column
- Clear Sheet
Note: It is important to note that each action type necessitates specific connection settings to be configured accordingly. If you have any questions about connection settings, please reach out to our support team: Create Support Ticket
How to Add an Action to a Flow
After setting up your trigger for your Flow scenario, you can then begin to add Action steps.
To add your first Action step in your Flow, select the "+" icon below your first Trigger step:
Setting Up an Action: Map Your Fields
Clicking the option "Action" will open a window with a list of input fields.
Certain fields might be optional, whereas others are mandatory, depending on the specific requirements set by the application you are connecting to (such as Quickbooks, Twilio, Google Sheets, and so forth).
You can easily identify the required fields, as they are indicated with an asterisk (*).
Action Categories
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Creation: These actions allow you to create new records or items in your connection application. Examples include creating a task in a management system or a new contact record in your CRM Knack app.
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Search: These actions enable you to locate existing records or items using information you have previously gathered. For instance, upon receiving an email, you can verify whether the sender is already listed as a client in HubSpot.
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Update: These actions provide the capability to alter existing records. For example, should you identify a contact in HubSpot using their email address, you have the option to refresh and amend their contact details accordingly.