I have a zap that pulls data from a Google Sheet. But it keeps re-triggering the zap, even though the “trigger column” hasn’t been updated and there are filters in place.
In short, I have a Google Sheet with LOTS of columns that I want to pull email addresses from certain columns if/when they are updated/added...but it keeps triggering the whole spreadsheet when the data is re-sorted or other columns updated.
+5If you have the option, I would consider moving from a Google Sheet to a Zapier Table for this workflow. That would give you more fine-grained control over trigger events, and also reduce your task consumption.
The spreadsheet in question is like 7000 rows and changes/evolves every week. I thought that would be too big for a Zapier table?
And how would Zapier tables allow more control over trigger events/task consumption?
+5It depends on what plan you’re on, but Zapier Tables can support well over 7,000 rows. The key benefits are that you have more granular control over trigger events (e.g., new records vs new or updated records vs. updated records only), and that actions taken in them don’t count against your task usage from a billing standpoint.
If your spreadsheet’s structure is constantly evolving, though, that’s not a good fit for a Zapier Table, which requires you to use a standardized columnar data structure. In general, if a spreadsheet’s structure is changing frequently, it’s not well suited to automation, period, because those structural changes can easily cause disruptions to your Zaps.
+14
Make sure to reference the available help links for using GSheets in Zaps: https://zapier.com/apps/google-sheets/integrations#help
To clarify, our table structure doesn’t change but what changes every week is the new/additional data that is added...and then filtering the data within the spreadsheet. I recently learned that filtering/resorting a Google Sheet triggers the zap...even if the data hasn't been updated or if the row isn’t new in the resort.
Doe Zapier tables allow you to sort/filter their tables similar to Google Sheets? And can the Zapier table be limited to only update once text is added to a cell and not just when the table is resorted/filtered?
+14
Ye for Zapier Tables and Airtable.
Airtable and Zapier Table have Views, which are segments of data. (sort, filter, etc.)
These Views can be used in Zap configurations to limit the data.
Review the available triggers/actions for each app:
When in doubt, test it out.
I have been looking into Airtable or Zapier Tables, but neither of them have conditional formatting...which is something that we use daily within the data set to expose potential duplicates. So now we are back to trying to make Google Sheets work.
Is there any recommended filter, step or activity that we can add to our workflows so that if/when the zap triggers it doesn’t process and/or use our data every time the data is resorted/filtered within Google Sheets?
+14
My advice would be to try to make Airtable work.
Airtable has Views, which are segments of data in a Table.
Airtable Views can be:
The idea is to create different Views (cuts of data) for your desired criteria/conditions.
You could have fields that are used to designated “duplicates”, then have a View to filter by those fields.
When records meet View conditions, it moves into the View.
Records can be part of multiple Views.
Think of Views as shortcuts to subsets of data in a Table.
Airtable has system generated metadata fields:
You can configure a Modified Time field to only watch for changes to certain fields.
These fields can be used to help control which records trigger automations.
Views can also be used to help control which records trigger automations.
Trying to eat soup with a knife does not make sense, which is why a spoon is used.
Same thing for apps and logic, use the right tools for the right job.
+11Hey
Just came across this and wanted to check how you’re getting on. Did you end up using Airtable or Zapier Tables instead, or are you still working with Google Sheets?
If you’re still using Google Sheets, if you turn the Zap off before making changes like resorting/filtering rows etc., then turn it back on again when you’re done, that should prevent the Zap from triggering unnecessarily.
Looking forward to hearing from you! 🙂
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