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Question

How are app developers encouraged to support "Find New Records" in the editor?

  • January 14, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 51 views
bridgman

I’ve encountered a couple of apps now that have decided to support “Find New Records” in the editor by always returning the same dummy data rather than an actual recent record from my linked account. How are developers encouraged to support this button? Testing with dummy data is impossible and manually modifying the dummy data to incorporate enough real data to function is tedious time consuming. I’d like to be able to point them to something in the developer docs and say “please do this.”

I did a quick search of the developer docs but didn’t see anything.

    This post has been closed for comments. Please create a new post if you need help or have a question about this topic.

    5 replies

    Troy Tessalone
    Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    Forum|alt.badge.img+14
    • Troy TessaloneZapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    • January 14, 2024

    Hi @bridgman 

    Can you provide specific examples of the apps and returned data with screenshots to give context?

    ⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Platinum Zapier Solution Partner | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
    bridgman
    • bridgmanBeginner
    • Author
    • Beginner
    • January 14, 2024

    Well, I didn’t want to publicly shame any company, but the current example is Anchor.sh. In the example below, Emily Bookkeeping is dummy data -- does not exist in my Anchor account. Records C, B, A are all identical dummy data. (The modified record is one I created to I can test the Zap.)

    The second place I’ve run into this was SimpleTexting.com -- they may have fixed it since; I got my zaps working and have not needed to revisit.

     

    Troy Tessalone
    Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    Forum|alt.badge.img+14
    • Troy TessaloneZapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    • January 14, 2024

    Hi @bridgman 

    Some apps return representative dummy data for triggers/searches so you can configure the Zap action steps.

    If the issue with the Find Records when the Zap is ON and running, then that’s a bug.

    Best to share this feedback via a ticket to Zapier Support: https://zapier.com/app/get-help

    ⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Platinum Zapier Solution Partner | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
    bridgman
    • bridgmanBeginner
    • Author
    • Beginner
    • January 14, 2024

    Is there discussion in the developer docs or elsewhere about how they should handle “find new records”? Dummy data, representative or no, is only minimally useful when trying to build a zap. If developers aren’t be encouraged to supply real data, then I have a suggestion for Zapier.

    Troy Tessalone
    Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    Forum|alt.badge.img+14
    • Troy TessaloneZapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
    • January 14, 2024

    @bridgman 

    Some Zapier Developer articles to reference:

    https://platform.zapier.com/build/search

    https://platform.zapier.com/build/search-or-create

     

    ⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Platinum Zapier Solution Partner | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
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