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Question

Trouble Creating Dynamic Name for Annual Template

  • January 9, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 25 views

Hi - I’m trying to create an automated workflow so that each year on November 1, a file from a template is created with the next calendar year’s name. E.g., on November 1, 2026, a file called “2027 Template” is created. I have tried working with Co-Pilot and adding a +1 formula to the name, and it’s not working. Also tried adding a formatter step, and that didn’t quite work either. Any ideas? Thanks in advance! 

3 replies

drtanvisachar
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Hello ​@Kate F 
You can handle this without Copilot.

Use Schedule by Zapier as the trigger and set it to run yearly on November 1.

Add Formatter by Zapier and use it to take the trigger date, extract the year, and add +1. Use that output to build the file name like 2027 Template.

The key is doing the year math in Formatter, not directly in the file name field.


  • Author
  • Beginner
  • January 9, 2026

Thanks so much, I think I may have figured it out!

 

 


drtanvisachar
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@Kate F  Yes, that setup looks correct 

Using Add/Subtract Time with +1 year and formatting to YYYY is exactly the right approach. You can now map that output into the file name field and it will auto increment each year.

Nice work, you’re all set.