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Understanding the lookup field operator issue in Zapier's find records feature

  • December 11, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 24 views

I am using the find records for a table.

When I use the Operator “is different from” it finds the exact record I am looking for.

When I use “exactly” or “contains” or “starts with” it gives me an error. 

The problem is it shouldn’t find the record with the “is different from” operator and should find it with the others. 

The zap run is configure upon a successful payment, then formatting the date from the description field of the stripe payment to separate the event name and date, as showing as Output Item 1 and 2. 

The field types are the same ‘text’ and the information is an exact match. 

So, I am confused as to why the “is different from” operator works and the others do not?
 

 

Table records

 

Best answer by Sparsh from Automation Jinn

Hey ​@KnottyDan,

It’s because it performs a exact match comparison. Use Formatter → Text → Trim Whitespace to remove any whitespace and check after that if it fixes your issue. Hope it helps!

4 replies

Sparsh from Automation Jinn
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Hey ​@KnottyDan,

It’s because it performs a exact match comparison. Use Formatter → Text → Trim Whitespace to remove any whitespace and check after that if it fixes your issue. Hope it helps!


Troy Tessalone
Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
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  • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • December 11, 2025

Hi ​@KnottyDan 

Help links for using Tables: https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/categories/13398036609933-Tables

 

Find Records conditions are ANDs.

 

For us to have more info, post screenshots showing the DATA IN/OUT from the TEST tab while testing each example you mentioned.


  • Author
  • New
  • December 11, 2025

Thank you both! ​@Sparsh from Automation Jinn and ​@Troy Tessalone!

I did indeed have a space that was unaccounted for in the setting. Such a beginner error. I was just too tired last night to even think about that possibility! 


Troy Tessalone
Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
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  • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • December 11, 2025

@KnottyDan 

Ah the dreaded extra whitespace! (Gets us all.)