Question

Issue with Paths Execution Order in Looping by Zapier.

  • 13 March 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 148 views

Paths inside of Loop From Text

 

I am currently working on a Zap that has a loop with paths nested inside of it. I have read a few articles on Zapier loops and they seem like they should execute similar to iterative loops in most programming languages:

 

For example, in this case I would expect this Zap to execute as so:

Using data from Iteration 1 → Attempt to execute Path A, attempt to execute Path B,

Using data from Iteration 2 → Attempt to execute Path A, attempt to execute Path B,

Using data from… etc.

 

However, when I test this Zap, it seemingly runs in this order:

Using data from Iteration 1 → Attempt to execute Path A,

Using data from Iteration 2 → Attempt to execute Path A,

Using data from Iteration 3 → Attempt to execute Path A,

Using data from Iteration 4 → Attempt to execute Path A,

Using data from Iteration 1 → Attempt to execute Path B,

Using data from Iteration 2 → Attempt to execute Path B,

Using data from… etc.

 

This Zap is being used to create presentation slides and as a result of this loop configuration, it’s creating slides out of order. I’ve seen a few folks put a delay on their loop and I’m wondering if that is a solution for Path steps being executed out of order from the iterative loop. Any insight on this is greatly appreciated!


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3 replies

Userlevel 7
Badge +14

@RyanKurr 

Looping run loops in parallel.

You don’t have to use a Delay step as outlined above.

A Delay step would be needed to space out the processing of Loops if that’s something you are trying to control.

 

Hey Troy,

 

Thank you for the quick reply! After talking to another member of my team, we may be concerned about timeliness using a delay for this particular zap. For an implementation with 2 webhook-chained Zaps, is there a way to do implement without using delay?

 

Thanks,

Ryan

Userlevel 7
Badge +14

Hi @RyanKurr 

Good question.

You can try adding a Delay For step within the Loop.

Use the Loop Iteration as the # of Minutes to Delay. (e.g. 1 minutes for iteration 1, then 2 minutes for iteration 2, etc.)

 

Here’s a possible workaround…

Split the 1 Zap into 2 Zaps that are chained together with Webhooks.

That way each Loop iteration from Zap 1 is processed individually by Zap 2.

 

Zap 1

  1. Trigger: ???
  2. Action: Looping
  3. Action: Delay
  4. Action: Webhook - POST
    1. Use Webhook URL from Zap 2, Step 1

 

Zap 2

  1. Trigger: Webhook - Catch Hook
    1. Use Webhook URL in Zap 1, Step 4
  2. Action: Paths
  3. Action: ???