This is really valuable info that I just now used! And I would like to warn everyone of a GOTCHA who is thinking about how they might use buttons in Interfaces to trigger an automation. **A button will only work when it's associated with a record.**. You can't get a button to work if it is placed "globally" elsewhere in your interface, say to ask Airtable to sync records with external data or run something on all records or scan for inconsistencies or whatever. I went in circles on this, found people in the community forum who were scratching their heads too and no response from Airtable, and then after spending a couple hours on it realized that the buttons can't be set up to work at all unless it's associated with a record. It allows one to position a button outside of the record area of an interface, and it should warn that you cannot configure a button without it being associated with the current record. Oy. As a computer guy with 40+ years of experience, it boggles my mind that here in the future the kids over at Airtable never considered people would want to do this and specifically warn us that you can't do that (yet). I hope I'm wrong and I missed something. Thanks Gareth. Your stuff is always supremely helpful.
Thanks for this. I was trying to figure out how to get a button to run a script extension or click a button field for the record to then run a script. I've spent too long looking into this. Guess I'll have to wait.
Just want to say thank you for all the supremely helpful trainings, Gareth. I’m putting your advice into practice in a UK refugee resettlement programme and you’ve helped me a lot, thank you!
Yes and no - you can't know who pushed the button directly from the automation (although I don't know why not!?!?!?) However, you can know who pushed the button if only one user has access to the record. For example, in our workflow, we have a list of tasks that are only seen by the person assigned to them. When they push a button in the interface, it starts an automation. I know who pushed the button because only one person can see the task, therefore only one person can push the button to begin with. This won't work in cases where multiple users have access to the buttons, but if you are careful about how you share access, it can help!
Is it possible to put a button with a link to either my Airable form or to my fillout form? So that people who don't know how to use air table very well can access this form at a click of a button? It is so we can keep track of people easily and add new people easily as well! Thanks, in advanced!
Hi Pam, sorry but I'm a bit confused by the question. The straight forward answer is "yes" - you can easily click a URL or button that's in an Airtable table.
These buttons have eliminated the need for me to use softr for internal operations and have basically killed any practical use for Stacker. If the fgure out how to put interfaces on mobile its over.
This apperas to be working ONLY if you use "Record Review" or "Record Summary". If you are using "Blank" or any other interfaces including Dashboard, this does NOT work which is lame. I have so many use cases where this button is needed to run automation from different interfaces
It depends on the nature of the automation. Generally you want to take action on a record, so you must select the record first and then initiate the automation. In some cases, you want to trigger an automation and perform a search of relevant data as a step. For example, push a button to run automation that finds all unpaid hours and add them to your bill paying software. This is possible with a button that's outside of the record picker. ✔️
I wish you could just trigger a script with a button… have to use up valuable space in automations, and can’t just make it run a script like in the extensions.
Grab my *FREE TRAINING* that teaches the building blocks of automation: 👉 www.garethpronovost.com/webinar-registration 👈
This is really valuable info that I just now used! And I would like to warn everyone of a GOTCHA who is thinking about how they might use buttons in Interfaces to trigger an automation. **A button will only work when it's associated with a record.**. You can't get a button to work if it is placed "globally" elsewhere in your interface, say to ask Airtable to sync records with external data or run something on all records or scan for inconsistencies or whatever. I went in circles on this, found people in the community forum who were scratching their heads too and no response from Airtable, and then after spending a couple hours on it realized that the buttons can't be set up to work at all unless it's associated with a record. It allows one to position a button outside of the record area of an interface, and it should warn that you cannot configure a button without it being associated with the current record. Oy.
As a computer guy with 40+ years of experience, it boggles my mind that here in the future the kids over at Airtable never considered people would want to do this and specifically warn us that you can't do that (yet). I hope I'm wrong and I missed something.
Thanks Gareth. Your stuff is always supremely helpful.
Thanks for this. I was trying to figure out how to get a button to run a script extension or click a button field for the record to then run a script. I've spent too long looking into this. Guess I'll have to wait.
Just want to say thank you for all the supremely helpful trainings, Gareth. I’m putting your advice into practice in a UK refugee resettlement programme and you’ve helped me a lot, thank you!
Wonderful! So glad to help!
You're very very good. Thanks.
Thanks for checking out the video!
I have the new setup and I can't figure out what to do!
Very interesting as always !
Garreth, lat's have an Low Code meet up in Gulf Shores AL at the Flora-Bama!
I would so be there!! Short road trip from New Orleans.
Love this new feature - however, I would also love to track who clicked the button. Any way to gather this data?
Yes and no - you can't know who pushed the button directly from the automation (although I don't know why not!?!?!?) However, you can know who pushed the button if only one user has access to the record.
For example, in our workflow, we have a list of tasks that are only seen by the person assigned to them. When they push a button in the interface, it starts an automation. I know who pushed the button because only one person can see the task, therefore only one person can push the button to begin with.
This won't work in cases where multiple users have access to the buttons, but if you are careful about how you share access, it can help!
Is it possible to put a button with a link to either my Airable form or to my fillout form? So that people who don't know how to use air table very well can access this form at a click of a button? It is so we can keep track of people easily and add new people easily as well! Thanks, in advanced!
Yes, you can definitely add a URL to your button endpoint. We do this a lot!
I looked far and wide, but is there a way to either open a URL or click on a button that is already in the table?
Hi Pam, sorry but I'm a bit confused by the question. The straight forward answer is "yes" - you can easily click a URL or button that's in an Airtable table.
These buttons have eliminated the need for me to use softr for internal operations and have basically killed any practical use for Stacker. If the fgure out how to put interfaces on mobile its over.
This apperas to be working ONLY if you use "Record Review" or "Record Summary". If you are using "Blank" or any other interfaces including Dashboard, this does NOT work which is lame. I have so many use cases where this button is needed to run automation from different interfaces
It depends on the nature of the automation. Generally you want to take action on a record, so you must select the record first and then initiate the automation.
In some cases, you want to trigger an automation and perform a search of relevant data as a step. For example, push a button to run automation that finds all unpaid hours and add them to your bill paying software. This is possible with a button that's outside of the record picker. ✔️
I wish you could just trigger a script with a button… have to use up valuable space in automations, and can’t just make it run a script like in the extensions.