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Question

Automation when field is blank

I have two tables:
  • Subdivision
  • Locations
Locations is a child of Subdivision (many locations to one Subdivision)

When I enter a new location I can select a previously input subdivision to associate/relate it.

Not every location has a subdivision.

If there is no subdivision selected at the time the new Location is created, in the Locations table it shows the new location with a blank Subdivision. Perfect!

However, if I go to the Subdivisions table, there is not "blank" subdivision with the locations listed which have no subdivision.

How can I remedy this?

I was thinking of creating an automation where when a new location record is added and no Subdivision is selected, then the Automation creates a subdivision of <blank> (literally: <blank>).

This would at least generate a Subdivision record of <blank> and have the related locations listed under it.

The issue is that I can't seem to figure out how to make the automation work correctly. There doesn't appear to be an option for: "when field is blank" or "when field is null".

Any thoughts on how I would correct this automation? Do I need to create the space holder of <blank> or is there a better way?

Thanks for your help and assistance!

-Andrew
    This topic has been closed for replies.

    You'll need to create a Subdivision record of "No Subdivision" or "Blank Subdivision", whatever works better for you. In your automation, you'll need to look for a record that has "Related Subdivision" as 0 and then change it to the Record ID# of the "Blank Subdivision" record. You can probably also do this with a Form Rule
    • AndrewFry
    • Author
    • Registered
    • August 1, 2019
    Blake, I think what you recommended is on the right path, but I can't seem to implement it correctly.

    Here is what I have done:

    • App Home > Settings > Automation
    • New Automation > When Data Changes
    • When User [Adds A Record] > In the [Locations] table
    • Additional Criteria > Any Field Changes > And Any of the conditions are true
    • Subdivision Name - Is Equal To - The Value - 0
    • Add Action > Modify Records > Modify Records from a Different Table (Advanced)
    • Table = [Locations]
    • Filter Records (left alone)
    • Field: Related Subdivision
    • Source: Copy Value From Another Record
    • Value: Trigger [Locations] | Related Subdivisions

    I understand the concept that you have proposed:

    Basically, create a Subdivision of "No Subdivision" or similar.
    In my case I created a Subdivision of: <blank>
    The Subdivision ID# is 12.
    Then create an automation so that when a new location record is saved, with a blank subdivision, it changes the related subdivision to Subdivision # 12.

    I just can't seem to get it to work correctly because I can't seem to figure out how to tell it which Subdivision record to copy.

    Any pointers you can give?

    -Andrew
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